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Post by wirewiper on Jan 7, 2020 7:41:44 GMT
It has just been reported on the Plymothian Transit blog, that Go-Ahead-owned Plymouth CityBus has won the contract for the entire Cornwall tendered bus network. This represents around 50% of the regular bus network (the other 50% is operated commercially) and the closed school routes. www.plymothiantransit.com/2020/01/all-change-in-cornwall-2020.htmlThe new contract commences on 1st April, and as well as their existing work this adds around 130 buses' worth of work to the company. It remains to be seen how other operators react, especially First Kernow Bus who have invested heavily in Cornwall recently and who must have thought this was theirs for the taking. The huge blow is only softened by their strong commercial network in West Cornwall, and the retention of the Truro Park & Ride contract.
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Post by george on Jan 7, 2020 8:17:56 GMT
It has just been reported on the Plymothian Transit blog, that Go-Ahead-owned Plymouth CityBus has won the contract for the entire Cornwall tendered bus network. This represents around 50% of the regular bus network (the other 50% is operated commercially) and the closed school routes. www.plymothiantransit.com/2020/01/all-change-in-cornwall-2020.htmlThe new contract commences on 1st April, and as well as their existing work this adds around 130 buses' worth of work to the company. It remains to be seen how other operators react, especially First Kernow Bus who have invested heavily in Cornwall recently and who must have thought this was theirs for the taking. The huge blow is only softened by their strong commercial network in West Cornwall, and the retention of the Truro Park & Ride contract. Just to get this right there was 29 tenderes recieved to run the service? That seems like a lot any congratulations to Go Ahead and commiserations to First.
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Post by Russ TA1 on Jan 7, 2020 8:34:49 GMT
Congratulations Wow fantastic News.
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Post by wirewiper on Jan 7, 2020 8:40:40 GMT
That does seem like a lot admittedly, but I suppose there would have been some consortia and probably European and other overseas bidders for such a big contract. I expect Stagecoach, Arriva and Rotala would all have put in bids, but Plymouth CityBus probably had the edge, being already a contractor with local knowledge and with the backing of the parent Go-Ahead group.
And I thought that after London, the South-West was going to be a sleepy little backwater for bus interest!
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Post by snowman on Jan 7, 2020 9:35:12 GMT
It has just been reported on the Plymothian Transit blog, that Go-Ahead-owned Plymouth CityBus has won the contract for the entire Cornwall tendered bus network. This represents around 50% of the regular bus network (the other 50% is operated commercially) and the closed school routes. www.plymothiantransit.com/2020/01/all-change-in-cornwall-2020.htmlThe new contract commences on 1st April, and as well as their existing work this adds around 130 buses' worth of work to the company. It remains to be seen how other operators react, especially First Kernow Bus who have invested heavily in Cornwall recently and who must have thought this was theirs for the taking. The huge blow is only softened by their strong commercial network in West Cornwall, and the retention of the Truro Park & Ride contract. It sounds like First Kernow bid was cheaper, but PCB offered higher quality Also seems First were offering euroVI buses (either new or from elsewhere) It is understood a number of stand alone school tenders are being rebid, with lower quality euro2 buses as Cornwall didn't like the price of newer buses (required to meet the quality spec which Cornwall specified). Not sure how many school routes are awarded but I think it is about third of approx 200 I have read on another forum that First have guaranteed work for about 200 drivers and staff, as they don't want PCB pinching them. That gives PCB just under 3 months to find about 200 extra drivers and I understand First pay more so can't see many voluntarily leaving to get a lower paid job. I wonder where you find 200 spare bus drivers in Cornwall near start of summer season from.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2020 9:48:24 GMT
It has just been reported on the Plymothian Transit blog, that Go-Ahead-owned Plymouth CityBus has won the contract for the entire Cornwall tendered bus network. This represents around 50% of the regular bus network (the other 50% is operated commercially) and the closed school routes. www.plymothiantransit.com/2020/01/all-change-in-cornwall-2020.htmlThe new contract commences on 1st April, and as well as their existing work this adds around 130 buses' worth of work to the company. It remains to be seen how other operators react, especially First Kernow Bus who have invested heavily in Cornwall recently and who must have thought this was theirs for the taking. The huge blow is only softened by their strong commercial network in West Cornwall, and the retention of the Truro Park & Ride contract. It sounds like First Kernow bid was cheaper, but PCB offered higher quality Also seems First were offering euroVI buses (either new or from elsewhere) It is understood a number of stand alone school tenders are being rebid, with lower quality euro2 buses as Cornwall didn't like the price of newer buses (required to meet the quality spec which Cornwall specified). Not sure how many school routes are awarded but I think it is about third of approx 200 I have read on another forum that First have guaranteed work for about 200 drivers and staff, as they don't want PCB pinching them. That gives PCB just under 3 months to find about 200 extra drivers and I understand First pay more so can't see many voluntarily leaving to get a lower paid job. I wonder where you find 200 spare bus drivers in Cornwall near start of summer season from. Ah I might apply ! Cheaper cost of living, better quality of life.
