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Boris's bus related jinxes continue
"One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as
Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
Roland Perry wrote:
"One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] See the previous thread on the same subject from five weeks ago. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
In message , at 15:21:18 on Sun, 22 Sep
2019, Recliner remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] See the previous thread on the same subject from five weeks ago. Five weeks is a long time in politics (later today Thomas Cook might find out that five days is, too) -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 15:21:18 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] See the previous thread on the same subject from five weeks ago. Five weeks is a long time in politics (later today Thomas Cook might find out that five days is, too) Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, … |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
In message , at 22:13:40 on Sun, 22 Sep
2019, Recliner remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] See the previous thread on the same subject from five weeks ago. Five weeks is a long time in politics (later today Thomas Cook might find out that five days is, too) Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
Roland Perry wrote:
Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still haven’t decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. As for all those other problems taken in isolation each one could be a niggle but when there are so many at once none of them can be concentrated on so he will probably ride them out relying on the “cant see the wood for trees “ principle. GH |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 22:13:40 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] See the previous thread on the same subject from five weeks ago. Five weeks is a long time in politics (later today Thomas Cook might find out that five days is, too) Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. I'd love to see an example of his claimed painted-wine-box bus. I wonder if he dreamed up that phoney hobby on the spot, or if his spin doctors had carefully connected. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
Recliner wrote:
Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 22:13:40 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] See the previous thread on the same subject from five weeks ago. Five weeks is a long time in politics (later today Thomas Cook might find out that five days is, too) Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. I'd love to see an example of his claimed painted-wine-box bus. I wonder if he dreamed up that phoney hobby on the spot, or if his spin doctors had carefully connected. carefully confected it. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
Marland wrote:
Roland Perry wrote: Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still haven’t decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. It's highly unlikely to be true. So it was either a joke, or an attempt to remind people of his greatest triumph as mayor. As for all those other problems taken in isolation each one could be a niggle but when there are so many at once none of them can be concentrated on so he will probably ride them out relying on the “cant see the wood for trees “ principle. I think Cummings and Gove do most of his thinking for him. Boris just has to choose between their often conflicting advice. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On 23/09/2019 10:16, Marland wrote:
Roland Perry wrote: Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still haven’t decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. Misleading slogan or not, it was a coach, not a bus. When did it ever stop to pick up fare-paying passengers..? -- Ria in Aberdeen [Send address is invalid, use sipsoup at gmail dot com to reply direct] |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
In message , at 14:03:38 on Mon, 23
Sep 2019, MissRiaElaine remarked: On 23/09/2019 10:16, Marland wrote: Roland Perry wrote: Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still haven’t decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. Misleading slogan or not, it was a coach, not a bus. When did it ever stop to pick up fare-paying passengers..? It was almost universally referred to as "a bus". -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On 23/09/2019 14:43, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 14:03:38 on Mon, 23 Sep 2019, MissRiaElaine remarked: On 23/09/2019 10:16, Marland wrote: Roland Perry wrote: Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. *When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still haven’t decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. Misleading slogan or not, it was a coach, not a bus. When did it ever stop to pick up fare-paying passengers..? It was almost universally referred to as "a bus". Wrongly. -- Ria in Aberdeen [Send address is invalid, use sipsoup at gmail dot com to reply direct] |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
MissRiaElaine wrote:
