GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

[knutstransport]

RE: GHA Group (Bryn Melyn, Vale Travel + Others)

(17/09/2016 12:30)Mayneway Wrote:  I think most bus operators over the years have used similar tactics not just stagecoach and certainly on Manchester, stagecoach only attacked if they were attacked first.

There's a lot of small bus operators who aren't big enough to attempt a bus war. Stagecoach got a reputation of those type of tactics long before they acquired GM Buses South and their approach in Manchester has been different. For instance, Magic Bus (offering cheaper tickets than standard Stagecoach) haven't disappeared despite competitors like UK North disappearing but in other areas the non-Stagecoach branded operator (which was Stagecoach) had brand new buses which went to another area once the competition appeared and older Stagecoach branded buses and higher fares were introduced.

Quote:Could it be argued that GHA wernt in a financial position to buy a company as big as network Warrington? Don't forget their tax bill was alledgedly the result of several years unpaid tax so although they looked like they were doing well, they possibly wernt as sound as people thought.

But that didn't stop them acquiring additional buses (including brand new ones) which they couldn't afford! It seemed they thought they could take out more and more loans without worrying about the consequences of the amount of debt or their credit rating.