Go-Ahead Group sets out a new business strategy, “The Next Billion Journeys”: https://newsroom.go-ahead.com/news/the-g...n-journeys

There's more detail in the web link above, but:

The Next Billion Journeys

Our strategy, The Next Billion Journeys, will focus on three strategic objectives:

• Improve the performance of the underlying business
  
• Grow organically and externally
  
• Progress new opportunities
  

To achieve, these objectives, Go-Ahead’s management team will prioritise five enablers:

1. Strengthening governance and transparency
   
2. Improving digital and data capabilities
   
3. Consolidating Zero Emission capabilities
   
4. Rebuilding post-Covid confidence with passengers and clients
   
5. Enhancing people engagement and collaboration
   

One of the points I noted: "Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, Go-Ahead will implement initiatives to accelerate passenger recovery – including leveraging data to analyse new travel patterns and to tailor routes, schedules and ticketing to match passenger needs, plus marketing initiatives to rebuild confidence in public transport."

Now that could be read as something that is much needed, and really needs to happen to improve transport early morning and evening for commuters, but on the other hand it could be further eradication of anything that doesn't make a profit, similar to what has happened recently in North Tyneside. It'll be interesting to see how this one plays out, and exactly how it fits into the new world of 'partnership'

Just for peoples option if one company ran all the services in tyne and wear but cut out any duplication but dint reduce the service ( ifor example still ran the 28b to kibbles worth every hour on a Sunday) and still ran the 44 to Dinnington hourly after 6pm would they make a profit?

Personally,after GNE withdrawing routes lately in NT,personally i feel like this is them 'bowing out' of NT,i personally can see Stagecoach taking over

(05 Apr 2022, 7:37 pm)V514DFT wrote Personally,after GNE withdrawing routes lately in NT,personally i feel like this is them 'bowing out' of NT,i personally can see Stagecoach taking over

Not sure how they'd find profitability that isn't there? I'm not saying that is the right way of looking at providing bus services for people, but it's what we have and I can't see Stagecoach or Arriva operating any differently to maintain their margins.

(05 Apr 2022, 7:37 pm)V514DFT wrote Personally,after GNE withdrawing routes lately in NT,personally i feel like this is them 'bowing out' of NT,i personally can see Stagecoach taking over

I think with BSIP we could see certain services change hands such as the Q3 (St.Peters Basin - Great Park) fall under Stagecoach hands as an example as Walker is their territory so would be more beneficial for passengers in this area heading into town to have an alternative to the 12, you could even see the Q3 split with the City Centre to St.Peters Basin operated by Stagecoach and the latter City Centre to Great Park operated by Arriva and Merged into one service with Nexus 33/46 at a set frequency avoiding duplication and head 2 head competition among operators.

(05 Apr 2022, 7:39 pm)Adrian wrote Not sure how they'd find profitability that isn't there? I'm not saying that is the right way of looking at providing bus services for people, but it's what we have and I can't see Stagecoach or Arriva operating any differently to maintain their margins.

We should follow the model that Oxford has used eliminating all competition among operators on various corridors or where one operator has a more significant presence than the latter, North Tyneside would be better served by either Stagecoach or Arriva than Go North East.

Go North East could sacrifice the 19 & Q3 to Arriva for example in return they for the operation of the 685/X12 as i'm sure Go North East would not want to let go of the 309/310 & 311 even if they'd be better off from a passenger perspective with Stagecoach or Arriva.

(05 Apr 2022, 7:59 pm)Malarkey wrote We should follow the model that Oxford has used eliminating all competition among operators on various corridors or where one operator has a more significant presence than the latter, North Tyneside would be better served by either Stagecoach or Arriva than Go North East.

Go North East could sacrifice the 19 & Q3 to Arriva for example in return they for the operation of the 685/X12 as i'm sure Go North East would not want to let go of the 309/310 & 311 even if they'd be better off from a passenger perspective with Stagecoach or Arriva.

