But we are.
It began with sales (to Stagecoach) of Wigan Depot, then Chester and the Wirral. First London went to GoAhead and the Ozzy Tower Transit. There was undefended capitulation in North Devon and between Plymouth and Torquay, again to Stagecoach; and, of course, in fbb's birth town of Northampton.
The Buses of Somerset idea proved over-optimistic and pruning has happened recently in Taunton; the competition with Webberbus has not yet been "resolved", to coin a phrase.**
Recent announcements have presaged some "reallocation of resources" in York (of which more later) and there has been a steady stream of rumours about the future of the Plymouth business.
But industry watchers weren't expecting yesterday's announcement!
Early arrivals in the fbb blog in-box were all about "Catch the Bus Week" including a cut-price offer on York's Park and Ride, beleaguered by last Thursday's battery bus blaze.
Beaming Ben Gilligan, complete with obligatory green hands, offers £2 return instead of £2.40.
Four chunks of happy-passenger bus news! Plus, of course, the equally obligatory PR photo, this year on Westminster Bridge. {Exciting photo awaited]. But yesterday's announcement from First Bus was something of a shocker.
First Bus has announced proposals to close three of its smaller depots; Newcastle-under-Lyme, Hereford and Bracknell later this year.
Under the proposals, which are subject to consultation, Bracknell will close on 28 August. Some routes will be retained but will operate from First’s depot in Slough, including Greenline Services to London ...
... and Legoland services. First Bus, as previously announced, has also sold Route 90, which operates between Reading and Bracknell.
Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of First Bus, said: “In 2012 we launched our transformation plan which has seen great success in a huge number of our local businesses, as we reported at our full year results earlier in June. We continue to see passenger and revenue growth across the business and we have a wide range of actions to be implemented throughout this year to further benefit our customers and maintain growth. However, despite all the hard work, we have been unable to make the progress we were seeking in Bracknell, Hereford and in some parts of the Potteries.
“Whilst these proposals are disappointing, we simply must ensure our local businesses are on a sustainable and solid footing in order that we maintain the momentum of change toward meeting our medium term financial targets and therefore protect jobs in the long term. Regrettably, we see no alternative, but to close these depots.”
Under the proposals, which are subject to consultation, Bracknell will close on 28 August. Some routes will be retained but will operate from First’s depot in Slough, including Greenline Services to London ...
... to Reading Buses.
The 90 will change on 25th July. fbb understands that all Bracknell local services will cease frrom the above August date.
First proposes to close Hereford and Newcastle-under-Lyme depots on 5 September.
In Hereford just 3,500 passengers per day travel with First and therefore the company plans to withdraw completely from the area.
In the Potteries First proposes to combine its Newcastle under Lyme and Stoke Adderley Green Depots, which are in close proximity. First said it remains committed to running a significant fleet in the Potteries in the long term and will remain a major employer, but operating two depots in such close proximity is no longer a viable option.
Presumably there will also be some service reductions?
In both Bracknell and Hereford, given the volume of other bus operators in the area ...
Courtney buses in Bracknell
DRM buses in Hereford
... First said it was confident that customers shouldn’t be left without a service.
fbb expects Courtney and DRM to pick up some or all of the local business in their areas.
Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of First Bus, said: “In 2012 we launched our transformation plan which has seen great success in a huge number of our local businesses, as we reported at our full year results earlier in June. We continue to see passenger and revenue growth across the business and we have a wide range of actions to be implemented throughout this year to further benefit our customers and maintain growth. However, despite all the hard work, we have been unable to make the progress we were seeking in Bracknell, Hereford and in some parts of the Potteries.
“Whilst these proposals are disappointing, we simply must ensure our local businesses are on a sustainable and solid footing in order that we maintain the momentum of change toward meeting our medium term financial targets and therefore protect jobs in the long term. Regrettably, we see no alternative, but to close these depots.”
So there we have it. To maintain the profitability of the business as a whole, to keep major shareholders happy, it is necessary to prune this twigs of the First forest that are not bearing fruit.
But no more news of Plymouth?
fbb will take a look at the Bracknell and Hereford areas in later blogs.
And if we want to speculate, there is this press release from South Yorkshire PTE.
Don't bother to log on to the URL above : there is NOTHING about "The Deal" there! Well done PTE.
It is the phrase "remove excess services" which provokes another sobering thought.
But no more news of Plymouth?
fbb will take a look at the Bracknell and Hereford areas in later blogs.
And if we want to speculate, there is this press release from South Yorkshire PTE.
The Deal’s public transport commitments include delivering improvements to local bus services by developing an efficient, integrated bus network that meets the needs of a growing economy, and is financially sustainable for fare payers, the taxpayer and bus operators.
Plans for the city’s optimised bus network builds on the progress of the successful Sheffield Bus Partnership; a voluntary agreement between Sheffield City Council (SCC), South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) and bus operators First South Yorkshire, Stagecoach in Sheffield and Sheffield Community Transport.
Developed by the Partnership, proposals include improved key routes into the city centre that aim to remove excess services to keep traffic flowing and aid faster bus journey times, minimising congestion and pollution. And the reinvestment of services to improve access to employment and training sites and other public transport modes.
Public consultation on the network will take place between Monday 29 June and Friday 31 July 2015 online at travelsouthyorkshire.com/sbp.
Plans for the city’s optimised bus network builds on the progress of the successful Sheffield Bus Partnership; a voluntary agreement between Sheffield City Council (SCC), South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) and bus operators First South Yorkshire, Stagecoach in Sheffield and Sheffield Community Transport.
Developed by the Partnership, proposals include improved key routes into the city centre that aim to remove excess services to keep traffic flowing and aid faster bus journey times, minimising congestion and pollution. And the reinvestment of services to improve access to employment and training sites and other public transport modes.
Public consultation on the network will take place between Monday 29 June and Friday 31 July 2015 online at travelsouthyorkshire.com/sbp.
Don't bother to log on to the URL above : there is NOTHING about "The Deal" there! Well done PTE.
It is the phrase "remove excess services" which provokes another sobering thought.
** although more First buses are in the new green livery and Webber lost the Flyer Park and Ride contract to First.
EXCITING NEWS IN CORNWALL! Look what's coming soon ...
Click on the link, slavering with near uncontained delirium, and what do you find?
Just the above. It looks a bit like a First Impressions super-twiddly web site.
Exciting news indeed. (Yawn).
Will the timetables (e.g. 39 & 45; 1, 1A & 1B) still be incomprehensible?
Will the bus stop flags tell us which buses stop there?
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Meanwhile in Cornwall ...
... this email also popped into fbb's inbox later yesterday.EXCITING NEWS IN CORNWALL! Look what's coming soon ...
Click on the link, slavering with near uncontained delirium, and what do you find?
Exciting news indeed. (Yawn).
Will the timetables (e.g. 39 & 45; 1, 1A & 1B) still be incomprehensible?
Will the bus stop flags tell us which buses stop there?
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Next bus blog : Wednesday 1st July
