(14 Jun 2019, 6:53 am)Tim33160

Still no sight of a full list of what has been taken over.   One list circulating shows ex First trainers still at QS - plus a bus in Oldham Corporation livery - this was repainted over two years ago back into First livery

Here's a full, confirmed, list.

68x Volvo B9TL 

37279 - 37290

37297

37301/03/04

37367 - 37382

37386/89

37390 - 37395

37397 - 37402

37404/09/11/13/14

37420/21/23/24/33/36/38/39

37440 - 37442

37452

37462 - 37466

14x Volvo B5 Hybrid

39207 - 39220

12x Optare Versa Hybrid

49101/2

49106 - 49112

49921 - 49923

3x Optare Versa (schools)

49230 - 49232

1x Optare Solo

59001

9x ADL Enviro400

33841/44/46/47/48/50/51/53/55

10x Streetlite

63147 - 63156

60x Volvo B7RLE

66831 - 66836

66844

66853 - 66859

66862

66866 - 66869

66871/74/75/76

66890/91/93/96/97/98

66902/08

66910 - 66913

66915

66920/22/23/28/29

66931/33

69176/77/79/85/95/96/97/99

69200/03/04/05

69325/26/27/28

69420

2x Training Volvo B7RLE

4979

4982

1x Reserve/Scrap

30962

(14 Jun 2019, 7:08 am)Dan

Here's a full, confirmed, list.

68x Volvo B9TL 

37279 - 37290

37297

37301/03/04

37367 - 37382

37386/89

37390 - 37395

37397 - 37402

37404/09/11/13/14

37420/21/23/24/33/36/38/39

37440 - 37442

37452

37462 - 37466

14x Volvo B5 Hybrid

39207 - 39220

12x Optare Versa Hybrid

49101/2

49106 - 49112

49921 - 49923

3x Optare Versa (schools)

49230 - 49232

1x Optare Solo

59001

9x ADL Enviro400

33841/44/46/47/48/50/51/53/55

10x Streetlite

63147 - 63156

60x Volvo B7RLE

66831 - 66836

66844

66853 - 66859

66862

66866 - 66869

66871/74/75/76

66890/91/93/96/97/98

66902/08

66910 - 66913

66915

66920/22/23/28/29

66931/33

69176/77/79/85/95/96/97/99

69200/03/04/05

69325/26/27/28

69420

2x Training Volvo B7RLE

4979

4982

1x Reserve/Scrap

30962

Cheers!

(24 Jun 2019, 4:45 pm)Adrian Developments in Manchester...

Greater Manchester mayor's plan to take control of buses
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-48744234

https://t.co/GoYTjUT5uy?amp=1

More on it here.

Bolton Depot purchased by Rotala: http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2031111-bus-company-drives-major-expansion-with-5.3m-acquisition

Interestingly from Rotala's press release the vehicles will only be leased for two years, being replaced and returned to First by end of June 2021.

(27 Jun 2019, 8:18 am)RBZ 5459

Bolton Depot purchased by Rotala: http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2031111-bus-company-drives-major-expansion-with-5.3m-acquisition

Interestingly from Rotala's press release the vehicles will only be leased for two years, being replaced and returned to First by end of June 2021.

I imagine First will use the generally mid-life former Bolton fleet as a bank of vehicles for fleet replacement across their nationwide operations for the next couple of years, excusing them from major investment during their detachment of UK bus.

The further fracturing of the GM network into more operators will likely play into the hands of those in favour of bus franchising in Manchester.

(28 Jun 2019, 10:27 am)tyresmoke Is it more operators though? Rotala already operate a sizeable operation across north Manchester

I’d say so. 5 years ago the operator split of GM was straightforward, First in the north and Stagecoach in the south. Working east from Wigan we now have Stagecoach, Rotala, Transdev Rosso, Go North West and First networks interweaving.

First had created a hub and spoke network with local services feeding into the towns where mainline services would take passengers between towns or into Manchester. We’re now in the situation where the town network and the mainline route are ran by different operators. Naturally each new operator will now evolve their network focused on their local operation, rather than the regional scale First once had.

In GM I think things will get worse for the passenger before they get better. Stand around Piccadilly in a few months and you’ll see E400s all looking the same in Olympia livery but you’ll have to look harder to spot a logo to see whether it’s a First, GNW or DBNW bus.

(27 Jun 2019, 8:18 am)RBZ 5459

Bolton Depot purchased by Rotala: http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2031111-bus-company-drives-major-expansion-with-5.3m-acquisition

Interestingly from Rotala's press release the vehicles will only be leased for two years, being replaced and returned to First by end of June 2021.

(28 Jun 2019, 6:32 pm)Michael Which buses have they leased from First?, don't really know the company so not sure what Rotala has leased.

Bolton has most of the B7RLEs left at FGM not all Urbans but all Urban 2s are based there. They also have a mix of 12/14 reg E400s with most of the 14 Regs. Along with some B9TLs, 1 57,lots of 58/09 Regs and the 2 12 Reg Gemini 2s.

They also have based the Vantage Gemini 3s but are not Included in the sale.

That’s just the allocation at the moment so it could change depending on what they are leasing.

(28 Jun 2019, 10:14 pm)NewcastleOne

Bolton has most of the B7RLEs left at FGM not all Urbans but all Urban 2s are based their. They also have a mix of 12/14 reg E400s with most of the 14 Regs. Along with some B9TLs, 1 57,lots of 58/09 Regs and the 2 12 Reg Gemini 2s.

They also have based the Vantage Gemini 3s but are not Included in the sale.

That’s just the allocation at the moment so it could change depending on what they are leasing.

(30 Jun 2019, 1:06 pm)Malarkey Blackpool Transport Fleet to be sold on after 5 years of service - https://www.route-one.net/articles/Business_deals/Blackpool_Transport_pushes_on_with_five_year_plan

Interesting comments and leanings towards the customer being a prime focus.

Time will tell whether it is an effective way to run the business and I'm sure other operators will jump on the bandwagon if it is!

'Passengers must come first'

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/17727730.amp/?ref=twtrec&__twitter_impression=true

Latest repaints from Go North West.

39219 - (BN61 MWX) - 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bengleeson/48240362396/in/dateposted/

63154 -  (SN14 DXU) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bengleeson/48240362556/in/feed

(09 Jul 2019, 8:10 pm)Malarkey

Latest repaints from Go North West.

39219 - (BN61 MWX) - 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bengleeson/48240362396/in/dateposted/

63154 -  (SN14 DXU) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bengleeson/48240362556/in/feed

Go North West Hybrid Refurbishment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgxaj0DYMH8&fbclid=IwAR2glWsSgZLuTHvW99phTT-kf7qe8bcqdDrMmx-TRpRHh4fdiC1JQp6TXtI

(24 Jul 2019, 9:37 pm)NewcastleOne Diamond North West will be taking on 10 ex Your Bus Mercedes Citaros G
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/48354260002/