(23 Dec 2022, 2:25 pm)Michael wrote Go North West lands Wigan and Bolton bus franchise contracts
https://twitter.com/GAGNigel/status/1606286942693269504
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Rotala has also won some contracts too - The Company has been awarded seven out of the nine available Small Franchises by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority ("GMCA") in Bolton, Bury, Wigan, Farnworth, Leigh, and Salford ("Small Franchise Areas") with a combined annualised revenue of approximately £18.7 million, starting in late September 2023.
Edit: Some reason it won't let me post the link for the above info! ^^^
Really can't see this starting anywhere near September 2023, it's just a matter of time before Stagecoach kicks off again and I don't blame them. They're the operator in Wigan and it's just been took away from them with nothing in return. I'd be pissed if I was them aswell especially when GoAhead have absolutely no coverage in either area.
It's been very poorly done imo and should be done similar to London on a route by route basis with the current operator winning their own routes back for the first round automatically. In the next rounds then they can bid for other stuff (or not). Not to mention the complications of just TUPE'ing staff to companies with different terms it's a potential mess.
The current scenario is unfair imo.