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First Group: General Discussion

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Strathclyder

Strathclyder

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Full size buses have been appearing on the mainly Dart/Solo operated 81 (Duntocher-Clydebank) a lot lately. I caught 69087 (SF06 GYV) today crossing over the Forth & Clyde Canal headed for Duntocher. Is there a shortage of Darts & Solos or something?
 

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Strathclyder

Strathclyder

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GaryMcEwan said:
Glasgow's E400's are finally getting put into the new livery. Just seen 33912 looking very smart indeed.
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Funny you should mention 33912. This particular E400 was involved in a minor collision near St. Enoch Centre at the end of last month (30th May). I just happened to be passing at the time and got a few pics:
 

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GaryMcEwan

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69087 isn't a Parkhead motor is it? Parkhead 06 plated Geminis have been popping up on routes that usually have older buses on it due to Parkhead getting the Streetlites for the 90...

If it's not a Parkhead Gemini, then I'm as confuddled as you...
 
Strathclyder

Strathclyder

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GaryMcEwan said:
69087 isn't a Parkhead motor is it? Parkhead 06 plated Geminis have been popping up on routes that usually have older buses on it due to Parkhead getting the Streetlites for the 90...
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I think it's most likely to be a Scotstoun machine. That's not the most unusual bus to end up on the 81. A coach has appeared on it at least once. I'm not joking. That's the equivalent of a 747 being used on a London-Edinburgh flight.
 
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david16

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TheGrandWazoo said:
Perhaps but you can't argue that First have attracted another vastly experienced and respected busman. Having haemorrhaged good people in the years of Moir led diktats, it's good to see.

FB/FSA has already seen quite a bit of change for the good; let's see what else may happen
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He wasn't called Moir Blockhead for nothing.
 
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Blindtraveler

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It will be v important to them now to retain GW and maybe win East Coast? Its to be hoped, hate them as I do that they hold onto Scotrail also as they have not done badly with it by and large but Im not sure this wil happen
 
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winston270twm

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Blindtraveler said:
It will be v important to them now to retain GW and maybe win East Coast? Its to be hoped, hate them as I do that they hold onto Scotrail also as they have not done badly with it by and large but Im not sure this wil happen
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I think NX will put in a highly competitive bid for Scotrail, they have also recruited Mary Grant who successful bid & won if from NX for First Group and become Scotrail MD under First Group.

If First miss out/lose yet another franchise, their share price could tank and they may be forced in to another fund raising exercise to reduce debt due to to loss of profit/cash flow from any further rail franchise losses.
 
TheGrandWazoo

TheGrandWazoo

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winston270twm said:
I think NX will put in a highly competitive bid for Scotrail, they have also recruited Mary Grant who successful bid & won if from NX for First Group and become Scotrail MD under First Group.

If First miss out/lose yet another franchise, their share price could tank and they may be forced in to another fund raising exercise to reduce debt due to to loss of profit/cash flow from any further rail franchise losses.
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I don't doubt NX and others will put in very strong bids. Mind you, so will First and they have done a decent job on ScotRail. Lots of ifs and coulds to come
 
fgwrich

fgwrich

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winston270twm said:
I think NX will put in a highly competitive bid for Scotrail, they have also recruited Mary Grant who successful bid & won if from NX for First Group and become Scotrail MD under First Group.

If First miss out/lose yet another franchise, their share price could tank and they may be forced in to another fund raising exercise to reduce debt due to to loss of profit/cash flow from any further rail franchise losses.
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I must admit I'm slightly worried about that prospect too as First seem to have shed a few of it's rail management team over the past few years, losing the likes of Andrew Haines to the Civil Aviation Authority, Mike Mitchell to the DfT who subsequently poached Elaine Holt from FCC to head up DOR and EC, Mary Grant from ScotRail and is now spearheaded by Dean Finch who was on First's original GW bidding team back in 2006 who took on the rather hopeless ex FGW MD Alison Forster. So First will have had some work to do if they're aiming to retain and win as many franchises as there is to let coming up - although that said given First Groups recent performances with their Franchises that shouldn't be to difficult a choice... but since when did the DfT take past performance into account in it's choice of bidders? **cough cough Arriva **

There was a thread on here from 2012 Which has some of the railways worst decision by a TOC and NX's franchises certainly scored a few in that one, with some of my previously slightly less well written but the point still stands comments about their stock.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1070202

I wonder how the Great Eastern would be standing now though if First had been allowed to retain the former award winning Great Eastern? Before the dodgy SRA/Bowker/NX deal of course...

