First Group - General

[whole diary]

[martyjon]

For forum members interesterd the link ;-

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=200707121100041314A


gives acces to the statement made to the AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) of First Group at their AGM last Thursday (12/07/2007).

Of note is the comment on the commitment to raise dividends by 10% annually which means only one thing, fares will have to rise in at least the same proportion annually to honour that promise to shareholders.

[grahame]

Of note is the comment on the commitment to raise dividends by 10% annually which means only one thing, fares will have to rise in at least the same proportion annually to honour that promise to shareholders.

The same 10% comment was made in last year's report, which went on to list three ways the increase would be achieved.   As I recall, they were:
* Higher passenger numbers per service
* Increased fares
* More bus services to be run

[martyjon]

07/11/2007.

First Group have issued a Half Year Trading Statement this morning and for those interested can be found at ;-

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20071107070000P7977

[Timmer]

Saw an interview with Moir Lockhead this morning on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Breakfast News and all the interviewer talked about with him was the aquistion of the American bus company Laidlaw which seems to be the main focus of Firstgroup at the moment.

Maybe he agreed to do the interview if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) wasn't mentioned 

However, during the interview they did show some nice shots of the new look FGW HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train).

[devon_metro]

I noticed that, and didn't those trains look empty

[Timmer]

I noticed that, and didn't those trains look empty

Something you won't find on the ex-Wessex routes.

[Lee]

Saw an interview with Moir Lockhead this morning on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Breakfast News and all the interviewer talked about with him was the aquistion of the American bus company Laidlaw which seems to be the main focus of Firstgroup at the moment.

Maybe he agreed to do the interview if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) wasn't mentioned 

However, during the interview they did show some nice shots of the new look FGW HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train).

He didnt mention that "fiscal first-half profit more than doubled as sales of bus and rail tickets helped offset higher fuel costs" , then? (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/11/firstgroup_profit_doubles_on_r.html#more

[martyjon]

Did read in one of todays papers that there is a possibilty that the "Greyhound Division" of Laidlaw may be put up for sale. Thats the loss making part of Laidlaw.

Now if that were to happen in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) I think the former Wessex services would suffer the same fate.

[smokey]

Yes First would just love to get rid of the EX Wessex bit of FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but they got what they BID for.

Shame they basically screwed up, be intreresting how things pan out.
 Does my Crstyal Ball see First still having GW^▸ (Great Western) in 5 years! Don't see it.

[vacman]

Yes First would just love to get rid of the EX Wessex bit of FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but they got what they BID for.

Shame they basically screwed up, be intreresting how things pan out.
 Does my Crstyal Ball see First still having GW^▸ (Great Western) in 5 years! Don't see it.

Why not??? They haven't actually breached their franchise agreement!

[Lee]

Yes First would just love to get rid of the EX Wessex bit of FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but they got what they BID for.

Shame they basically screwed up, be intreresting how things pan out.
 Does my Crstyal Ball see First still having GW^▸ (Great Western) in 5 years! Don't see it.

Why not??? They haven't actually breached their franchise agreement!

Yes they have (3 breaches in Appendix 11) :

4.1 The Franchisee shall within one year of the Start Date carry out the following improvements at St Philips Marsh Depot to establish a DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) maintenance and servicing facility:
(a) conversion of the Marsh Junction site into a DMU depot;
(b) conversion of the Coalfield Sidings into carriage cleaning roads;
(c) establishment of an underframe cleaning facility;
(d) conversion of the outside pits into an additional three car stabling road; and
(e) establishment of a new carriage washing facility.

5.12 The Franchisee shall complete an interior refresh of the Local Fleet within 18 months of the Start Date.

5.14 The Franchisee shall complete an exterior re-livery of the Local Fleet with the new First brand within 18 months of the Start Date.

[smokey]

Yes First would just love to get rid of the EX Wessex bit of FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but they got what they BID for.

Shame they basically screwed up, be intreresting how things pan out.
 Does my Crstyal Ball see First still having GW^▸ (Great Western) in 5 years! Don't see it.

Why not??? They haven't actually breached their franchise agreement!

Yes I know that, but When the Franchise Payments to DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) start to Snowball, where's all that MONEY going to COME FROM, even HIGHER FARES, there is a CUT OFF limit where People will quit using FGW.

Fill trains with cheap fares? That's flogging a DEAD HORSE,

Remember this Mr or Miss Vacman, GNER^▸ (Great North Eastern Railways) couldn't do it and how many local trains did GNER run?
Let me think, Answer seems to be LESS than ONE, hope that's a good clue for you.

Keep breathing the Vacuum OLD PAL or MISS OLD PAL

[vacman]

Yes First would just love to get rid of the EX Wessex bit of FGW^▸ (First Great Western), but they got what they BID for.

Shame they basically screwed up, be intreresting how things pan out.
 Does my Crstyal Ball see First still having GW^▸ (Great Western) in 5 years! Don't see it.

Why not??? They haven't actually breached their franchise agreement!

Yes they have (3 breaches in Appendix 11) :

4.1 The Franchisee shall within one year of the Start Date carry out the following improvements at St Philips Marsh Depot to establish a DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) maintenance and servicing facility:
(a) conversion of the Marsh Junction site into a DMU depot;
(b) conversion of the Coalfield Sidings into carriage cleaning roads;
(c) establishment of an underframe cleaning facility;
(d) conversion of the outside pits into an additional three car stabling road; and
(e) establishment of a new carriage washing facility.

5.12 The Franchisee shall complete an interior refresh of the Local Fleet within 18 months of the Start Date.

5.14 The Franchisee shall complete an exterior re-livery of the Local Fleet with the new First brand within 18 months of the Start Date.

The situation at SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) is not really in the hands of FGW as the contractors went bust, mind you, thats what happens when you use contractors!, and in a way i'm glad that the refresh has been delayed as FGW's initial plans of a refresh were simply new seat covers, at least now they've realised that our units were totally hanging and needed more than just new seat covers! I do think that the unit's should have been branded though, even if they had just put an "F" on the side.

[smokey]

Seems from reply from His Worship Lord and SIR (preharps God is a better term) Fletcher that First Have breached parts of the Franchise. See reply above

More over First have won the Franchise to RUN TRAINS NOTCANCELL THEM.


THAT should be the MOTHER of all breaches of a Franchise agreement.

[Shazz]

Seems from reply from His Worship Lord and SIR (preharps God is a better term) Fletcher that First Have breached parts of the Franchise. See reply above

More over First have won the Franchise to RUN TRAINS NOTCANCELL THEM.


THAT should be the MOTHER of all breaches of a Franchise agreement.

No offence or anything, but do you ever stop talking crap?

You come across as one of the MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) propaganda monkeys that post a trail of never ending false information everywhere.