tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post1184819445640642576..comments2024-03-25T22:17:35.616+00:00Comments on Public Transport Experience: The Great 38 Debate [1]fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-66158009417019937282016-10-26T08:30:07.413+01:002016-10-26T08:30:07.413+01:00You are also purchasing the history and links to t...You are also purchasing the history and links to the passengers, termed goodwill on balance sheets. If you set up a fresh you have to establish yourself in the area which takes time as passengers in many areas are creatures of habit but if you take over an existing operation, even if you immediately rename it, you are seen by passengers as the heir to that business with the loyalty and established traffic that comes with it. It is easy to lose loyalty by not offering a good service but very hard to build it up as it takes a long time to prove yourself so if you can buy your way in to an established reputation it is always a positive. <br /><br />It is one of the big issues over QCs that pro-regulationists see routes as being without value as anyone can start one whereas operators see all the goodwill & loyalty they have built up as having a value that is important to them. Most operators change hands for more than the value of their assets and some of this is this concept of goodwill.dwarfer1979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-23710074205243586832016-10-25T09:02:35.977+01:002016-10-25T09:02:35.977+01:00Many reasons - you may be unable to agree a price,...Many reasons - you may be unable to agree a price, you may not be keen on the type(s)/age of vehicles, the owner might want to move them elsewhere, perhaps they're leased and not owned, maybe you have spares of your own.... <br /><br />Buying the business gives you a ready-made operating centre, a load of drivers and avoids the need to wait 56 days to start your service, giving the incumbant plenty of time to prepare and introduce fares offers etc.<br /><br />Finding enough buses, drivers and having somewhere to run them from is not always easy depending on the number of vehicles involved, plus there's the cost of lower revenue whilst the war is on-going and you may not win it anyway. There's also the risk of reputational damage if it all goes pear-shaped.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-76174690077857377192016-10-25T08:39:38.543+01:002016-10-25T08:39:38.543+01:00I don't entirely understand why you'd buy ...I don't entirely understand why you'd buy a bus company without the vehicles. If you want to take over a route, just register yours over the top of the existing one and undercut the fares until the incumbent gives up.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11739094192244593533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-49040344947527992016-10-24T10:16:08.351+01:002016-10-24T10:16:08.351+01:00Not sure that the citizens of Manchester and Salfo...Not sure that the citizens of Manchester and Salford would like to see their "cities" described as mere "boroughs"!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14502754753792780008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-79342021814673859802016-10-24T10:06:38.248+01:002016-10-24T10:06:38.248+01:00Stagecoach also took over what remained of JPT jus...Stagecoach also took over what remained of JPT just after it had bought BluebirdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-62992254609448413762016-10-24T09:46:32.713+01:002016-10-24T09:46:32.713+01:00Don't forget that Stagecoach originally set up...Don't forget that Stagecoach originally set up a competitive Stagecoach Manchester operation which they then sold to East Yorkshire's Finglands subsidiary (with a bit of horse trading around Hull to compensate) to clear the way for them to buy GMS. ken.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-24400212498161894722016-10-24T08:41:10.227+01:002016-10-24T08:41:10.227+01:00Thanks M of K. I heard a rumour that First were ap...Thanks M of K. I heard a rumour that First were approached by Bluebird but would not proceed because of CMA "concerns". But, I agree, Bluebird should be added to the mix.fatbusblokehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-43743315628189220582016-10-24T08:25:11.815+01:002016-10-24T08:25:11.815+01:00Arguably Stagecoach upped the ante with the takeov...Arguably Stagecoach upped the ante with the takeover of Bluebird, which took them into north Manchester at the end of 2012.<br />The First takeover of Fingland's (which did not include any vehicles) was seen by some as a "tit for tat" response.Man of Kentnoreply@blogger.com