When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still haven’t decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. Misleading slogan or not, it was a coach, not a bus. When did it ever stop to pick up fare-paying passengers..? Well if you want to do silly nitpicking about a vehicle that was and still is referred to by the general public as a bus ,even if that does offend the sensibilities of a long retired employee of a public transport organisation then you are several of decades too late and quite frankly you are so out of step with most people on this that your view can be discounted as not supported enough to be worth taking any notice of. The use of “Bus” for such vehicles used on Political Campaigns goes way back when someone coined the slogan “ Battle Bus “ which is more alliterative than Battle Coach. Lots of instances in this BBC item on them. Embattled buses - the ups and downs of an election staple https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39907963 The photo on there of David Steel with the words “ Battle Bus “ as a legend on the front is from the late 1970’s , I wonder if that was the first . Blame him if you don’t like it. GH |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
In message , at 15:37:08 on Mon, 23
Sep 2019, MissRiaElaine remarked: Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. *When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still haven’t decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. Misleading slogan or not, it was a coach, not a bus. When did it ever stop to pick up fare-paying passengers..? It was almost universally referred to as "a bus". Wrongly. Doesn't matter. It's a slogan. Like "battle bus". -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On 23/09/2019 10:54, Recliner wrote:
Recliner wrote: Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 22:13:40 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] See the previous thread on the same subject from five weeks ago. Five weeks is a long time in politics (later today Thomas Cook might find out that five days is, too) Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. I'd love to see an example of his claimed painted-wine-box bus. I wonder if he dreamed up that phoney hobby on the spot, or if his spin doctors had carefully connected. carefully confected it. How could anyone have really confected such a bizarre story, though, and to what end? It reminds me of the time when Voice of Russia, during the detention of Gorbachev, suddenly switched from normal programming to a lengthy story about the jam roly-poly that ran away from the kitchen! Mind-boggling. PA |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On Mon, 23 Sep 2019 15:37:08 +0100, MissRiaElaine
wrote: On 23/09/2019 14:43, Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 14:03:38 on Mon, 23 Sep 2019, MissRiaElaine remarked: On 23/09/2019 10:16, Marland wrote: Roland Perry wrote: Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. *When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still havent decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. Misleading slogan or not, it was a coach, not a bus. When did it ever stop to pick up fare-paying passengers..? It was almost universally referred to as "a bus". Wrongly. No, as previously discussed, all coaches are buses, but not all buses are coaches. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
In message , at 16:05:26 on
Mon, 23 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: Misleading slogan or not, it was a coach, not a bus. When did it ever stop to pick up fare-paying passengers..? It was almost universally referred to as "a bus". Wrongly. No, as previously discussed, all coaches are buses, but not all buses are coaches. I blame the black crows. -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
Peter Able wrote:
On 23/09/2019 10:54, Recliner wrote: Recliner wrote: Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 22:13:40 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] See the previous thread on the same subject from five weeks ago. Five weeks is a long time in politics (later today Thomas Cook might find out that five days is, too) Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. I'd love to see an example of his claimed painted-wine-box bus. I wonder if he dreamed up that phoney hobby on the spot, or if his spin doctors had carefully connected. carefully confected it. How could anyone have really confected such a bizarre story, though, and to what end? It reminds me of the time when Voice of Russia, during the detention of Gorbachev, suddenly switched from normal programming to a lengthy story about the jam roly-poly that ran away from the kitchen! Mind-boggling. Purely as a distraction from difficult questions. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On 23/09/2019 16:46, Recliner wrote:
Peter Able wrote: On 23/09/2019 10:54, Recliner wrote: Recliner wrote: Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 22:13:40 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." https://www.theguardian.com/business.../22/wrightbus- riutemasters-last-minute-search-for-buyer-avoid-collapse [Love the Grauniad typo in the url!] See the previous thread on the same subject from five weeks ago. Five weeks is a long time in politics (later today Thomas Cook might find out that five days is, too) Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. I'd love to see an example of his claimed painted-wine-box bus. I wonder if he dreamed up that phoney hobby on the spot, or if his spin doctors had carefully connected. carefully confected it. How could anyone have really confected such a bizarre story, though, and to what end? It reminds me of the time when Voice of Russia, during the detention of Gorbachev, suddenly switched from normal programming to a lengthy story about the jam roly-poly that ran away from the kitchen! Mind-boggling. Purely as a distraction from difficult questions. In both cases. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On 23/09/2019 15:50, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 15:37:08 on Mon, 23 Sep 2019, MissRiaElaine remarked: Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns,* behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area)* but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. *When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still haven’t decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke* at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. Misleading slogan or not, it was a coach, not a bus. When did it ever* stop to pick up fare-paying passengers..? *It was almost universally referred to as "a bus". Wrongly. Doesn't matter. It's a slogan. Like "battle bus". It's still wrong. -- Ria in Aberdeen [Send address is invalid, use sipsoup at gmail dot com to reply direct] |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
