Rotala Share Discussion Threads

[cougar99] 30/6/2022 17:20

winston270. Judging by your last two posts then you appear to have some details not presently available via internet searches. Therefore presume you have some connection with buses in the Midlands.
Can I please check where you got the info that Stagecoach will be the new operator for Warwickshire CC tendered routes. And if I can also please check what you mean by Diamond is doing better than Claribels on 94 - is that better passengers numbers or higher revenue or both?
Any idea what Diamond plan to do with the spare buses that they will soon have from the ex-Johnsons services?
The answers to the above will aid readers of this thread.

[winston270] 30/6/2022 17:03

liverwireplus,

In response to your post in the NEX thread, Rotala's Claribel's acquisition was made primarily for the 18 x Euro 6 compliant buses that were acquired in the deal. At last count, the Claribel's 94 is actually doing better under the Diamond brand than under Claribel's.

[winston270] 30/6/2022 16:56

Cougar99,

Rotala knew that the ex Johnson's Warwickshire CC supported routes were up for re-tender after the takeover of Johnson's, all those routes were loss making. Rotala put in a realistic package bid to retain them but lost out to Stagecoach, apparently there was a big difference in price.

[cougar99] 30/6/2022 16:09

In the light of winston270 posting then the following statement from Diamond on 10th of Junle is, with hindsight, interesting as acknowledges operational issues after they took over the Johnsons routes

www.diamondbuses.com/news/stratford-statement/

[cougar99] 30/6/2022 16:00

Following link gives latest details of the Diamond services that are being withdrawn (by Diamond)from 24th July plus services under review (with change dates in August)

www.diamondbuses.com/news/diamond-midlands-review/

[winston270] 30/6/2022 13:36

Rotala have lost the complete package of Warwickshire County Council tendered routes around Stratford from 24th July to Stagecoach, these are the ones that came with the Johnson's acquisition & included a number already operated by Diamond. Stagecoach are said to have gone in with a low ball bid.

[livewireplus] 27/6/2022 21:35

Last post from me on this thread (unless I buy back in again later) as I sold out earlier this month after a few bad experiences on buses in the West Mids region. Good luck to remaining holders .... Thirty Worcestershire bus routes face axe as firm loses £1m a yearhttps://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-61885502

[livewireplus] 25/6/2022 05:34

Well there appears to be quite a few routes that are deemed by Diamond / Rotala as: "Service unsustainable at current passenger levels and will be withdrawn".If you live in Henley-in-Arden you are totally screwed as the X20 service will now only be running Solihull - Coventry (not Stratford - Henley - Solihull - Coventry as presently). A bit ironic that Henley (HQ of Johnsons Coaches from whom Rotala recently bought their bus operations) will be left without a scheduled bus service.

[livewireplus] 25/6/2022 05:13

https://www.diamondbuses.com/news/diamond-midlands-review/ 

[dosser50] 17/6/2022 12:08

Not being hit to badly by the carnage elsewhere

[livewireplus] 10/6/2022 11:59

Two mistypes on that last post from me:For 95 route then it should read 94For TfWN it should read TfWM(I probably haven't had enough coffee this morning).

[livewireplus] 10/6/2022 11:45

Hope the Johnsons & Claribel's bus acquisitions do work out. Though from what I have seen on 95 route (ex-Claribel's) then very few passengers on board - indeed sometimes they are putting the small Optare buses on the route. On X20 (ex-Johnson's) there seem to be a mishmash of single and double deck buses (some still with Johnson branding, some with Diamond logo, and some plain white unmarked. As far as I am aware then this service is subsidized so hope that situation continues with Warwickshire - and unlike the X50 the subsidy isn't withdrawn - but I think that was via TfWN subsidy.

[livewireplus] 19/5/2022 07:38

RNS: AGM Statement & Trading Update

[livewireplus] 09/5/2022 07:38

Leave to Appeal granted for aspects of Greater Manchester decision to franchise. Appeal hearing to take place before this August ....

[andydaf] 08/5/2022 10:54

Going forward i see the management are building quite a presence in the west midlands.I am bullish about bus travel returning to normal and even increasing as councils make car travel more expensive.I also believe most of the cost of the transition to electric will be subsidised.Negative is greater manchester but i can not see the time frame for the franchise model to be stuck to.Lets see what the interims hold and whether we get a interim divi.GLA

[livewireplus] 06/5/2022 16:17

Smallish buys now effecting a rise in share price Suppose that's why the share buybacks seem to have stopped at the point where only 40% of the 'up to' number of shares announced to buyback have actually been acquired - with the last buyback purchase over 2 weeks ago .... Quite satisfying to see it Blue on a day like today....

[livewireplus] 29/4/2022 20:58

.... so you have getting on for 80,000 shares .... :-)

[dosser50] 29/4/2022 11:56

Plus a very nice dividend arrived today...almost £800 for me.

[livewireplus] 29/4/2022 10:38

Also worth noting that Diamond have taken over some of the Clairabel bus routes in Birmingham:https://www.tfwm.org.uk/plan-your-journey/ways-to-travel/buses-in-the-west-midlands/claribel-coaches-service-changes/https://www.diamondbuses.com/news/claribels-welcome/The Claribel buses were a bit iffy on timekeeping so let's hope that improves. Wonder if any of the Claribels drivers will migrate to Diamond as they were always helpful and friendly - they seemed to be ex-NX West Midlands who preferred the Claribels shifts (no Sunday or early morning / late night shifts).

[livewireplus] 29/4/2022 10:21

Interesting acquisition of the ExcelBus part of Johnsons Coaches. One of my relatives uses ExcelBus and finds them very efficient, punctual & clean. Presume the timetables may re-jigged slightly if the buses are starting out from Redditch depot instead of Henley.

[dosser50] 06/4/2022 09:17

Big buys by the firm.