First Group: General Discussion

[TheGrandWazoo]

I am really saddened to hear this news. I think First Bus operates a superb service in my town, Bolton. Reconsider for God's sake and your customers.

Eh?:?

 

[Scotrail88]

Sell off of what part of bus or all??
Do you know something we don't?

 

[Strathclyder]

The only recent thing I can find about First's operations in Bolton on their website was this tweet:
https://twitter.com/FirstManchester/status/496922944090931200
Bolton Depot is getting Streetlites, if the follow-up tweet is any indication.

 

[Volvodart]

The new First bus driver training programme was launched there a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Mouse1964]

I read on this site that First Bus UK was being sold off!!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sorry everyone, I have just looked on Google and found the headline, but I didn't check the date, which was 2012. Can you delete the thread?

 

[Deerfold]

I read on this site that First Bus UK was being sold off!!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sorry everyone, I have just looked on Google and found the headline, but I didn't check the date, which was 2012. Can you delete the thread?

I doubt it'll be deleted as we're still discussing how things are going for First Bus in this thread. The first post makes it obvious it wasn't all of First Bus that was up for sale (and substantial parts were sold off, most notably the London operations) and is clearly dated 2012.

Perhaps you'd like the Guardian to delete the article that set the thread off (still available at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/may/23/first-group-selling-uk-bus-divisions?newsfeed=true )

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I doubt it'll be deleted as we're still discussing how things are going for First Bus in this thread. The first post makes it obvious it wasn't all of First Bus that was up for sale (and substantial parts were sold off, most notably the London operations) and is clearly dated 2012.

Perhaps you'd like the Guardian to delete the article that set the thread off (still available at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/may/23/first-group-selling-uk-bus-divisions?newsfeed=true )

Is "Mouse" really Moir Lockhead? Hoping to take advantage of the "right to be forgotten" ruling?

 

[Surreyman]

I read on this site that First Bus UK was being sold off!!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sorry everyone, I have just looked on Google and found the headline, but I didn't check the date, which was 2012. Can you delete the thread?

For one moment I thought my greatest dream had come true!

 

[overthewater]

As it stand in First Scotland East. Half the buses have yet to turn up from the factory and only a few were used for the Glasgow Games. A number of service changes are planned for early October, which should see some improvements. So things are starting to move.....

 

[83G/84D]

I am planning a trip to Essex and the surrounding area and was wondering if First's Harwich depot is closed? It does not appear to have an allocation or mention in any bus fleet books. I did need a Trident 32801 which was allocated there.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I am planning a trip to Essex and the surrounding area and was wondering if First's Harwich depot is closed? It does not appear to have an allocation or mention in any bus fleet books. I did need a Trident 32801 which was allocated there.

Believe so. Now split between Colchester and Clacton

 

[alexf380]

According to Steve White's latest (March 2014) fleet list, it is at Basildon depot.
I have no idea if this is still the case 5 months later.

Hope this helps you.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Has there been fleet movements in Glasgow? Only reason I ask is, Lanarkshire's 41447 has been on Parkhead route 64 for the past couple of weeks and Larkfield's 61306 has been popping on the 32 which is a Parkhead route...

 

[winston270twm]

Has there been fleet movements in Glasgow? Only reason I ask is, Lanarkshire's 41447 has been on Parkhead route 64 for the past couple of weeks and Larkfield's 61306 has been popping on the 32 which is a Parkhead route...

One or two,

Courtesy of Scotland Bus Yahoo Group:

BL - SN: 41314, 41683, 41775, 41776

LF - PH: 61306, 61589,61615,61627,61628,61629,61630,61632,61634,61635,33000

OV - PH: 41447, 41448

OV - SN: 41422

PH-BL: 42885,886,887,888

PH-SN: 69085
SN-OV: 69039,69040,69295-298

SN - LF: 69111-121, 69181-184, 69187-69189

SN-BL: 66947,66949,66989,66990


BL-Res: 41217, 41221, 41242

LF-Res: 65591, 65592, 65593

OV-Res: 40819,40820,42376

PH-Res: 32931,937,939,940,941,942,946,950

SN-Res: 41244,41278,41288,41301,41302,41303

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Yeah like First are gonna put those 329XX Tridents into Reserve...They are never off the 19/46 routes...

Strange that they are taking 428XX Darts and putting them out to Blantyre. Also weren't 69295-298 Lanarkshire motors to begin with after they took over Hutchinson's? So are they heading to Scotstoun as opposed to Overtown as they've been appearing on the 9 out to Paisley...

 

[83G/84D]

According to Steve White's latest (March 2014) fleet list, it is at Basildon depot.
I have no idea if this is still the case 5 months later.

Hope this helps you.

