First Manchester

[iMarkeh]

RE: First Manchester

(15/01/2020 15:32)Mrboo Wrote:  No one wants the Buses or the Depot they all want the routes.

I see GNW getting Oldham road routes and rest being put to tender apart from 409 that be Stagecoach or Rosso would say 6 going to Rosso also.

There is just no appeal to buying older depots anymore. They have high maintenance costs, are often larger than required and if you buy the depot, you end up TUPEing all the staff and that potentially costs a lot if their wages are higher than you want to charge.

The buses which First have aren't exactly the best either so you would have a lot of cost to get the fleet upto scratch.

It makes sense as to why someone would only want the routes but First have been so heavy with competition in previous years, companies are too scared to jump on First routes. It has pretty much been known that if you are going to compete with First, you go hard or go home (As First will flood routes and start rebranding routes). This reputation is good in their stronghold areas but when they want to get rid of some places (like Oldham), this is hindering their ability to get rid.

The Stagecoach driver shortage isn't helping things either so they can't expand as much as they may want to.