In message , at 17:44:11 on Mon, 23
Sep 2019, MissRiaElaine remarked: *It was almost universally referred to as "a bus". Wrongly. Doesn't matter. It's a slogan. Like "battle bus". It's still wrong. https://xkcd.com/386/ -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
In message , at 16:13:12 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019,
Roland Perry remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." ‘Administration now inevitable,’ says Paisley: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49818156 A week to find a buyer. Probably this month's wages bill which has pushed them over the edge. In other news, Uber London given two months to prove it's fit and proper for a new licence: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49810049 -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 16:13:12 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019, Roland Perry remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." ‘Administration now inevitable,’ says Paisley: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49818156 A week to find a buyer. Probably this month's wages bill which has pushed them over the edge. I hadn't realised that the UK bus market was in such decline: "Latest accounts show that the Wrightbus group lost £1.7m on a turnover of £227m in 2017. But its financial situation has deteriorated since then. It made two rounds of redundancies last year with 95 jobs going in February and June, which it said reflected continued low levels of demand for new buses in the UK market. The UK has traditionally been Wrightbus's biggest market but it has been contracting for over two years. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that in the second quarter of this year new bus and coach registrations are down 30% compared to the same period last year. That marks the tenth quarter in a row that new registrations have declined." |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
In message , at 07:24:09 on Wed, 25
Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 16:13:12 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019, Roland Perry remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." ‘Administration now inevitable,’ says Paisley: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49818156 A week to find a buyer. Probably this month's wages bill which has pushed them over the edge. I hadn't realised that the UK bus market was in such decline: "Latest accounts show that the Wrightbus group lost £1.7m on a turnover of £227m in 2017. But its financial situation has deteriorated since then. It made two rounds of redundancies last year with 95 jobs going in February and June, which it said reflected continued low levels of demand for new buses in the UK market. The UK has traditionally been Wrightbus's biggest market but it has been contracting for over two years. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that in the second quarter of this year new bus and coach registrations are down 30% compared to the same period last year. That marks the tenth quarter in a row that new registrations have declined." We are on the verge of a recession, the future looks uncertain, and your fleet is probably fully compliant with latest regs. Why as an operator would you start buying new buses? Of the bigger bus operators, only Go-Ahead are doing well, with both First and Stagecoach in trouble. -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On Wed, 25 Sep 2019 09:42:35 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote: In message , at 07:24:09 on Wed, 25 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 16:13:12 on Sun, 22 Sep 2019, Roland Perry remarked: "One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers faces a crunch week as Wrightbus, which employs 1,400 staff, attempts to stave off collapse by securing a last-minute rescue deal. Mounting financial problems at the Ballymena-based company have left it looking for a buyer, with the Chinese engineering group Weichai and a firm led by the JCB heir, Jo Bamford, understood to be the suitors in talks. However, local MP Ian Paisley told the BBC on Friday he understood talks with the two potential buyers had failed to reach a conclusion." Administration now inevitable, says Paisley: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49818156 A week to find a buyer. Probably this month's wages bill which has pushed them over the edge. I hadn't realised that the UK bus market was in such decline: "Latest accounts show that the Wrightbus group lost 1.7m on a turnover of 227m in 2017. But its financial situation has deteriorated since then. It made two rounds of redundancies last year with 95 jobs going in February and June, which it said reflected continued low levels of demand for new buses in the UK market. The UK has traditionally been Wrightbus's biggest market but it has been contracting for over two years. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that in the second quarter of this year new bus and coach registrations are down 30% compared to the same period last year. That marks the tenth quarter in a row that new registrations have declined." We are on the verge of a recession, the future looks uncertain, and your fleet is probably fully compliant with latest regs. Why as an operator would you start buying new buses? Of the bigger bus operators, only Go-Ahead are doing well, with both First and Stagecoach in trouble. I suppose I'm biased by being in London, where there always seem to be new buses |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
