Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

[gilesbus1]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester

(01/11/2012 07:10)M60lad Wrote:  I might be jumping the gun here but I wonder whether when Stagecoach were initially looking at Wigan Depot whether they checked out its location as well as Bryn is virtually on the doorstep of M6 which could be of use for any planned expansion of the MEGABUS network in the near or distant future and considering Bryn was actually built by Shearings it has had coaches in there before even when Thomas Hardies Volvo had it, so would be ideal for storing any MEGABUS's overnight or for calling in for fuel etc depending what route their on

This is now what I think having thought about it. If you look at Rugby and how profitable that depot now is and its location it kind of makes sense that thats the reason for the purchase not bus work outside Wigan.

I supect the other growth reason that they want it for is the Leigh Guided Busway because some of the routes are sheduled and always have been to cross Manchester City Centre and terminate in Stagecoach's teritory on Wilmslow Road at Owens Park. I wonder if park of the price is shutting FirstGroup off the Leigh Guided Busway.

So therefore two areas to grow Megabus and Busway.

I would add to the Megabus bit that on sevewral occasions Stagecoach Manchester has tried to run Megabus work but each time the space becomes more in demand for buses, so Megabus I would say is possibly the main one of the two reasons above, The people I spoke to yesterday suggested the site was the main reason for the purcahse and that therefore makes sense.

It is reeasonably close to Charnock Richard, Bolton West and Birch Services so they could become hubs along with closeness to Liverpool, Manchester and Preston so that would make it an ideal base for it.

I would suspect that it is reading between the lines going to become the base for Megabus services in the North West.

Gilsebus1