First West of England Optare excels

[trolleyman]

Drove past Muller Road depot in Bristol today and it looked like there was several Optare Excels parked up in the front of the depot.
Never seen any of these operate in the Bristol area before, anybody know what they are here for?

 

[vicbury]

I don't know but this thread is probably the best place to ask.

 

[90sWereBetter]

I don't think First have Excels any more. Greater Manchester had most of them, and of the ones that weren't already withdrawn, they all ended up with Stagecoach when Wigan was sold off last year. Glasgow had a few which had come from an independent that had been taken over, but that was at least 5 years ago...

 

[richw]

I don't think First have Excels any more. Greater Manchester had most of them, and of the ones that weren't already withdrawn, they all ended up with Stagecoach when Wigan was sold off last year. Glasgow had a few which had come from an independent that had been taken over, but that was at least 5 years ago...

W49WDS I believe to be in Plymouth

 

[swifty]

62936/49/52 are at Muller Road awaiting their book price to drop, then they'll be sold for scrap. There may be another out of sight or round the back.

 

[westcoaster]

Were these the ones that turned up at northampton for storage around the time it was wound down.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Were these the ones that turned up at northampton for storage around the time it was wound down.

There are four ex Glasgow Excels now parked up at Muller Rd. 3 at front and 1 parked at the rear. They were sent for use at Plymouth though doubt if all were used. As with early Excels, they are unreliable and are parked up to get the NBV down before disposal. Not for use - just awaiting disposal

 

[Surreyman]

Interesting, shows that the accountants are in charge, presumably their value as scrap isn't likely to change over a few months although you would think that cash in the bank now is better than cash in the bank in the future!
Anyone know if they wait to the end of the financial year or is the write-down dated from date of first registration?

 

[Robertj21a]

.
The accountants have always had the final say, over common sense, at First. If you recall, Northampton had those gas buses (Alexander Ultras ?) that sat outside for years until they had been devalued enough in the accounts.

Robert

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

.
The accountants have always had the final say, over common sense, at First. If you recall, Northampton had those gas buses (Alexander Ultras ?) that sat outside for years until they had been devalued enough in the accounts.

Robert

Accountants are always in charge. These are businesses! Remember that Brian Souter is an accountant and it's not just First. Arriva parked up a load of Vectas that were unreliable yet still high on books.

Also, it's often not the accountant but an MD who doesn't want a massive financial hit that affects his bonus. Would you take the hit if you were getting paid on that basis?

 

[83G/84D]

Here are three examples at the front of Muller Road last month.

 

[swifty]

Is that an ex Cymru T-SEJ ALX200 on the left?

 

[83G/84D]

Is that an ex Cymru T-SEJ ALX200 on the left?

Yes it was 42324 which I was rather suprised to see there. Most of that batch are still running so don't know what has happened to it!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes it was 42324 which I was rather suprised to see there. Most of that batch are still running so don't know what has happened to it!

Probably was up for MOT and needed too much work. A number of Cymru vehicles have gone through Muller Road from the P-BTH batch and some ex London Marshall machines as well

 

[anthony263]

First Cymru have recently had a batch of enviro 200 darts at their depots in Bridgend, Maesteg and Port Talbot and these have replaced a lot of the older vehicles.

Most of these vehicle slook to be the older marshals and one or two plaxton bodied darts

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

First Cymru have recently had a batch of enviro 200 darts at their depots in Bridgend, Maesteg and Port Talbot and these have replaced a lot of the older vehicles.

Most of these vehicle slook to be the older marshals and one or two plaxton bodied darts

That's what I said

 

[anthony263]

Speaking to one of my former collegues at First Cymru recently about this and it seems a number fo the older darts will be making their way to Bristol for disposal as they are replaced by newer vehicles.