In message , at 11:43:35 on
Wed, 25 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that in the second quarter of this year new bus and coach registrations are down 30% compared to the same period last year. That marks the tenth quarter in a row that new registrations have declined." We are on the verge of a recession, the future looks uncertain, and your fleet is probably fully compliant with latest regs. Why as an operator would you start buying new buses? Of the bigger bus operators, only Go-Ahead are doing well, with both First and Stagecoach in trouble. I suppose I'm biased by being in London, where there always seem to be new buses The registrations are 'only' down 30%, not 100%. -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
"MissRiaElaine" wrote in message ... On 23/09/2019 14:43, Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 14:03:38 on Mon, 23 Sep 2019, MissRiaElaine remarked: On 23/09/2019 10:16, Marland wrote: Roland Perry wrote: Indeed. Wright is probably right down on Boris's list of concerns, behind Jennifer Arcuri, the Supreme Court verdict, the party conference, the EU negotiations, the looming election, I doubt he's worried very much (unless the factory is in a DUP area) but it's simply anther example of Boris + Bus (be that painted-on-the-side or painted-as-a-hobby, as well as Roastmaster) looks like a fatal combination. When he said he painted model buses as a hobby I still haven’t decided if he was telling the truth ( is he capable?) or was just having a joke at the expense of those who often refer to that campaign bus with the somewhat misleading slogan on the side. Misleading slogan or not, it was a coach, not a bus. When did it ever stop to pick up fare-paying passengers..? It was almost universally referred to as "a bus". Wrongly. and when did that stop newspapers perpetuating a theme Don't they still write about "Road Tax" tim |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 11:43:35 on Wed, 25 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that in the second quarter of this year new bus and coach registrations are down 30% compared to the same period last year. That marks the tenth quarter in a row that new registrations have declined." We are on the verge of a recession, the future looks uncertain, and your fleet is probably fully compliant with latest regs. Why as an operator would you start buying new buses? Of the bigger bus operators, only Go-Ahead are doing well, with both First and Stagecoach in trouble. I suppose I'm biased by being in London, where there always seem to be new buses The registrations are 'only' down 30%, not 100%. It seems that Wrightbus had failed to take advantage of the switch to battery buses, and had also donated over £16m — more than enough to keep the business afloat — to the family church: "The parent company of Wrights Group also donated more than £16.1m to charity between 2012 and 2017. Those donations helped to fund the expansion of Green Pastures, an influential evangelical church in Ballymena run by Jeff Wright ." https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/sep/25/wrightbus-goes-into-administration-1400-jobs-routemaster-northern-ireland In an interview with The Irish Times in November 2017, pastor Jeff [Wright] noted that Cornerstone “made God a shareholder in the business” as 26 per cent of Wrights is owned by the evangelical trust. Despite being primed to take over the bus builder, pastor Jeff told The Irish Times he felt God had a new question for him. “Do you love me more than these buses?’ I said, ‘yeah, I do’. So God said ‘I want you to feed my lambs and take care of my sheep’.” https://www.irishtimes.com/business/manufacturing/wrightbus-donated-4m-to-christian-charities-in-2017-1.4030436 |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
"Recliner" wrote in message ... Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 11:43:35 on Wed, 25 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that in the second quarter of this year new bus and coach registrations are down 30% compared to the same period last year. That marks the tenth quarter in a row that new registrations have declined." We are on the verge of a recession, the future looks uncertain, and your fleet is probably fully compliant with latest regs. Why as an operator would you start buying new buses? Of the bigger bus operators, only Go-Ahead are doing well, with both First and Stagecoach in trouble. I suppose I'm biased by being in London, where there always seem to be new buses The registrations are 'only' down 30%, not 100%. It seems that Wrightbus had failed to take advantage of the switch to battery buses, I'm not sure that "taking advantage of" is the right phase here "investing tens of million in development" is what you really mean But did they have that 10s of millions. tim |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On Thu, 26 Sep 2019 14:45:47 +0100, "tim..."
