Stagecoach buy First assets in South Devon/Hams

[whole diary]

[Rapidash]

Saw this over on R UK^▸ (United Kingdom), 

Plymouthian Transit

Bus operator, First South West, today (10 July 2015) signed an agreement to sell its operations in South Devon to Stagecoach.  On completion of the sale, expected to conclude 6 September 2015, the Plymouth bus depot, outstations at Tavistock and Dartmouth and around 250 staff will transfer to Stagecoach.

Alex Carter, Managing Director of First South West, said: ^Despite the focus on services and the hard work of everyone in South Devon, unfortunately the business has underperformed for a number of years.  I^m pleased we^ve negotiated an agreement to sell and therefore help protect jobs and key services.

^The sale does not, in any way, reflect the commitment of our employees in the area who have worked tirelessly to provide the best possible service to local communities.  I^d like to thank them for their hard work and loyalty over the years.  We will be fully supporting them as they transfer to their new employer.

^We^re proud to have served the South Devon community and would like to thank passengers for travelling with First South West over the years. I can assure our customers that we will continue to run services as normal up to and including 5 September and will ensure a smooth transition.^

*hums the Imperial March*

Edited to fix quote. bignosemac

[plymothian]

My, my, that was a surprise ... NOT!

[JayMac]

That's pretty much it for First in Devon isn't it?

[LiskeardRich]

That's pretty much it for First in Devon isn't it?

Yep this was their last operations in Devon other than the X53 from Dorset that calls to Exeter and possibly some Somerset services that may cross the border into Devon.
Many seen it coming, and it can be noted in the last year First have removed most of their newer vehicles from South Devon, with much of the remaining fleet being non DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) and amongst the oldest DDA compliant stuff.

First Devon Cornwall and Somerset currently use Plymouth as their address, so I assume this will change. Whether Cornwall and Somerset remain together or become separate operations I'm not sure. In line with the announcement first Kernows own website went live yesterday www.firstkernow.co.uk which is moved away from the corporate stuff of other areas.

Ive also been told first Kernow has agreed in principal to buy western greyhounds former depots at summercourt and St Stephen. (Rumour and nothing official seen but I was told by two different first drivers)