If Omnibuses2.0 blog readers are anything to go by, few felt now was the right time for Plymouth council to sell its Citybus arms length bus operator.
Not that the 24-hour survey held between 0700 Monday 15th and 0659 Tuesday 16th June was especially scientific. Nevertheless, about three-quarters of respondents felt that Plymouth should not sell Citybus.
News that Plymouth was considering a market valuation only emerged a little over two weeks ago. Since then, there’s been the predictable black & white debate about whether Plymouth’s cabinet made the right decision. In Plymouth’s case, this debate has been rather emotional and vocal (when compared, for example, to that held in Bournemouth at the time of Yellow Buses’ sale). While this blog takes no view, understandably in Plymouth itself, the argument has polarised along party political lines. That debate looks set to be lengthened as Labour councillors in Plymouth have called the matter before a scrutiny process following some alleged revelations of a conflict of interest during the debates last week. 
Meanwhile, Plymouth Citybus must manfully continue to turn out a garage full of buses each morning...
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Even More Limbo
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
And it does ...................
Well no surprise that enthusiasts are against a sale. Problem is that few are in a position to know enough to comment. Expect their accounts to be revealed as on trouble, capex requirements high and a sale price that most councils would say yes to. There will be much competiton for this one - preece and first of course but I know that go ahead and transdev have been sniffing too.
Although I am sure many local enthusiasts are against a sale, many of us are more worried about who might buy it rather than anything else. It does seem that the local council are keen to sell, and that usually means that they will.
Although the current team at First D&C have turned the company around a lot over the last few years, in Plymouth at least, passengers still remember the bad old years when it was a very shabby operation. The fares are also quite a bit higher than Citybus which also goes against them locally.
As for Preece, many people here, passangers and enthusiast alike are suspicious as we remember what happened when he ran Western National.
If Citybus is going to be sold, then we just hope it goes to someone who will look after the company and invest in it. Transdev and GoAhead do seem to have a good record in this respect.
Plymothian Transit
If they do sell wouldn't Stagecoach want it more than Go Ahead if only because of Stagecoach Devon? Would keep the decent service as well
Stagecoach Devon would only be interested if the price is right. Brian Souter said at the last ALBUM conference that Stagecoach would no longer pay over the odds for other bus companies. First will likely pay silly money for Citybus just to stop anyone else getting it. It would then give them chance to asset strip by selling off one depot. Oh and of course with a near monopoly the chance to put fares through the roof and take 25% of the buses off the streets of Plymouth. Just feel sorry for the people of Plymouth if First were to buy Citybus. You only have to look at the bus fares in Bristol where First have a near monopoly. First have just lost all of their National Express work in North Devon and much of their Cornish based National Express work to other operators. This is likely to be as a result of poor performance. Something First do seem to do well.
"This is likely to be as a result of poor performance. Something First do seem to do well." LMAO an oxymoron par excellence.
If the council have any sense, any foresight to the costs and scope of future tendering, any fear of the political backlash it would cause, then they will not, under any circumstances or for any price, sell First a monopoly in this way.
However I realise ths may be too much to expect of a council...
Post a Comment