|
Post by wirewiper on Feb 11, 2023 10:03:30 GMT
I can’t see First going for tendered work again in London, although the company we see today is on the surface very different from a decade ago. In the sense that this a smaller more UK focused business with a more devolved management structure. I’ve always found it a stark comparison in the sense that as rival Go Ahead got more structured and less devolved First went more devolved and less structured but I digress. I can though see First as using Ensign as a springboard to the more lucrative RRP market in London. Companies like Abellio seem to do quite well off it and Purfleet is well placed for RRP across London being practically on top of the M25. It’s an interesting purchase for them so I’m intrigued to see where it goes. I have heard the joke about First being the new Go-Ahead and Go-Ahead the new First. It was always odd that GY was part of London Country, split from the rest of LC by Eastern National. It is therefore tidier for the former Arriva commercial services to join First Essex rather than Arriva. Historically Grays had been a "Border Town", with the western side served by London Country and its predecessors and the eastern side served by Eastern National. In 1952, with both operators state-owned under the British Transport Commission, the services were rationalised and London Transport became responsible for all the local services, with Eastern National only operating into the area from outside. As a result many cross-Grays links were created which are still reflected in today's network as operated by Ensignbus. It does seem strange that Eastern National did not simply take over all the Grays network, but maybe London Transport wanted to protect its Green Line services and also expand into the large - and lucrative - post-war London County Council Belhus Estate which was not well-served by rail (and still is not) despite having a line running right past it. The Belhus Estate had its own Green Line connection to London for several years, which would have been well-used by East Londoners visiting friends and relatives who had moved out there and vice versa.
|
|
|
Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Feb 11, 2023 10:03:35 GMT
First never left London entirely and they still have their Slough services that enter London at Uxbridge and Heathrow Funnily enough neither has Transdev as they own CCH and run all the Heathrow shuttle buses I think Transdev would be the frontrunners to take over Abellio London from NS or the management if they seek an established purchaser.
|
|
|
Post by capitalomnibus on Feb 14, 2023 10:38:41 GMT
They should bring back Thamesway as a sub brand We may still see First in London for rail replacement work, surprised to see this sudden acquisition as they seemed to be on the decline in Essex (selling a chunk of work to Go Ahead (Chambers / Hedingham) around Clacton), this will give them most of South Essex again. Will they keep Ensignbus as a stand alone brand or will it be absorbed into First Essex? I rather Eastern National than Thamesway
|
|
|
Post by ServerKing on Feb 14, 2023 15:56:25 GMT
They should bring back Thamesway as a sub brand We may still see First in London for rail replacement work, surprised to see this sudden acquisition as they seemed to be on the decline in Essex (selling a chunk of work to Go Ahead (Chambers / Hedingham) around Clacton), this will give them most of South Essex again. Will they keep Ensignbus as a stand alone brand or will it be absorbed into First Essex? I rather Eastern National than Thamesway They could reinstate the 351 to Wood Green
|
|
|
Post by towerman on Feb 14, 2023 18:10:51 GMT
Wasn’t it 251 Wood Green to Southend?
|
|
|
Post by wirewiper on Feb 14, 2023 19:27:42 GMT
Wasn’t it 251 Wood Green to Southend? The 251 Wood Green - Southend was the main route, however there was a 351 variant that operated between Wood Green and Chelmsford from January 1968 until April 1971 when it was cut back to Romford. This was a replacement for the previous route 30 which operated between Bow (it terminated in Tomlins Grove) and Chelmsford. There was also a 151 from Wood Green to Southen from April 1964, this operated via Basildon and Benfleet and was rerouted to Canvey Island in April 1971. This was also cut back to Romford in 1976. The long and complex history of the 251, which was crew-operated until 1981 but declined after deregulation and privatisation in the 1980s, and was finally withdrawn in May 2000, is summarised well here. www.sct61.org.uk/route251.htm
|
|
|
Post by ThinLizzy on Feb 15, 2023 13:37:09 GMT
Wasn’t it 251 Wood Green to Southend? The 251 Wood Green - Southend was the main route, however there was a 351 variant that operated between Wood Green and Chelmsford from January 1968 until April 1971 when it was cut back to Romford. This was a replacement for the previous route 30 which operated between Bow (it terminated in Tomlins Grove) and Chelmsford. There was also a 151 from Wood Green to Southen from April 1964, this operated via Basildon and Benfleet and was rerouted to Canvey Island in April 1971. This was also cut back to Romford in 1976. The long and complex history of the 251, which was crew-operated until 1981 but declined after deregulation and privatisation in the 1980s, and was finally withdrawn in May 2000, is summarised well here. www.sct61.org.uk/route251.htm I do miss the 251. Always been surprised TfL never stepped in to replace the unique routing between Seven Kings and Newbury Park and the link from Newbury Park to Woodford
|
|
|
Post by RM5chris on Feb 15, 2023 20:29:54 GMT
First will be back in London! (Well mainly for the Spurs shuttle but it's nice to see) When my partner was at Ensign, the Spurs shuttle was contracted and controlled/run by First
|
|
|
Post by ThinLizzy on Mar 2, 2023 22:59:34 GMT
Post on the Ensign Facebook page stating the last day of Ensign under ownership of the Newman family will be next Thursday (9th March)
I'm not one to normally attend "last days" but it's a shame I won't be able to get down to Thurrock to have one last look at Ensign as it is now
|
|
|
Post by ServerKing on Mar 3, 2023 3:26:13 GMT
Post on the Ensign Facebook page stating the last day of Ensign under ownership of the Newman family will be next Thursday (9th March) I'm not one to normally attend "last days" but it's a shame I won't be able to get down to Thurrock to have one last look at Ensign as it is now I hope both parts of the business do well, and it wasn't just a move to grab the bus routes
|
|
|
Post by LK65EBO on Mar 4, 2023 15:54:30 GMT
Thought I'd post Ross's message here too:
As I am sure most of you are aware Ensign will pass to First Group from Thursday 9th March. Therefore this will be my final update. So best wishes to one and all and I am sure you will be glad to know that Karl Griffin, my loyal Bus Sales Manager here at Purfleet, will be taking over the monthly update. He is well known to most in the enthusiast community as a “founding father” of the Bromley Bus Preservation Group and a thoroughly decent bloke.
Thanks for all your interest over the years and I hope these updates have been useful, I will still be around as a consultant for First and will hopefully have more time to enjoy our heritage buses at various events, so I am sure a lot of our paths will continue to cross.
Cheers to you all!!
Ross
|
|
|
Post by joefrombow on Mar 18, 2024 18:40:28 GMT
|
|