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Post by michael1971 on Dec 22, 2018 10:02:23 GMT 1
taken from firstgroup enthusiasts 9/18 is that 30894 / 30912 / 30935 / 30944 to 48 and 53150 are withdrawn with 30894 going to Hadleigh and 30947/48 to Eastern Counties
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Post by michael1971 on Jan 28, 2019 21:07:18 GMT 1
Rusholme depot closed this weekend and buses 33844/47/49/50/61351/52/54/56 running out of Oldham today
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Feb 2, 2019 21:43:10 GMT 1
Rusholme depot closed this weekend and buses 33844/47/49/50/61351/52/54/56 running out of Oldham today I understand that the E400s have been transferred to Bolton & Oldham, and the Streetlites all to Oldham. This has resulted in Queens Road gaining extra Volvo B9TLs and B7RLEs. This gives QR the oldest fleet among the (only) 3 remaining First Manchester depots.
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Post by michael1971 on Feb 4, 2019 12:30:37 GMT 1
Rusholme depot closed this weekend and buses 33844/47/49/50/61351/52/54/56 running out of Oldham today I understand that the E400s have been transferred to Bolton & Oldham, and the Streetlites all to Oldham. This has resulted in Queens Road gaining extra Volvo B9TLs and B7RLEs. This gives QR the oldest fleet among the (only) 3 remaining First Manchester depots. yes 33841 / 33842 /33843 /33845 gone to Bolton 33844 / 33846 to 33850 to Oldham who have lost 37444 / 37449 / 66872 / 66880 to Queens Road there might be more i have been stuck in house ill all weekend so not had a chance to see on the slf thread i have seen a few errors but do not post on there
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Post by rst1987 on Feb 4, 2019 22:12:28 GMT 1
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Feb 9, 2019 21:15:14 GMT 1
I think the purchasers could be Rotala for Bolton, Stagecoach for Manchester Queens Road and Transdev for Oldham - except that route 184 would be replaced by extra route 180 journeys between Oldham and Manchester, with the Huddersfield service transferring to First WY at Huddersfield.
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Post by michael1971 on Feb 10, 2019 9:28:07 GMT 1
i think the Huddersfield service might have to be taken on my whoever if 184 did go to FWY they would have to change its times not sure stagecoach would be allowed to by anymore depots
bus 37448 now running out of Queens Rd depot seen on service 100 yestaday
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Feb 10, 2019 10:53:34 GMT 1
If you were talking about services fitting into their current operations, Transdev would ideally want Rochdale and Bury depots. Of course the problem is that there aren’t Rochdale and Bury depots, services in these towns are split between all three depots.
Stagecoach would want Ashton but again there isn’t an actual depot here, and maybe Oldham, but they may not be allowed any other depots. They’d definitely not be allowed Queen’s Road.
I can see them being sold to someone like Comfort Delgro or Transit Systems.
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Post by dwarfer1979 on Feb 11, 2019 9:12:17 GMT 1
If you were talking about services fitting into their current operations, Transdev would ideally want Rochdale and Bury depots. Of course the problem is that there aren’t Rochdale and Bury depots, services in these towns are split between all three depots. Stagecoach would want Ashton but again there isn’t an actual depot here, and maybe Oldham, but they may not be allowed any other depots. They’d definitely not be allowed Queen’s Road. I can see them being sold to someone like Comfort Delgro or Transit Systems. With Andy Burnham & TfGM being so vocal about pushing for franchising I can see those who are keen on getting involved in franchising to be in the lead for these depots, Stagecoach are out both because of that but also because competition issues mean only Bolton wouldn't raise major flags of overlap and reduced competition. Of the UK businesses only Rotala have really said anything remotely positive about franchising as they see it as a way they can get into new markets. As you say, people like ComfortDelgro & Transit Systems are both experienced in this area (and with the latter they have been very vocal about pushing for franchising in Cambridge even whilst running Whippet's existing services into the ground) and Arriva would normally fit in there but with the issues DB are experiencing at the moment they won't have the money for expansion given the continued rumours about them selling part or all of Arriva still swirling. Possibly the most obvious contender that hasn't been mentioned would surely be RATP who already have a small presence around Greater Manchester with Selwyns & the Metrolink and are more comfortable with the concept of franchising. Transdev is a complicated one as whilst their parent would be very happy with the idea of franchising you can't see the UK management team being quite so happy with the concept given their innovative, marketing & customer focused business style. Any of the big global players would be able to take on all of First Manchester in one go but it may come down to whether selling separately or combined brings in more cash to First.
