First Manchester

[gilesbus1]

RE: First Manchester

(03/06/2019 19:37)darylyates17 Wrote:  I wonder if First are waiting until all the TfGM Vantage contracts are close to ending before making a decision on selling Bolton?

I very much doubt that as the current Vantage contract runs for nearly a further 7 years, the original Vantage contract was for 10 years from when it started on 4th April 2016, we are now only 3 years in.

The sticking point with Bolton is obviously Vantage, as that is there only really high profile route. There is no doub't that the 582 and 471 make good returns and maybe also the 163, but the 36 and 37 and also 8 are no longer what they were in terms of financial return due to Stagecoach competition and also improved rail services on the Bolton line will cut profit on there further. I remember when the 36 was always well loaded now you see only small numbers on them, one often wonders why the ADL Enviro400's aren't taken off the 36 and 37 and switched to the 582 on which most journeys have standing loads but use saloons. Obviously now forthcoming Electric saloons for the 582 if they still come, means that the 582 is stuck with saloons for around a further 8 to 10 years from Christmas 2019.

As for services between Manchester and Bolton they need revising heavily with new routes and new timetables replacing services 36 and 37, in fact the 37 could be withdrawn altogether and replaced with a rerouted 12 Bolton to Walkden to Roe Green and then onwards to Swinton, Salford Precinct and Manchester via Worsley at a less often frequency replacing the facilities lost with the 12, 26, 34 and the current 37 as a service through Worsley and Roe Green wouldn't stand high frequencies.