wrote: "Recliner" wrote in message ... Roland Perry wrote: In message , at 11:43:35 on Wed, 25 Sep 2019, Recliner remarked: Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that in the second quarter of this year new bus and coach registrations are down 30% compared to the same period last year. That marks the tenth quarter in a row that new registrations have declined." We are on the verge of a recession, the future looks uncertain, and your fleet is probably fully compliant with latest regs. Why as an operator would you start buying new buses? Of the bigger bus operators, only Go-Ahead are doing well, with both First and Stagecoach in trouble. I suppose I'm biased by being in London, where there always seem to be new buses The registrations are 'only' down 30%, not 100%. It seems that Wrightbus had failed to take advantage of the switch to battery buses, I'm not sure that "taking advantage of" is the right phase here "investing tens of million in development" is what you really mean But did they have that 10s of millions. It seems Jeff Wright preferred to fund his church rather than his bus business. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On 26/09/2019 15:18, Recliner wrote:
It seems Jeff Wright preferred to fund his church rather than his bus business. And to hell, as it were, with the employees. Great British business at it's best. Never mind Brexit, this is the reason we're the laughing stock of the world now. -- Ria in Aberdeen [Send address is invalid, use sipsoup at gmail dot com to reply direct] |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
MissRiaElaine wrote:
On 26/09/2019 15:18, Recliner wrote: It seems Jeff Wright preferred to fund his church rather than his bus business. And to hell, as it were, with the employees. Yup Great British business at it's best. Never mind Brexit, this is the reason we're the laughing stock of the world now. More like typical Ulster bigoted behaviour, much less likely to be encountered in Britain. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
And today Boris's latest idea is to spend (or is he expecting someone
else to spend) 220m on new buses (and all contactless payment) because the Roastmaster was such a success, apparently. And at least one town to be completely zero carbon. Ballemena, perhaps, using the 50m to reopen the factory, there? -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On Mon, Sep 30, 2019 at 12:22:22PM +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
And today Boris's latest idea is to spend (or is he expecting someone else to spend) ?220m on new buses (and all contactless payment) because the Roastmaster was such a success, apparently. I don't get this antipathy to the Boris buses. I'm a passenger, frequently. They do their job well, combining the benefits of a normal double decker with the one benefit of the bendy monstrosities - quick boarding - without the humungous downsides of the bendies taking up too much road space and blocking junctions. -- David Cantrell | Reality Engineer, Ministry of Information Eye have a spelling chequer / It came with my pea sea It planely marques four my revue / Miss Steaks eye kin knot sea. Eye strike a quay and type a word / And weight for it to say Weather eye am wrong oar write / It shows me strait a weigh. |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
David Cantrell wrote:
On Mon, Sep 30, 2019 at 12:22:22PM +0100, Roland Perry wrote: And today Boris's latest idea is to spend (or is he expecting someone else to spend) ?220m on new buses (and all contactless payment) because the Roastmaster was such a success, apparently. I don't get this antipathy to the Boris buses. I'm a passenger, frequently. They do their job well, combining the benefits of a normal double decker with the one benefit of the bendy monstrosities - quick boarding - without the humungous downsides of the bendies taking up too much road space and blocking junctions. They're very heavy, which limits their capacity as does the rear platform and second staircase, the hybrid system has never worked properly, perhaps because of the very limited space for the power unit under the rear stairs, like the bendies they have double the fare evasion of normal buses, and they cost almost twice as much as a conventional double decker (£350k vs £190k). They acquired their 'Roastmaster' nickname because their air-cooling didn't work and they lacked ventilation, which had to be retro-fitted. So, we have a bus that's 84% more expensive, with less capacity, longer and heavier than a normal double-decker, less comfortable, worse fuel consumption and whose entire reason for existence, the open rear platform, is not used. No wonder the hoped-for sale of the design to other cities never happened. It's truly a fitting metaphor for the Boris Johnson mayoralty. And let's hope his Brexit deal isn't as bad as his bus. |
Countrywide smart ticketing [was:Boris's bus related jinxes continue]
In message , at 10:05:41 on Tue, 1 Oct 2019,