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Post by sharksmith on Feb 19, 2019 8:41:35 GMT 1
Go-Ahead agrees terms with FirstGroup to purchase Manchester bus depot
The Go-Ahead Group is pleased to announce it has agreed terms with FirstGroup to purchase the Queen’s Road bus depot. The sale, which is due to complete in the next few months, will take Go-Ahead into Manchester, Britain’s second-largest urban area, for the first time.
Go-Ahead is looking forward to working in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to deliver operational excellence, innovation and a focus on customer service.
Go-Ahead is the largest bus operator in London and runs seven other regional bus companies in Britain, plus overseas bus services in Ireland and Singapore. Go-Ahead’s regional bus services have a customer satisfaction score of 91%, the highest in the industry, according to an independent study by Transport Focus.
While the initial focus will be on ensuring a smooth transition to maintain services from day one of the new operation, Go-Ahead will invest in the people, vehicles and systems to improve the local bus services to customers. Buses from Queen’s Road predominantly serve destinations in the centre, North Manchester and Salford.
David Brown, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead, said: “We look forward to contributing to Manchester’s community and transport. Buses are an essential public service that help passengers get to work, access education and healthcare, for leisure and visits to relatives. We aim to deliver a comfortable, reliable service while investing to improve air quality.
“As a business that prides itself on looking after our colleagues, we hope to reinvigorate the Queen’s Road depot. We also look forward to engaging in open conversations with TfGM, stakeholders and customers in the Manchester area to better understand how we can create a sustainable and thriving service.”
The Queen’s Road depot will operate as Go North West, while a local brand will be chosen in collaboration with customers and stakeholders.
Go-Ahead has agreed £11.17m in cash for the acquisition which includes 163 buses.
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Post by gooderson1 on Feb 19, 2019 9:35:40 GMT 1
As a matter of interest does anyone have a list of routes operated by Queens Road.
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Post by michael1971 on Feb 19, 2019 11:15:06 GMT 1
As a matter of interest does anyone have a list of routes operated by Queens Road. services that i know of are 17, 18, 19, 41, 52, 53, 100, 135 i think there are more
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Post by johndc1984 on Feb 19, 2019 18:31:21 GMT 1
Are the Vantage (Leigh Guided Busway) services operated out of Queens Road?
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Post by sharksmith on Feb 19, 2019 19:01:26 GMT 1
Are the Vantage (Leigh Guided Busway) services operated out of Queens Road? No, Bolton run the Vantage routes but Queens Road do also run the Metroshuttle routes or whatever they're called these days.
