Like the press-cuttings thread for bus operations in the North East; this is the thread to post interesting news items from other parts of the country. Discussion welcome.
Source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/b...rm-5431595
Jobs saved as famous bus firm gears up for takeover
2 Aug 2013 11:07
Finglands, the Manchester-based bus firm is set to be bought by FirstGroup in a£50,000 deal, which will see all its 100 staff transfer to the new owners.
![[Image: FTP_MENJBFingland-Bus-Ru005109_4_6593532-5431589.jpg]](http://i1.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/article5431589.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/FTP_MENJBFingland-Bus-Ru005109_4_6593532-5431589.jpg)
The end of an era is approaching for commuters as one of Manchester’s most famous bus firms looks set to be taken over.
Finglands, which was established in 1907 and has been running services across the city for decades, is set to be swallowed up by First Manchester.
The deal would see the firm’s white buses with beige, orange and brown stripes taken off the streets of Manchester.
The company operates a number of commercial bus routes and school contracts in the south and east of the city.
As part of the £50,000 deal, First Manchester will take over Finglands’ existing routes and acquire the lease of its depot on Wilmslow Road in Rusholme.
All of the 100 staff in Finglands’ bus operation would also have their employment transferred to FirstGroup as part of the deal, which needs to be ratified by the Office Fair Trading.
Finglands’ fleet of 41 buses would not be included in the purchase and bosses at Finglands’ owners East Yorkshire Motor Services group have indicated they would be used elsewhere.
First Manchester currently operates around 700 buses and employs 2,000 staff.
Over the last year the firm has cut fares on many routes by up to 30pc and saw an eight percent rise in passenger numbers in the three months between April and June this year.
In Finglands’ last filed accounts, it made a loss of £266,000 and bosses at the company said the sale was aimed at securing jobs. The firm is currently in consultation with 14 staff regarding the future of its coach business, which is separate from the bus operation.
Peter Harris, finance director at East Yorkshire Motor Services, which acquired Finglands in 1992, said: “It is no secret we have made a loss for the last few years. This is an ideal opportunity for us to work with First and secure as many jobs as possible.”
Dave Alexander, regional managing director for First in the north of England, said: “This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to Greater Manchester and represents an excellent opportunity to further grow bus passenger volumes.”
chris.slater@men-news.co.uk
A potential bus war? Or will we see First give up the Wilmslow Road corridor and discretely return to North Manchester while Stagecoach return to the south?
The thing that grabbed me initially, was the low value of the deal. However, when you take into account the depot lease, non-transfer of vehicles, the £50k adds up (makes sense).
However, why would First take that gamble? Why would they take over a load of routes, that haven't been able to make a profit?
My final query - is the EYMS Peter Harris the same Peter Harris of Go North East fame?
A little bit further than Yorkshire or Manchester, but sticking it in here, rather than create a new thread just for this.
www.metro.co.uk/2013/08/18/extraordinary-video-of-bus-driver-cutting-his-nails-while-at-the-wheel-gets-him-sacked-3928441/
The title of the video is probably self explanatory, but copied the text just incase :p
Nailing the art of driving while giving yourself
a manicure is neither big nor clever,
particularly for a Singaporean bus driver who
was fired after being filmed doing just that.
A shocked passenger on the bus – which was
hurtling down the motorway at the time –
whipped out their mobile phone to record the
driver’s incredible lack of attention to the road. The 24-second ‘clipping’ was reportedly taken on bus 858 from Singapore’s Changi Airport. The driver, who hasn’t been identified, was
dismissed by his employers as a result of the video.
‘We have investigated the incident and have taken appropriate disciplinary action against the bus captain. He was dismissed immediately,’ said a spokesman for bus operator SMRT.
‘We would like to stress that passenger safety is our priority, and our bus captains are constantly reminded and encouraged to observe safe driving habits while on the roads.’
(01 Nov 2013, 9:24 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24614134
Landmark case for wheelchair user in Leeds.
I think it'll lead to the wheelchair bays having side seats removed by operators, and operators limiting a buggy to the buggy space. I know I've sat on buses before where drivers have tried to get mothers with buggies o move, and they've point blank refused. Catch 22 for the driver as if (s)he doesn't shift them (s)he's in trouble, but if he stops for too long to try and get them to move then (s)he's also in trouble.
(01 Nov 2013, 9:53 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]I think it'll lead to the wheelchair bays having side seats removed by operators, and operators limiting a buggy to the buggy space. I know I've sat on buses before where drivers have tried to get mothers with buggies o move, and they've point blank refused. Catch 22 for the driver as if (s)he doesn't shift them (s)he's in trouble, but if he stops for too long to try and get them to move then (s)he's also in trouble.
First are now lodging an appeal against the ruling. This initial ruling goes against what was the test case, the one brought against Arriva in Darlington which ruled that the 'first come first serve' outline and the 'request to move but cannot enforce making people move' is within the DDA law.
(03 Oct 2016, 10:17 am)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]When people complain about having a bus service...
http://m.yorkpress.co.uk/news/14777541.B...k/?ref=rss
Perfect example of NIMBY-ism
Just seen this. There's complaining for the sakes of complaining, but this is on a new level. You cannot please people generally - you can never win. There will always be something to upset someone - even if there's nothing to even be upset about.
(18 Aug 2021, 8:51 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]He doesn't look trustworthy.
Who? Larry the Land Train or his owners?
(19 Aug 2021, 8:52 am)MurdnunoC wrote [ -> ]Who? Larry the Land Train or his owners?
Larry. He's in it for himself, absolutely.