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Post by george on Jan 7, 2020 9:52:06 GMT
It sounds like First Kernow bid was cheaper, but PCB offered higher quality Also seems First were offering euroVI buses (either new or from elsewhere) It is understood a number of stand alone school tenders are being rebid, with lower quality euro2 buses as Cornwall didn't like the price of newer buses (required to meet the quality spec which Cornwall specified). Not sure how many school routes are awarded but I think it is about third of approx 200 I have read on another forum that First have guaranteed work for about 200 drivers and staff, as they don't want PCB pinching them. That gives PCB just under 3 months to find about 200 extra drivers and I understand First pay more so can't see many voluntarily leaving to get a lower paid job. I wonder where you find 200 spare bus drivers in Cornwall near start of summer season from. Ah I might apply ! Cheaper cost of living, better quality of life. good luck if you do, Cornwall is a lovely part of the country.
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Post by wirewiper on Jan 7, 2020 15:39:25 GMT
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Post by ThinLizzy on Jan 7, 2020 16:37:40 GMT
It has just been reported on the Plymothian Transit blog, that Go-Ahead-owned Plymouth CityBus has won the contract for the entire Cornwall tendered bus network. This represents around 50% of the regular bus network (the other 50% is operated commercially) and the closed school routes. www.plymothiantransit.com/2020/01/all-change-in-cornwall-2020.htmlThe new contract commences on 1st April, and as well as their existing work this adds around 130 buses' worth of work to the company. It remains to be seen how other operators react, especially First Kernow Bus who have invested heavily in Cornwall recently and who must have thought this was theirs for the taking. The huge blow is only softened by their strong commercial network in West Cornwall, and the retention of the Truro Park & Ride contract. I do worry about the 3-months Go Ahead has to find 130 vehicles, and as mentioned above, possibly a large number of drivers if not many decide to leave First. I remember the problems Go-Ahead owned Damory Coaches had when it took over a significant number of contracts for Dorset CC. From Day 1, there wasn't enough vehicles, not enough drivers. and most of the vehicles weren't kept in the best condition for quite a while. This could well be history repeating itself
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Post by SILENCED on Jan 7, 2020 16:48:13 GMT
It has just been reported on the Plymothian Transit blog, that Go-Ahead-owned Plymouth CityBus has won the contract for the entire Cornwall tendered bus network. This represents around 50% of the regular bus network (the other 50% is operated commercially) and the closed school routes. www.plymothiantransit.com/2020/01/all-change-in-cornwall-2020.htmlThe new contract commences on 1st April, and as well as their existing work this adds around 130 buses' worth of work to the company. It remains to be seen how other operators react, especially First Kernow Bus who have invested heavily in Cornwall recently and who must have thought this was theirs for the taking. The huge blow is only softened by their strong commercial network in West Cornwall, and the retention of the Truro Park & Ride contract. I do worry about the 3-months Go Ahead has to find 130 vehicles, and as mentioned above, possibly a large number of drivers if not many decide to leave First. I remember the problems Go-Ahead owned Damory Coaches had when it took over a significant number of contracts for Dorset CC. From Day 1, there wasn't enough vehicles, not enough drivers. and most of the vehicles weren't kept in the best condition for quite a while. This could well be history repeating itself It's vehicles of various size from a taxi ... upto midibuses ... stuff that should be hanging around dealers ... read elsewhere it stated that 16 of the E200MMC that first operate are owned by the council ... So that will be a straight transfer if that is the case ....