I would argue the 685 would be better with Stagecoach given that they operate the Cumbrian stretch and the route through to Thockley is primarily Stagecoach operated. One might argue the 74 and 684 would be more appropriate with Stagecoach too given the route they take within Newcastle, whether that would happen as they're Northumberland contracts is doubtful.

(05 Apr 2022, 7:59 pm)Malarkey wrote We should follow the model that Oxford has used eliminating all competition among operators on various corridors or where one operator has a more significant presence than the latter, North Tyneside would be better served by either Stagecoach or Arriva than Go North East.

Go North East could sacrifice the 19 & Q3 to Arriva for example in return they for the operation of the 685/X12 as i'm sure Go North East would not want to let go of the 309/310 & 311 even if they'd be better off from a passenger perspective with Stagecoach or Arriva.

The X12 is better with Arriva imo. The main purpose is Durham to Middlesbrough which are both Arriva areas connecting a whole lot of Arriva areas. Whether the Northern section should exist at all is another question but similar things could be said about the Southern section of the X21 aswell if things integrated properly ticketing wise and depots are in better places to serve both routes (Durham / Stockton).

For the Q3 on the Northern section there's questions whether it needs to exist at all now that Sage has closed. Argubly Great Park would be better served by extending both the 46 and X47 instead with more links (once the new road opens).

The Southern section is an ex Stagecoach route that they binned off years ago, they won't want it back.

(05 Apr 2022, 7:59 pm)Malarkey wrote We should follow the model that Oxford has used eliminating all competition among operators on various corridors or where one operator has a more significant presence than the latter, North Tyneside would be better served by either Stagecoach or Arriva than Go North East.

Go North East could sacrifice the 19 & Q3 to Arriva for example in return they for the operation of the 685/X12 as i'm sure Go North East would not want to let go of the 309/310 & 311 even if they'd be better off from a passenger perspective with Stagecoach or Arriva.

I understood Oxford had eliminated the competing routes but had not introduced interavailability of tickets.  hence passengers may find themselves with a service that's been halved in frequency, and their priced doubled.  Exactly how NOT to attract passengers!

I think that the key is easy ability to change buses AND not have to pay twice for the privilege.  Something like London's payment on the first bus, but you can then swap buses up to a certain time limit, and available across all operators.

Time limited tickets are a good idea as long as it’s a realistic time to take into account late running and cancellations.

The problem remains that because there are so many operators (I include all the smaller ones too) there are too many individual agendas . There is definitely a need to bring them all under the same umbrella and work together for the benefit of the travelling public

http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2022...expansion/
Passenger Transport have picked up on this.
Couple of bits stood out:

 
Go-Ahead also plans to target further acquisitions within the regional UK bus market and in a call to investors and city analysts, Schreyer said opportunities had been identified in the East Midlands and North of England.

 
wonder who those opportunities are?  

 
... its rail contract in Norway while closer to home there were performance issues at some of Go-Ahead’s smaller bus businesses that needed to be resolved 

 
it would be interesting to see what he thought these smaller businesses were

He also said rising inflation would provide an opportunity to grow modal share, revealing the group was fully hedged for its fuel requirements for this year and 50% next year. “Private car prices are not hedged on fuel like we are,” Schreyer added.

let's hope we don't see fare increases and finger pointing at fuel costs!


And finally...

Meanwhile, the Go-Ahead chief executive told Passenger Transport that the group would be keeping an eye on opportunities in the UK with Greater Manchester, Liverpool and “maybe a bit later in Leeds” key targets. “Wales is a clear opportunity,” he added.

Schreyer said he saw more opportunity than threat from the move to a franchised operating model. “It could be a small threat, but with the size of the markets that are opening it is a balance of risk and opportunity,” he said. “The opportunities are clearly stronger and bigger than the risks.”

A big change and acceptance that deregulation hasn't worked as well as anticipated?

north of England? I hope that's not arriva north east as surely the competition watchdog wouldn't allow that the ways buses are ran at the moment? Maybe they plan to take over Gateshead central taxi's?