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SF07
Forum Member
Posts: 3,216
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Post by SF07 on Feb 19, 2019 22:57:00 GMT 1
Current Queens Road depot services: - Free Bus 1 and 2
- 17: Rochdale-Manchester
- 18: Langley-MRI
- 19: Langley-Middleton
- 33: Worsley-Manchester
- 41: Middleton-Sale
- 52: Failsworth-Trafford Centre
- 53: Cheetham Hill-Salford
- 63: Brookhouse-Manchester (one early morning journey)
- 67: Cadishead-Manchester
- 92: Bury-Manchester
- 93: Bury-Manchester
- 95: Bury-Salford
- 97: Bury-Manchester
- 98: Bury-Manchester
- 100: Warrington-Manchester
- 135: Bury-Manchester
Will be a couple of route corridors where First and Go North West will run routes along common sections of route, namely Middleton-Manchester (17/18 on GNW and 163 on First) and Salford-Manchester (8/36/37 on First, 67/100 on GNW plus Stagecoach's 34/38/50)
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Post by michael1971 on Apr 1, 2019 14:32:19 GMT 1
Oldhams 66860 VOR annual test ran out on 4th March and has not been renewed think 53808 may be withdrawn not seen that in ages
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Post by michael1971 on Apr 1, 2019 14:34:25 GMT 1
Firstbus to lose the 353 and 354 services this months changes with Nexus Move taking over these services this is the firm that run the 356 Saddleworth rambler Greenfield to Denshaw evening 350s move to Stagecoach Oldhams 58 and 415 services withdrawn
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SF07
Forum Member
Posts: 3,216
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Post by SF07 on Apr 21, 2019 17:23:51 GMT 1
Current Queens Road depot services: - Free Bus 1 and 2
- 17: Rochdale-Manchester
- 18: Langley-MRI
- 19: Langley-Middleton
- 33: Worsley-Manchester
- 41: Middleton-Sale
- 52: Failsworth-Trafford Centre
- 53: Cheetham Hill-Salford
- 63: Brookhouse-Manchester (one early morning journey)
- 67: Cadishead-Manchester
- 92: Bury-Manchester
- 93: Bury-Manchester
- 95: Bury-Salford
- 97: Bury-Manchester
- 98: Bury-Manchester
- 100: Warrington-Manchester
- 135: Bury-Manchester
Will be a couple of route corridors where First and Go North West will run routes along common sections of route, namely Middleton-Manchester (17/18 on GNW and 163 on First) and Salford-Manchester (8/36/37 on First, 67/100 on GNW plus Stagecoach's 34/38/50) Go North West have now submitted registrations for all these services except for FreeBus but have registered the X63. The start dates are 2nd June 2019.
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Post by michael1971 on Apr 21, 2019 19:38:02 GMT 1
buses 33846 and 63147 have moved from Oldham to Queens Rd this is just the start there is more to come
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Post by gooderson1 on Apr 22, 2019 10:10:07 GMT 1
According to the on TC website Go Ahead North West X63 is limited stop between Manchester and Heywood.
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Post by michael1971 on Apr 29, 2019 19:22:53 GMT 1
Oldham have lost 33847/33850/33855 and 63149 to 63153 to Queens Rd not sure what has gone the other way
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Post by michael1971 on May 7, 2019 14:51:58 GMT 1
someone put on Quack 77 fleet list loads of allocation changes however not all these changes have happened and i think some are false info changes that have happened 37448/49 66846/60/65 have returned to Oldham with solo 53808 been withdrawn
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Post by michael1971 on May 18, 2019 17:30:35 GMT 1
37444 and 66892 have returned to Oldham followed by 66920
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SF07
Forum Member
Posts: 3,216
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Post by SF07 on Jun 27, 2019 18:50:16 GMT 1
Bolton depot sold to Rotala PLC (currently operate at Diamond Bus NW in Greater Manchester). Vantage continues to be operated by First, while Oldham depot remains under First ownership for now. Services 2, 8, 36, 37, 68, 162/163, 471, 472/474, 501, 507, 511, 524, 561/562, 582 and X39 will transfer to Diamond Bus, who took over First's routes on the 571/572 and 575 last year. www.firstgroup.com/greater-manchester/news-and-service-updates/news/first-manchester-announces-intention-sell-boltonwww.diamondbuses.com/news/acquisition-in-manchester/
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Post by gooderson1 on Jun 28, 2019 8:32:32 GMT 1
Looking at the announcement about the acquisition on the Rotala website reveals that 125 vehicles are being leased from First for two years. It will be interesting to see if vehicles aquired to replace the leased vehicles will be new or second hand(possibly revamped ex London vehicles)
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