Yes it does thank you. There are quite a few First buses I need to catch up with in Essex plus most of the E400's at Kings Lynn some Enviro 200's at Lowestoft and Dart's at Great Yarmouth. All these have been added to the fleet since my last visit two years ago.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Believe so. Now split between Colchester and Clacton

Thanks

 

[Strathclyder]

One or two,

Courtesy of Scotland Bus Yahoo Group:

BL - SN: 41775, 41776

I've seen this one quite a lot in the past few days, mostly on the 81 (Duntocher - Clydebank Bus Station). You can distinguish it (and 41775) from the other Darts in the fleet because of the black surrounds on the destination blind.

 

[F1Ken]

I am planning a trip to Essex and the surrounding area and was wondering if First's Harwich depot is closed? It does not appear to have an allocation or mention in any bus fleet books. I did need a Trident 32801 which was allocated there.

Yes It has sadly closed and services have suffered.

103/104 to Colchester is now run by colchester and has been slightly re routed down colchester high street.

Every other service Harwich used to run is now run by clacton and it's a total mess just look at the Harwich and Manningtree standard website for the articles.

Basically First are cutting all the Harwich Town routes the 20/A, 22A/B and replacing them with one service called the 2. It make travelling to school or using the bus in harwich very impractical now.

The 3/4 to clacton is being massively reduced and will no longer go past the shopping village which has angered some people. All the Harwich drivers are now at clacton after a few months of some just running the 103/104 from colchester and some going straight to clacton. Colchester have route trained their own drivers for the route and it has led to buses going the wrong way and drivers asking for directions.

You talk about First's image on this thread, it wouldn't be worse in harwich and the whole tendring area at the moment.

Talking about the Tridents that were there I think they were either moved elseware or scraped as they were in terrible condition. Clacton still has 1 or 2 left they use for the 76 and 74. They have 32810 and had a V reg one as well but I think that may be gone now. Sad how it's declined in harwich, their used to be a travel office and everything.

32801 is definitely gone, it was the oldest trident, they were all the early ones with the staircase in the middle and were underpowered.

I don't suppose anyone knows what happened to these Tridents do they?

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Has any of the First depots in Scotland been sending a batch of Presidents to Cummins in Cumbernauld?

I passed by there yesterday and there was a whole load of them just sitting there with their engines bays open to the elements. They buses themselves looked in a sorry state as well...

 

[overthewater]

First Scotland East, have started to promote the new buses:
https://twitter.com/FirstScotland/status/501350403003645952/photo/1

West Lothian here we come! #First #New

 

[alexf380]

Fingers crossed they're getting an engine overhaul or something similar. Although, would First spend that much on what I presume to be old Tridents?

 

[winston270twm]

First Group shares move up 6.1% today amid a Rail Franchise win in the next two months, BoA suggests First Group may have more chance of securing East Coast than Scotrail

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...6979/FirstGroup-rises-on-franchise-hopes.html

 

[GaryMcEwan]

First Group shares move up 6.1% today amid a Rail Franchise win in the next two months, BoA suggests First Group may have more chance of securing East Coast than Scotrail

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...6979/FirstGroup-rises-on-franchise-hopes.html

Yeah that seems to be what I've been hearing as well. I was speaking to a friend of mine who is a manager at Glasgow Central and it sounds like First aren't at all confident in retaining Scotrail when it goes up for renewal.

The reason for this is because, well everyone knows really that Mary Grant went to NX which was seen as one of the nails in the coffin for First...

 

[overthewater]

Of course there is NO guarantee National Express will win the contract either. I do believe MTR, and Dutch firm Abellio have a chance.

 

[mbonwick]

Somehow I can't see the bus side of First being too upset if they lose Scotrail - it'll get them out of all the controlled routes in Scotland.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

When is the announcement due if anyone has any inkling? I know it's meant to be the autumn, so surely it can't be very far away?

 

[winston270twm]

When is the announcement due if anyone has any inkling? I know it's meant to be the autumn, so surely it can't be very far away?

October rings a bell for Scotrail

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Somehow I can't see the bus side of First being too upset if they lose Scotrail - it'll get them out of all the controlled routes in Scotland.

Might be a blessing in disguise. Win East Coast, lose Scotrail and they have freedom to develop their Scottish bus ops (esp. FSE).

Looks like the turnover is broadly similar (?) and given the furore about returning EC to the private sector, one wonders how exacting the conditions might be?

 

[Strathclyder]

Spotted First Scotland East's 62190 (W592 RFS) at Buchanan Bus Station on the X37 (Glasgow - Falkirk Bus Station) on Monday (18th August 2014):

This is the first ALX300 I've seen in the new livery. Looks really good on them, I have to say.

 

[Volvodart]

First Group shares move up 6.1% today amid a Rail Franchise win in the next two months, BoA suggests First Group may have more chance of securing East Coast than Scotrail

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...6979/FirstGroup-rises-on-franchise-hopes.html

I would not place too much credence on BoA, as they have been well wrong before:-

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/sharewatch/market-report-first-group-boosted-by-easier-road-ahead-8557595.html