Rotala / Diamond Bus (North West)

[mic]

Why was 69142 scrapped please?

it is still stored at Bolton as far as i know

 

[winston270twm]

Why was 69142 scrapped please?

It's been sold for scrap, but not yet collected.

I suspect it is being scrapped due to a major unit failure, there was a picture on Facebook very recently from the rear showing engine removed etc (can't find it now)

Here's a picture of it from Oct 2019 looking sorry for itself then:
69142 (MX06VOV) Bolton Depot | Rotala - Diamond Bus North We… | Flickr

 

[Ancelljb]

Due to commercial reasons, we'll be repainting some buses for Preston Bus going forwards, unsure for how long for but obviously no longer than end of September.

Streetdeck 40724 returned from Blackburn this afternoon and 40770 went in the opposite direction.

Replying to this in a new thread as not exactly relevant to the TfGM one.

@Leyland Bus Is there a reason why Preston Bus has kept its own brand with the Diamond Bus network when other areas like the East Midlands and South East have rebranded to Diamond?

 

[Bwsbro]

Replying to this in a new thread as not exactly relevant to the TfGM one.

@Leyland Bus Is there a reason why Preston Bus has kept its own brand with the Diamond Bus network when other areas like the East Midlands and South East have rebranded to Diamond?

Simon Dunn has previously commented that the Preston Bus Brand is economically viable to stand alone. I think we all agree with the near constant swapping of buses that it would make more sense to merge

Also don't forget Preston Depot are on £12.65 a hour, whilst Manchester is on £14.30

 

[markymark2000]

Also don't forget Preston Depot are on £12.65 a hour, whilst Manchester is on £14.30

The wage doesn't matter, you can have multiple people in the same divisions on different wages, that's how Stagecoach works in most cases. Stagecoach Wigan and Stagecoach Hyde Road are on different rates. All Merseyside, Cheshire and South Lancs depots are on different pay deals.

Just makes things more complex as you are always negotiating with unions.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Replying to this in a new thread as not exactly relevant to the TfGM one.

@Leyland Bus Is there a reason why Preston Bus has kept its own brand with the Diamond Bus network when other areas like the East Midlands and South East have rebranded to Diamond?

I could be wrong, but I seem to recall it had something to do with the council... I forget what (a small minority share? ) I could have also dreamt that... ‍

 

[Simon75]

I could be wrong, but I seem to recall it had something to do with the council... I forget what (a small minority share? ) I could have also dreamt that... ‍

Could be as Simon Dunn said, an established well respected brand (like D&G buses ), or is under a separate operating licence, which would be easier if they wanted to sell up ?

 

[daodao]

There was an accident involving a Rotala (Diamond NW) bus earlier today (16/10/23) in Piccadilly Gardens, with sadly a number of injuries (at least 1 serious) to pedestrians and passengers.

Twelve hurt as bus crashes into cafe in Manchester

The driver has been arrested after the bus veered into a bubble tea cafe in Manchester city centre.

www.bbc.co.uk

A bus has crashed into a cafe in Manchester, with 12 people injured and the driver held on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
It struck the T4 bubble tea cafe in the Piccadilly Gardens area of the city centre at about 13:15 BST.
The casualties were believed to be passengers and pedestrians who were outside the cafe at the time, with one woman seriously injured.
Witness Michael Stevens told the BBC he felt "lucky to be alive".
Emergency services at first said "at least two" people had been hurt before later clarifying.
A police statement confirmed the 64-year-old driver had been arrested.
It added: "It has been established that 12 people have been injured with one woman in a life-threatening condition receiving treatment at hospital.
"Others involved are believed to be in a stable condition with minor injuries."
A spokesman for T4 said staff working in the cafe were "okay although shaken up".

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

There was an accident involving a Rotala (Diamond NW) bus earlier today (16/10/23) in Piccadilly Gardens, with sadly a number of injuries (at least 1 serious) to pedestrians and passengers.