(07 Apr 2022, 4:15 pm)Rob44 wrote north of England?  I hope that's not arriva north east as surely the competition watchdog wouldn't allow that  the ways buses are ran at the moment?  Maybe they plan to take over Gateshead central taxi's?

I have a feeling it might be related to TFGM franchising.

(07 Apr 2022, 4:15 pm)Rob44 wrote north of England?  I hope that's not arriva north east as surely the competition watchdog wouldn't allow that  the ways buses are ran at the moment?  Maybe they plan to take over Gateshead central taxi's?

Unless they perhaps take the proposed 'Walkergate' Op's of Arriva consisting of the following with anything else including the 306 staying with Arriva and moving to Blyth:

- Jesmond Minibus routes - Move to Riverside or Percy Main , likely former if EV's
- 44/45 (still provides competition with the 43) - Moved to Riverside
- 685 (moved to Hexham)

(07 Apr 2022, 4:15 pm)Rob44 wrote north of England?  I hope that's not arriva north east as surely the competition watchdog wouldn't allow that  the ways buses are ran at the moment?  Maybe they plan to take over Gateshead central taxi's?

By the areas listed there it seems like Cumfybus is the company they're looking at. They serve routes in both Manchester and Liverpool.

Small, independent, no likely struggling, easy pickings currently sadly.

(07 Apr 2022, 6:09 pm)Storx wrote By the areas listed there it seems like Cumfybus is the company they're looking at. They serve routes in both Manchester and Liverpool.

Small, independent, no likely struggling, easy pickings currently sadly.

i  do hate it when the southern press class manchester and liverpool as the north of england!

The East Midlands stuff is more intresting. Trent Barton, NCT, Arriva Derby?

(07 Apr 2022, 7:16 pm)DeltaMan wrote The East Midlands stuff is more intresting.  Trent Barton, NCT, Arriva Derby?

Centrebus maybe? Can't see Wellglade selling stuff up they always seem quite well ran tbh.

(07 Apr 2022, 7:16 pm)DeltaMan wrote The East Midlands stuff is more intresting.  Trent Barton, NCT, Arriva Derby?

Can't see it being Nottingham. NCT and Trent Barton have it sewn up, there's the council involvement with NCT and as a result, franchising isn't something I see happening. 

Not sure how feasible it would be, but tying something up in and around Grimsby/Scunthorpe and the demand responsive stuff they've got around there would tie in nicely with the EYMS work on the other side of the Humber.

Tie that in with the Stagecoach sale, potentially looking to get rid of some areas...
Although politically part of Yorkshire and the Humber, we all know Stagecoach there is part of the East Midlands division.

(07 Apr 2022, 9:10 pm)Andreos1 wrote Can't see it being Nottingham. NCT and Trent Barton have it sewn up and as a result, franchising isn't something I see happening. 

Not sure how feasible it would be, but tying something up in and around Grimsby/Scunthorpe and the demand responsive stuff they've got around there would tie in nicely with the EYMS work on the other side of the Humber.

Tie that in with the Stagecoach sale, potentially looking to get rid of some areas...

I think SC will leave Sunderland/Hartlepool. 

Potenially for GNE to have a massive takeover. As there are no links Between Sunderland and Hartlepool which makes really no sense.

(07 Apr 2022, 9:12 pm)Unber43 wrote I think SC will leave Sunderland/Hartlepool. 

Potenially for GNE to have a massive takeover. As there are no links Between Sunderland and Hartlepool which makes really no sense.

Stagecoach Cleveland and Stagecoach Busways are two separate networks ran by the same management. The networks have never been connected and it wouldn't make any sense for them being connected either.

It's no different to Arriva North East and Arriva Yorkshire which are the same management.

No way will they leave Sunderland though. Stagecoach Busways is supposedly the second most profitable operating area after Manchester and the competition regulator would block it either way. South Shields and Hartlepool are the two weak Stagecoach areas up here.

(07 Apr 2022, 9:28 pm)Storx wrote Stagecoach Cleveland and Stagecoach Busways are two separate networks ran by the same management. The networks have never been connected and it wouldn't make any sense for them being connected either.