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Post by wirewiper on Jan 7, 2020 17:53:41 GMT
It has just been reported on the Plymothian Transit blog, that Go-Ahead-owned Plymouth CityBus has won the contract for the entire Cornwall tendered bus network. This represents around 50% of the regular bus network (the other 50% is operated commercially) and the closed school routes. www.plymothiantransit.com/2020/01/all-change-in-cornwall-2020.htmlThe new contract commences on 1st April, and as well as their existing work this adds around 130 buses' worth of work to the company. It remains to be seen how other operators react, especially First Kernow Bus who have invested heavily in Cornwall recently and who must have thought this was theirs for the taking. The huge blow is only softened by their strong commercial network in West Cornwall, and the retention of the Truro Park & Ride contract. I do worry about the 3-months Go Ahead has to find 130 vehicles, and as mentioned above, possibly a large number of drivers if not many decide to leave First. I remember the problems Go-Ahead owned Damory Coaches had when it took over a significant number of contracts for Dorset CC. From Day 1, there wasn't enough vehicles, not enough drivers. and most of the vehicles weren't kept in the best condition for quite a while. This could well be history repeating itself On the other hand, I think Go-Ahead as a group will have learned the lessons from Dorset and will know what they need to do to support the enlarged Cornwall operation.
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Post by ThinLizzy on Jan 7, 2020 19:38:30 GMT
I do worry about the 3-months Go Ahead has to find 130 vehicles, and as mentioned above, possibly a large number of drivers if not many decide to leave First. I remember the problems Go-Ahead owned Damory Coaches had when it took over a significant number of contracts for Dorset CC. From Day 1, there wasn't enough vehicles, not enough drivers. and most of the vehicles weren't kept in the best condition for quite a while. This could well be history repeating itself On the other hand, I think Go-Ahead as a group will have learned the lessons from Dorset and will know what they need to do to support the enlarged Cornwall operation. That too is very true. I hope Cornwall CC has also learned from some of the mistakes Dorset CC in having a relatively short mobilisation period
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Post by greenboy on Jan 7, 2020 19:50:05 GMT
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Post by snowman on Jan 7, 2020 20:26:27 GMT
I do worry about the 3-months Go Ahead has to find 130 vehicles, and as mentioned above, possibly a large number of drivers if not many decide to leave First. I remember the problems Go-Ahead owned Damory Coaches had when it took over a significant number of contracts for Dorset CC. From Day 1, there wasn't enough vehicles, not enough drivers. and most of the vehicles weren't kept in the best condition for quite a while. This could well be history repeating itself On the other hand, I think Go-Ahead as a group will have learned the lessons from Dorset and will know what they need to do to support the enlarged Cornwall operation. They må y have learned lessons from Dorset, but doesn’t make it easy to find 114 new buses (apparently 16 E200MMCs were funded by Cornwall so will Presumably transfer) of the 130 extra. Some of them are slimline buses like solos to get around some of the narrow country roads Not sure how many stock buses are available at the dealers (unlikely to get any built to order in just 12 weeks), but bound to have to divert some intended for other regions and replace the borrowed ones later. As for staff, I am sure there will be some interested in living near a beach, with lower cost of living. Remains to be seen if any relocation packages are offered, in some industries £10k+ moving packages exist. But don’t think GoAhead are that generous. Also currently unclear where these buses will operate from, will there be lots of out stations (if so where) presumably many of the current bus garages (Some of which may be just parking areas) will be unavailable. Was it Western Greyhound that had the massive fire at Summercourt, who would take on an arsonists playground. Finally, I suspect First will set up in competition on any route that may be profitable, that would force the withdrawal of subsidies (that’s the rules) leaving GoAhead with loss making routes miles from depots which they have a contract to run for 8 years
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2020 14:31:30 GMT
So the new links reported all are in line with what I would have expected. Main towns and facilities being linked. I wonder what these C routes will look like. Go Ahead are doing well out of the continuing demise of First. Whether this latest adventure returns profit for the demanding Go Ahead shareholders though, is another question.
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