Recliner remarked: David Cantrell wrote: On Mon, Sep 30, 2019 at 12:22:22PM +0100, Roland Perry wrote: And today Boris's latest idea is to spend (or is he expecting someone else to spend) ?220m on new buses (and all contactless payment) because the Roastmaster was such a success, apparently. I don't get this antipathy to the Boris buses. I'm a passenger, frequently. They do their job well, combining the benefits of a normal double decker with the one benefit of the bendy monstrosities - quick boarding - without the humungous downsides of the bendies taking up too much road space and blocking junctions. They're very heavy, which limits their capacity as does the rear platform and second staircase, the hybrid system has never worked properly, perhaps because of the very limited space for the power unit under the rear stairs, like the bendies they have double the fare evasion of normal buses, and they cost almost twice as much as a conventional double decker (350k vs 190k). They acquired their 'Roastmaster' nickname because their air-cooling didn't work and they lacked ventilation, which had to be retro-fitted. So, we have a bus that's 84% more expensive, with less capacity, longer and heavier than a normal double-decker, less comfortable, worse fuel consumption and whose entire reason for existence, the open rear platform, is not used. No wonder the hoped-for sale of the design to other cities never happened. It's truly a fitting metaphor for the Boris Johnson mayoralty. And let's hope his Brexit deal isn't as bad as his bus. He was wittering on about buses on BBC Breakfast again this morning. Mentioned smartcards as one of the ways to drive up usage. Now, what happened to this initiative: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...smart-cards-tr avel-across-country-2018-network/ Every rail commuter will be able to use a pay-as-you-go smart card to take them anywhere in the country, Chris Grayling says today [December 2016]. Last time I looked, it wasn't 2018 any more. And while a very few commuters can load season tickets onto smartcards, are there any at all (outside of Oyster which already existed) doing PAYG? [Obviously he must also have meant capped PAYG, or it makes no economic sense to the traveller]. ps Has anyone with more stamina than I waded through yesterday's announcements to identify which is the all-electric-bus town they have in mind. I'm reminded of Northstowe being Gordon Brown's first eco-town. Not only is it not an eco-town, but they only started building ten years after his announcement. And in megaphone-policy-convergence, the local hospital has been on its knees the last decade on account of the lack of predicted additional demand from new town. Latest rumours are they are going to close its A&E. But hurrah, Northstowe did get its guided buses, for no-one to need to use. And their fancy smart-ticketing scheme was still-born too. -- Roland Perry |
Countrywide smart ticketing [was:Boris's bus relatedjinxes continue]
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 10:05:41 on Tue, 1 Oct 2019, Recliner remarked: David Cantrell wrote: On Mon, Sep 30, 2019 at 12:22:22PM +0100, Roland Perry wrote: And today Boris's latest idea is to spend (or is he expecting someone else to spend) ?220m on new buses (and all contactless payment) because the Roastmaster was such a success, apparently. I don't get this antipathy to the Boris buses. I'm a passenger, frequently. They do their job well, combining the benefits of a normal double decker with the one benefit of the bendy monstrosities - quick boarding - without the humungous downsides of the bendies taking up too much road space and blocking junctions. They're very heavy, which limits their capacity as does the rear platform and second staircase, the hybrid system has never worked properly, perhaps because of the very limited space for the power unit under the rear stairs, like the bendies they have double the fare evasion of normal buses, and they cost almost twice as much as a conventional double decker (350k vs 190k). They acquired their 'Roastmaster' nickname because their air-cooling didn't work and they lacked ventilation, which had to be retro-fitted. So, we have a bus that's 84% more expensive, with less capacity, longer and heavier than a normal double-decker, less comfortable, worse fuel consumption and whose entire reason for existence, the open rear platform, is not used. No wonder the hoped-for sale of the design to other cities never happened. It's truly a fitting metaphor for the Boris Johnson mayoralty. And let's hope his Brexit deal isn't as bad as his bus. He was wittering on about buses on BBC Breakfast again this morning. Mentioned smartcards as one of the ways to drive up usage. There are various smartcard tickets in West Yorkshire, including one onto which you can load daily, weekly or monthly passes (bus only or bus and rail for various combinations of rail zones), and another which is a stored-value card for bus travel. Unfortunately, the only smart day pass offering is bus-only, which is a bit annoying. A day pass for bus and rail, valid in the peak, would be very useful for me. -- Jeremy Double |
Countrywide smart ticketing [was:Boris's bus related jinxes continue]
In message