That said, I'm sure there's little that First could have done to improve Essex Thameside given how singular it effectively is. Apart from ditching that stupid C2C name that is!
 
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winston270twm

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TheGrandWazoo said:
I don't doubt NX and others will put in very strong bids. Mind you, so will First and they have done a decent job on ScotRail. Lots of ifs and coulds to come
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For me, the recruiting of former First Group Scotrails MD Mary Grant will give NX the edge over other bidder and a good recent inside knowledge on how to bid successfully.

I don't currently fancy First Groups chances of retaining it based on the awards that we've seen to date.
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fgwrich said:
I must admit I'm slightly worried about that prospect too as First seem to have shed a few of it's rail management team over the past few years, losing the likes of Andrew Haines to the Civil Aviation Authority, Mike Mitchell to the DfT who subsequently poached Elaine Holt from FCC to head up DOR and EC, Mary Grant from ScotRail and is now spearheaded by Dean Finch who was on First's original GW bidding team back in 2006 who took on the rather hopeless ex FGW MD Alison Forster. So First will have had some work to do if they're aiming to retain and win as many franchises as there is to let coming up - although that said given First Groups recent performances with their Franchises that shouldn't be to difficult a choice... but since when did the DfT take past performance into account in it's choice of bidders? **cough cough Arriva **

There was a thread on here from 2012 Which has some of the railways worst decision by a TOC and NX's franchises certainly scored a few in that one, with some of my previously slightly less well written but the point still stands comments about their stock.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1070202

I wonder how the Great Eastern would be standing now though if First had been allowed to retain the former award winning Great Eastern? Before the dodgy SRA/Bowker/NX deal of course...

That said, I'm sure there's little that First could have done to improve Essex Thameside given how singular it effectively is. Apart from ditching that stupid C2C name that is!
Click to expand...

I agree, NX once held a large number of UK rail franchises whilst under Phil White. The Bowker period however nearly sunk NX group, thankfully Dean Finch has done a stirling job to turn the groups fortunes around & remain independent
 
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GaryMcEwan

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Spoke to a mate of mine who's based at Blantyre, the balloted strike action for drivers and engineering staff is getting called off. The Union hasn't gave First enough notice of the intention to ballot and subsequent strike...
 
fgwrich

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overthewater said:
What delights have been happening up in First Scotland east?

Both the Larbart and Livingston depots are short of buses again, nothing new here alas.

Its gotten so bad this gem has been put into public service, again:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbridgman/14500947313/
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But... looking through a few more of his pictures reveals this:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbridgman/14353268876/in/photostream/

We have had confirmation of new buses after the commonwealth games finally. 18 streetlites

34donron 20d

Its been stated 18 streetlites are heading for FSE, 10 Max and 8 of the smaller version. Big question is which depot/depots are getting them?

There are 18 street lites joining us in August George mate. Larbert gets a separate order of 9 in sept as well

:) 1874 9d

We are putting all 18 onto the Broxburn Edinburgh side according to the depot memo. So that's 20/21/22 and prob the 30 will be the first to use them. We all know that this will prob change as older buses get taken off the road thru the day so expect to see them on any route lol
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So does that finally mean First are starting to wait for it...''invest'' in FSE?
 
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Volvodart

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GaryMcEwan

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90019 said:
That reminds me - I was driving behind one of the FSE Citaros along Princes Street last week. The engine sounded utterly ruined, and the thing looked like a wreck.
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I was in Livingston a few weeks ago and 64011 went passed me, and it sounded absolutely shocking. How on earth they are still on the road is anyone's guess...
 
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GaryMcEwan

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Now that Stagecoach have sent up a mass of Tridents from London for the Games, have First started to draft in buses from anywhere else yet seeing as they are the the main transport supporter of the Games?
 
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mbonwick

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First are stockpiling new deliveries of vehicles

Don't forget that Stagecoach vehicles have gone up 'early' as they need de-Londonising.
 
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