Jack
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Post by Jack on Nov 11, 2009 12:01:23 GMT 1
The competition commission has ordered Stagecoach to sell the Preston Bus operations. This will be openned to be a bidding process where the successful bid will be an effecient competitor to Stagecoach.
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kendall17
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Post by kendall17 on Nov 11, 2009 12:45:38 GMT 1
Haven't Stagecoach invested hugely into Preston bus' fleet? Bet thats a kick in the teeth unless they transferr the newer ones out and replace them with older buses from fleets nationwide.
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Post by timelesstable on Nov 11, 2009 12:59:58 GMT 1
Haven't Stagecoach invested hugely into Preston bus' fleet? Bet thats a kick in the teeth unless they transferr the newer ones out and replace them with older buses from fleets nationwide. The vehicles to be included in the sale would be agreed prior to any bidding process |
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kendall17
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Post by kendall17 on Nov 11, 2009 13:44:30 GMT 1
Haven't Stagecoach invested hugely into Preston bus' fleet? Bet thats a kick in the teeth unless they transferr the newer ones out and replace them with older buses from fleets nationwide. The vehicles to be included in the sale would be agreed prior to any bidding process Agreed, but now, before any bids are loged, could they transfer their recent investments out and bring in some older buses from the fleets elsewhere? |
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Nov 11, 2009 15:54:42 GMT 1
Stagecoach invested in new buses for the services they ran which operated parallel to Preston Bus services, most of those buses went elsewhere I believe when the Stagecoach and Preston Bus networks were merged.
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Post by timelesstable on Nov 11, 2009 17:24:01 GMT 1
The vehicles to be included in the sale would be agreed prior to any bidding process Agreed, but now, before any bids are loged, could they transfer their recent investments out and bring in some older buses from the fleets elsewhere? They could do whatever they want prior to the bidding process and bring in significent numbers of older buses. Once the bidding process is underway the fleet at Preston should be fixed and agreed in any bids |
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Post by 576 Gemini 2 on Nov 12, 2009 19:39:50 GMT 1
Haven't Stagecoach invested hugely into Preston bus' fleet? Bet thats a kick in the teeth unless they transferr the newer ones out and replace them with older buses from fleets nationwide. They did that with the newest Volvo Olympians and B10Ms P types when they sold the East Lancashire operations to Blazefield and replace them with ex Gmpte Olympians and Metrobuses, and non-standard types such as B6LES/Alexander alx200s and Dennis Javelins. They will probably sell most of the buses that were acquired with the Preston business mainly the ones that have not been repainted (as I believe that they were told not to paint any in beach ball colours while the investigation into the deal was carried out )to who ever get the business |
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77syk7
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Post by 77syk7 on Nov 13, 2009 10:27:14 GMT 1
I can see Transdev being interested in this sale to expand on their Lancashire united operations
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Nov 13, 2009 18:00:25 GMT 1
Well it doesn't look like anything will happen too soon if Stagecoach appeals the decision.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Jan 4, 2010 19:25:43 GMT 1
Transdev would indeed be the most logical purchaser as they already run into Preston on route 152.
Mind you, Go-Ahead are mopping up many small operations and could be in the running. Their recent purchases have been East Thames Buses, Arriva Horsham, Plymouth Citybus, with Arriva Hexham (in a swap with their Northumbria operation) and Ipswich Buses apparently in the pipeline. Also, the PrestonBus fleet including Tridents-East Lancs, Omnidekkas, Esteem single-deckers and Solos would suit Go-Ahead.
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Post by driver6540 on Jan 10, 2010 20:57:58 GMT 1
This just goes to show how ridiculous this competition commission is. why sell preston bus to stagecoach in the first place?, Only to be told to re-sell in a little over 12 months. And if transdev is the successful bidder, Whats to stop the competition commission ordering them to do the same, after all, havent transdev got significant interests in the North/North west. I genuinely feel sorry for the bus users of preston. All they want is a reliable bus service and could well do without this crappy governments interference.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Jan 10, 2010 22:15:37 GMT 1
If Transdev are the successful bidders they are unlikely to meet with problems with the Competition Commission. Their purchase of Blackburn was cleared. Also, Transdev run just one route into Preston (the 152 from Burnley) and never competed with PrestonBus. As Stagecoach did compete with PrestonBus they were perceived to have made the sell-out inevitable.
It was reported that Arriva were willing to purchase PrestonBus but were deterred by the ongoing competition by Stagecoach. This in itself makes a mockery of deregulation.