t, at 12:06:30 on Tue, 1 Oct 2019, Jeremy Double remarked: So, we have a bus that's 84% more expensive, with less capacity, longer and heavier than a normal double-decker, less comfortable, worse fuel consumption and whose entire reason for existence, the open rear platform, is not used. No wonder the hoped-for sale of the design to other cities never happened. It's truly a fitting metaphor for the Boris Johnson mayoralty. And let's hope his Brexit deal isn't as bad as his bus. He was wittering on about buses on BBC Breakfast again this morning. Mentioned smartcards as one of the ways to drive up usage. There are various smartcard tickets in West Yorkshire, including one onto which you can load daily, weekly or monthly passes (bus only or bus and rail for various combinations of rail zones), and another which is a stored-value card for bus travel. Unfortunately, the only smart day pass offering is bus-only, which is a bit annoying. There are plenty of smartcard schemes for buses, some of which have been in place for more than a decade. It's unfortunate that the one for Nottingham used to include the trams, but after they were re-franchised doesn't any longer. Most of its attraction was being a cut-price carnet of the already existing "all day" paper ticket. That works well as an alternative to tracking and capping every bus trip because it breaks even at two singles, rather than the four singles under TfL. A day pass for bus and rail, valid in the peak, would be very useful for me. Perhaps Boris would consider funding rail as well as bus for Twiry card holders outside London? -- Roland Perry |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On Tue, 1 Oct 2019 10:05:41 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
wrote: David Cantrell wrote: On Mon, Sep 30, 2019 at 12:22:22PM +0100, Roland Perry wrote: And today Boris's latest idea is to spend (or is he expecting someone else to spend) ?220m on new buses (and all contactless payment) because the Roastmaster was such a success, apparently. I don't get this antipathy to the Boris buses. I'm a passenger, frequently. They do their job well, combining the benefits of a normal double decker with the one benefit of the bendy monstrosities - quick boarding - without the humungous downsides of the bendies taking up too much road space and blocking junctions. They're very heavy, which limits their capacity as does the rear platform and second staircase, the hybrid system has never worked properly, perhaps because of the very limited space for the power unit under the rear stairs, like the bendies they have double the fare evasion of normal buses, and they cost almost twice as much as a conventional double decker (350k vs 190k). They acquired their 'Roastmaster' nickname because their air-cooling didn't work and they lacked ventilation, which had to be retro-fitted. So, we have a bus that's 84% more expensive, with less capacity, longer and heavier than a normal double-decker, less comfortable, worse fuel consumption and whose entire reason for existence, the open rear platform, is not used. No wonder the hoped-for sale of the design to other cities never happened. Yes, all granted. But apart from that, they're fine. Actually I really dislike them. I can't really say why, but they seem cramped. And, as I normally have a paper ticket (an ODTC from outside London) I can't take advantage of the mid/rear dors. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com |
Boris's bus related jinxes continue
On Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:31:56 +0100, Trolleybus
wrote: On Tue, 1 Oct 2019 10:05:41 -0000 (UTC), Recliner wrote: David Cantrell wrote: On Mon, Sep 30, 2019 at 12:22:22PM +0100, Roland Perry wrote: And today Boris's latest idea is to spend (or is he expecting someone else to spend) ?220m on new buses (and all contactless payment) because the Roastmaster was such a success, apparently. I don't get this antipathy to the Boris buses. I'm a passenger, frequently. They do their job well, combining the benefits of a normal double decker with the one benefit of the bendy monstrosities - quick boarding - without the humungous downsides of the bendies taking up too much road space and blocking junctions. They're very heavy, which limits their capacity as does the rear platform and second staircase, the hybrid system has never worked properly, perhaps because of the very limited space for the power unit under the rear stairs, like the bendies they have double the fare evasion of normal buses, and they cost almost twice as much as a conventional double decker (350k vs 190k). They acquired their 'Roastmaster' nickname because their air-cooling didn't work and they lacked ventilation, which had to be retro-fitted. So, we have a bus that's 84% more expensive, with less capacity, longer and heavier than a normal double-decker, less comfortable, worse fuel consumption and whose entire reason for existence, the open rear platform, is not used. No wonder the hoped-for sale of the design to other cities never happened. Yes, all granted. But apart from that, they're fine. Actually I really dislike them. I can't really say why, but they seem cramped. And, as I normally have a paper ticket (an ODTC from outside London) I can't take advantage of the mid/rear dors. You can rejoice, as soon you'll be in the same position as all the other passengers: the current proposal is to ban boarding from the mid/rear doors, so they'll be exit-only. Everyone will have to board from the front door, just like all other London buses, thus removing the one supposed advantage of the bus, faster boarding. This is to reduce the high level of fare evasion, more than double the rate on the much cheaper, more economical, more reliable, more comfortable conventional buses. https://londonist.com/london/transport/routemaster-buses-trialling-boarding-by-the-front-door-only I wasn't aware of this other problem with them: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-38800789 I wonder what will happen to the manufacturer's guarantee and software support if Wrightbus is shut down? It's interesting that Boris apparently regards this as the triumph of his mayoralty, along with the overseas trade missions for London that included his otherwise unqualified, pole-dancing American mistress. |
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