... Gone [to Transdev]

Going, going… gone.

After a weekend of intense speculation and rumour, Yellow Buses officially passed to French transport transnational Transdev at 12 noon on 17 December. A new board takes over from today, Monday.

Industry watchers will recall that Bournemouth council officially decided upon a sale on 9 December 2004. Just before that, snippets that the council was to sell were dismissed as rumour.

Then came the wrangle locally as to whether Bournemouth council should part with silver that had been in the family for over 100 years. Worried unions threatened industrial action. A bidding process yielding five players followed. Victorious Transdev was announced as preferred bidder in July. Disgruntled Wilts & Dorset significantly rachetting up its competition in August. Excluded Excelsior cried foul, then stalling the whole process. Embarassed Bournemouth council had to unravel matters. Approving DfT gave the go ahead on 2 November. Now, one of England’s most easily identifiable municipal bus brands has passed to the private sector.

The council seems coy about revealing the sale proceeds. Before the DfT temporarily halted the sale in July, the deal was reported to be netting Bournemouth £3.8mil.

So the story’s over at last, something that has kept Poolemouth bus industry watchers occupied for over a twelve month.

The story’s over? We’d better revise that statement. Now let the games begin!

What will be the key decisions Transdev’s management will make in determining its course of action against W&D, Yellow Buses' troublesome neighbour and interloper? Will it be head on, with improvements to routes, frequencies and vehicle stock? Or, as the French might say, more laissez faire, laissez passer? There are certainly promises of improvements in terms of "enhancing and modernising."

What will be in the six month and 12 month action plan? If you know of any English speaking flies on the Paris Boulogne-Billancourt Transdev HQ wall, let us know.