I reckon Transdev and Go-Ahead are the frontrunners, with Arriva a long shot.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jan 11, 2010 16:52:34 GMT 1
If Transdev are the successful bidders they are unlikely to meet with problems with the Competition Commission. Their purchase of Blackburn was cleared. Also, Transdev run just one route into Preston (the 152 from Burnley) and never competed with Preston Bus. As Stagecoach did compete with Preston Bus they were perceived to have made the sell-out inevitable. Transdev operate two routes into Preston. The 152 from Burnley and the 280/X80 from Skipton. But still nether are in competition with Preston Bus. Would Transdev be a welcome operator to Preston? When they took on Blackburn Transport they did a good job in re-launching the bus network with the SpotOn branding but since then their standards have dropped and services levels decreased. Ok its more to do with the low level of funding from the Government for the free travel for the over 60s but its still causing them to reduce their bus network and service levels. Would they really want to take on more work when they are having a hard time of keeping what they have already going? It was reported that Arriva were willing to purchase Preston Bus but were deterred by the ongoing competition by Stagecoach. This in itself makes a mockery of deregulation. Indeed that was the problem with the original sale of Preston Bus, no one wanted to take it on as they would have ended up in competition with Stagecoach. And surely this problem will arise again with the forced sale of Preston Bus by the CC. David.c |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Jan 11, 2010 21:32:43 GMT 1
Thank you for reminding me about route 280/X80 David. I actually rode it last August but just forgot about it!
Indeed, unless the CC instruct Stagecoach to pull out of Preston city routes altogether this will probably deter other bidders.
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Post by humberside on Jan 12, 2010 13:11:38 GMT 1
Would they really want to take on more work when they are having a hard time of keeping what they have already going? Albeit a far smaller scale, Transdev did take on the Blackburn-Chorley service late last year after Stagecoach dropped it, so I'm sure they would consider Preston Bus. They aren't totally opposed to expansion in the area |
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Post by driver6540 on Jan 12, 2010 18:58:05 GMT 1
I suppose its a given that a biggish concern like Transdev or Go-Ahead will end up with Preston bus. But i think it would be good if a municipal company like Blackpool transport ended up with it. A romantic notion maybe?, but it would be nice to see a municipal company expanding for a change, instead of being taken over.(a touch of irony as well). I seem to remember blackpool bidding for lancaster city transport some years ago, obviously losing out to the mighty stagecoach.
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77syk7
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Post by 77syk7 on Jan 21, 2010 17:25:27 GMT 1
Blackpool Transport do sound to be having a rough time at the moment with service cuts / job losses next month, so I do not see them as a contender. My money would be on Transdev to link in with their existing Lancashire operations.
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Post by driver6540 on Jan 22, 2010 21:40:51 GMT 1
I didnt think that Blackpool Transport would be a serious contender, I was just thinking out loud, how nice it would be for a municipal operator to be in a position to bid for a contract like that. As bus enthusiasts are you not a little bit fed up with these big operators gobbling up the smaller municipals?. Maybe its just me, but when i see a recently taken over fleet adorned in the corporate barbie/beachball or inter-urban liveries, i just think a little bit of our regional identities have been lost.
