(06 Aug 2023, 11:50 am)busmanT wrote I specifically said "new GNW drivers" - i.e. not ones working at Queens Road, but ones recruited specially for the new franchise work at Bolton and Wigan.
There is absolutely no guarantee that existing drivers will TUPE over to GNW - they don't have to and Diamond are retaining a depot in Bolton (Folds Road - rumoured to be the current Arriva depot) and Stagecoach are setting up a new depot for recently won schools work so some drivers might choose to stay with them.
And there is nothing as far as I can see to stop GNW using existing drivers on franchise work anyway.
I did see on facebook that Diamond drivers were given multiple options - transfer to Eccles, transfer to Folds Road, transfer to Preston Bus and TUPE across to GNW, so I would imagine some drivers will go to one of the first three options leaving GNW requiring a few drivers to operate the services.