Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

[gka472l]

RE: First Chester & Wirral

(10/12/2012 15:53)R874 ERE Wrote:  

(10/12/2012 15:30)Polo Mint Wrote:  Will Stagecoach be buying any new vehicles for their new Chester and Merseyside operation?

I must admit I am surprised First cannot make money here, they have a strong position in Chester and what appears to be a decent niche in the Mersey area. Maybe some new Stagecoach vehicles and a network review can help things more?

There are some new buses due to arrive over the course of the year i'm told, presumably more enviro 300s.

From what i've been told, its not that there isnt money to be made in this area, its more that first just arnt interested. First potteries transferred chester and wirral to first manchester because they want to focus on the stoke area, manchester doesnt want us because they want to focus in manchester only - they want to try and maximise profit within the local area- chester andwirral just isnt really profitable compared to the rest of the manchester / potteries operation, if that makes sense!

Reckon First probably could see no way to expand in the Merseyside area, Stagecoach already having a large Merseyside area operation are much better placed, I have seen reported elsewhere that 20 Enviro200's are due, 14 for Birkenhead & 6 for Chester, and were said to be due around christmas/new year period.......confirmation needed of course, but would be no surprise given that a similar number of the same are in course of delivery to Wigan (plus 11 Enviro300's), and not forgetting several '04' (& a 'V') Darts being in store at Gillmoss pending use at Birkenhead/Chester.

HTH