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Post by timelesstable on Jun 3, 2010 19:35:47 GMT 1
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Jun 8, 2010 12:40:29 GMT 1
Interesting timing given that Stagecoach have had to change some Preston services at the weekend ahead of the re-sale of Preston Bus. Timetables now show Stagecoach in Lancashire and Preston Bus as seperate companies
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Post by dwarfer1979 on Jun 8, 2010 14:04:18 GMT 1
Interesting timing given that Stagecoach have had to change some Preston services at the weekend ahead of the re-sale of Preston Bus. Timetables now show Stagecoach in Lancashire and Preston Bus as seperate companies Preston Bus is currently being run by a Competition Commission appointed administrator whilst Stagecoach organise the sale (what happens after this most recent ruling remains to be seen). This has led to the ridiculous situation where the Preston Bus bit has registered a service just in front of a Ribble service. Similarly there was a situation where Stagecoach was forced to hand over 2 services in Preston which were commercial ventures started by Ribble which didn't comepete or replace Preston Bus services. It's a complete farce and the sooner something is done about the OFT/CC the better, especially given that the head of OFT (I think?) was outed as one of the highest paid civil servants, paid approx 3 times as much as the Prime Minister. Given that the OFT found that the major supermarkets were not abusing their market position, much to the astonishment of everyone who had any dealings with them, but treats the bus industry as satan incarnate despite having almost no market power over anyone, shows just how little these organisations appear to know. |
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jun 8, 2010 17:01:09 GMT 1
It's a complete farce and the sooner something is done about the OFT/CC the better, especially given that the head of OFT (I think?) was outed as one of the highest paid civil servants, paid approx 3 times as much as the Prime Minister. Given that the OFT found that the major supermarkets were not abusing their market position, much to the astonishment of everyone who had any dealings with them, but treats the bus industry as satan incarnate despite having almost no market power over anyone, shows just how little these organisations appear to know. The bus industry is being investigated twice as it is also included in an investigation taking place about the ownership of UK infrastructure. The initial investigation into the whole industry as a whole is a farce, wasn't similar studies carried out during the process of the LTA 2008 being drawn up? They should think laterally not literally and see the bus as a transport mode in which people make choices on which mode they'll use to carry out their journey. The biggest competition threat to the industry isn't itself and the larger players within. It's the car when it comes to policy decisions on how road space is shared out between modes. This could be exemplified in Manchester for example, I believe the City Council and GMPTE want to ban buses off Mosley Street with it being tram only. Perhaps the OfT and competition commission should investigate how prioritising the tram over the bus will be anti competitive. However, back to the case in point. I'm sure many bus passengers will be worst off because of the decision made initially. It will have been the first time that passengers will have enjoyed an integrated network which will have resulted in cheaper travel where you don't require two operator tickets. More convenience on the removal of fare boxes. Furthermore, the unelected unaccountable beaurocrats are making decisions which aren't in the passengers interests by withdrawing poorer performing routes to make the business more attractive for bidders. Overall, to summarise the stupidity of the CC as the Monster Raving Loony Party put it "how come there is only one CC?". Enough said. |
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Post by humberside on Jun 8, 2010 23:04:29 GMT 1
Similarly there was a situation where Stagecoach was forced to hand over 2 services in Preston which were commercial ventures started by Ribble which didn't comepete or replace Preston Bus services. It's a complete farce Sounds like it. What reasons are being given for Stagecoach having to hand over such services to Preston Bus? |
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Dec 6, 2010 21:34:02 GMT 1
Stagecoach have started to prepare for the loss of the Preston Bus services. As of yesterday (5th December), tickets are no longer interchangable. *Services 1, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 4A, 4C, 9, 40, 41, 59, 61, 68, 109, 113, 114, 125, 126, 150, 151, X2 and X61 will accept Stagecoach tickets *Services 3A, 3B, 8, 14, 16, 19, 19A, 22, 23, 29, 31, 35, 44, 88A, 88C, 89 and Park & Ride will accept Preston Bus tickets *Service 11 will transfer from Preston Bus to Stagecoach upon the sale of Preston Bus. Multi-journey tickets (weekly, monthly) bought before 5th December can still be used on both companies until expiry of ticket. www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupdatedetails.aspx?Id=1873 |
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Post by driver6540 on Dec 7, 2010 20:29:20 GMT 1
Stagecoach have started to prepare for the loss of the Preston Bus services. As of yesterday (5th December), tickets are no longer interchangable. Which bids the question, who will take over Preston Bus?. Following the previous posts on this subject it would appear Transdev are the favourites, but surely if they are successful it would leave them wide open to competition with Stagecoach to win back the routes theyve lost during this process. I will openly admit I probably know a lot less about the bus industry as a whole than most other forum members, but i do feel Transdev will not be able to compete with Stagecoach and its financial muscle. Transdev are just not big enough and will be blown out of the water should a bus war start in Preston, due to the CC descision. Feel free to tell me if im wrong, but wouldnt First or Arriva be a better bet for the Preston townsfolk. My reasoning is they would be less likely to buckle during competition with Brian Souters army. *Services 1, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 4A, 4C, 9, 40, 41, 59, 61, 68, 109, 113, 114, 125, 126, 150, 151, X2 and X61 will accept Stagecoach tickets *Services 3A, 3B, 8, 14, 16, 19, 19A, 22, 23, 29, 31, 35, 44, 88A, 88C, 89 and Park & Ride will accept Preston Bus tickets *Service 11 will transfer from Preston Bus to Stagecoach upon the sale of Preston Bus. Multi-journey tickets (weekly, monthly) bought before 5th December can still be used on both companies until expiry of ticket. www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupdatedetails.aspx?Id=1873 |
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