It's no different to Arriva North East and Arriva Yorkshire which are the same management.

No way will they leave Sunderland though. Stagecoach Busways is supposedly the second most profitable operating area after Manchester and the competition regulator would block it either way. South Shields and Hartlepool are the two weak Stagecoach areas up here.

GNE could take over Shields, and just keep them all at Deptford, maybe Arriva for Hartlepool, thats if they even invest. 

I could see SC possibly selling off some depots with their routes.

I personally doubt we’ll see much expansion or purchases in areas that don’t have franchising in place as the commercial risks are too great at the moment (unless an independent drops into administration and it’s a decent fire sale opportunity)

When they mentioned the North, what about Transdev. Am I right in thinking that Transdev Blazefield are the only bus operations that they now have in the UK, so maybe an opportunity there - both Christian Schreyer and Louis Rambaud came to GAG from Transdev too.

(08 Apr 2022, 6:28 am)citaro5284 wrote When they mentioned the North, what about Transdev.  Am I right in thinking that Transdev Blazefield are the only bus operations that they now have in the UK, so maybe an opportunity there - both Christian Schreyer and Louis Rambaud came to GAG from Transdev too.

Would this not create competition issues with GNE/East Yorkshire though?

(08 Apr 2022, 6:28 am)citaro5284 wrote When they mentioned the North, what about Transdev.  Am I right in thinking that Transdev Blazefield are the only bus operations that they now have in the UK, so maybe an opportunity there - both Christian Schreyer and Louis Rambaud came to GAG from Transdev too.

Transdev have recently expanded with Yorkshire Tiger that doesn't come across as a company who is wanting to leave it's ops behind. 

They don't really serve any of the areas which is listed there as potential areas (East Midlands, Manchester (much), Liverpool).

One company that hasn't been mentioned is First. Possibly could be after the Oldham depot since they've pretty much pulled out of Manchester. I believe they have a random depot in Leicester aswell.

(08 Apr 2022, 9:48 am)Storx wrote Transdev have recently expanded with Yorkshire Tiger that doesn't come across as a company who is wanting to leave it's ops behind. 

They don't really serve any of the areas which is listed there as potential areas (East Midlands, Manchester (much), Liverpool).

One company that hasn't been mentioned is First. Possibly could be after the Oldham depot since they've pretty much pulled out of Manchester. I believe they have a random depot in Leicester aswell.

I believe on the presentation to the City on Tuesday morning, they only mentioned North Of England - neither Manchester or Liverpool was actually named.

 https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-...ss-review/

(08 Apr 2022, 12:16 pm)citaro5284 wrote I believe on the presentation to the City on Tuesday morning, they only mentioned North Of England - neither Manchester or Liverpool was actually named.

 https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-...ss-review/

Midlands and "the North" - if I were a betting man, I'd put money on some acquisitions from Arriva at some point

(08 Apr 2022, 8:39 pm)busmanT wrote Midlands and "the North" - if I were a betting man, I'd put money on some acquisitions from Arriva at some point

DB still stand by selling off the entire group, any method of sale would be attractive to Berlin now...

(08 Apr 2022, 12:16 pm)citaro5284 wrote I believe on the presentation to the City on Tuesday morning, they only mentioned North Of England - neither Manchester or Liverpool was actually named.

 https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-...ss-review/

Ah that's fair play then. Be surprised if they touch up here GNE is a bit of a basket case for GoAhead since it struggles / doesn't really make a profit. Can't see them wanting to expand it further.

(08 Apr 2022, 8:39 pm)busmanT wrote Midlands and "the North" - if I were a betting man, I'd put money on some acquisitions from Arriva at some point

Can't see it. Arriva Midlands is a basket case aswell you'd be stupid to buy it on it's own no doubt at an overinflated price.

Local independents of your likes of EYMS is what they'll target imo. There's a few down that way. Comfybus, Centrebus even Wellglade maybe.