Twelve hurt as bus crashes into cafe in Manchester

The driver has been arrested after the bus veered into a bubble tea cafe in Manchester city centre.

www.bbc.co.uk

Very sadly, confirmation from the BBC that one of casualties from yesterday's incident has subsequently died from her injuries. Very sad - one can only think of her family and friends. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-67132345

A woman has died after a bus crashed into a cafe in Manchester, injuring 11 other people.
Almena Amica, 77, died in hospital after the bus struck the T4 bubble tea cafe in the Piccadilly Gardens area of the city centre on Monday afternoon.
A 64-year-old man has been questioned on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was later bailed.
Paying tribute to her, Ms Amica's family said her presence would be "hugely missed".


Ms Amica was among pedestrians who were injured when the bus crashed at about 13:15 BST, with several passengers also hurt.
Her family said: "She loved music, gardening, TV soaps and nature. She was the senior member of our family, the eldest sister and great-great aunt.
"She was well-loved, our matriarch, and her presence will be hugely missed."
They added that Ms Amica, who was known to many as Mena, was "dedicated to her family, friends and faith".
Greater Manchester Police said the other causalities were either treated at the scene or in hospital for minor injuries.
Sgt Louise Warhurst said: "This was a tragic incident witnessed by a lot of people in a busy area of the city centre.
"The investigation is progressing thanks to many calls with information received from the public."
She urged anyone with information to get in touch with the force as investigations continue.

 

[Edvid]

Rotala will be brought into private ownership during the first quarter of 2024.

Rotala move out of publicly-traded ownership set for Q1 2024 - routeone

Rotala PLC is set to move into privately-held ownership in Q1 2024 after recommendation for the sale was gained.

www.route-one.net

Rotala PLC is set to move from publicly-traded status on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and into the private ownership of three of its Directors, their spouses, and a personal pension plan of one of those individuals, during Q1 2024.

It comes after three other, independent Directors of Rotala PLC recommended acceptance of the offer of 63.5p per share, and the reaching of agreement on terms and conditions around the purchase by the offerors of all shares in Rotala PLC that they do not already own.

A new business, Rotala Group, has been formed solely for the purpose of the acquisition. News of the potential sale first broke in September. Multiple irrevocable undertakings from Rotala PLC shareholders to vote in favour of the sale have since been received.

Behind Rotala Group are Rotala PLC Chief Executive Simon Dunn, Managing Director – North West Bob Dunn, and Non-Executive Chairman John Gunn. All will retain their positions with Rotala PLC. Simon Dunn and Bob Dunn will be Directors of the newly-formed company, and Mr Gunn will be its Chairman.

Once the ownership change is completed, Rotala PLC intends to continue to expand “by acquiring bus depots around the UK,” it says.

Speaking about the progression, Simon Dunn says: “We are excited about the opportunity for Rotala as a private company, without the regulatory and cost burdens associated with an AIM quotation, which will allow us to operate in a more agile way.”

The offer values Rotala at approximately £23.5 million. In details surrounding the change of ownership published on the company’s website, it is noted that the three Rotala Group leaders believe that a privately-held environment would better suit the delivery of the company’s long-term business plan thanks to a simplified corporate structure.

In addition, the they believe that if Rotala PLC was to remain on the AIM, the business “would continue to find it difficult to attract and retain sufficient interest from institutional investors.” There “is likely top be a significant desire from certain Rotala shareholders for a liquidity event which is not currently available to all of them.”

Rotala turnover has grown from under £4 million in 2005 to around £85 million in its most recent results. However, aspirations behind the business’s listing on the AIM “have not been realised,” and Rotala “has been unable to attract and retain the institutional investors which are key to the provision of new capital,” the company says.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Another Diamond Bus Streetdeck has hit Barton Lane Bridge this morning... The first major incident with "Bee Network" branding on show... Surely the TC and TfGM must be getting fed up of this lot by now?

Bus smashes into bridge as police rush to scene and block off road

Officers were called to the scene of the crash at around 7.20am

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

"A road in Salford is blocked this morning after a bus hit a bridge.

Police were called to the scene of the crash on Barton Lane in Eccles at around 7.20am. A bus has collided with the low bridge near the junction with Barton Road.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said no serious injuries were reported. The bus was empty at the time of the crash, they added.

The road is now blocked in both directions as emergency crews respond. Traffic is being diverted away from the area, as well as some bus services.

 

[weastebusdepot]

Diamond Streetdeck 40833 has been deroofed this morning under Patricroft canal bridge.