A full post commemorating Anglianbus will follow in a few days, once I've got some research done regarding the early days. Lord only knows how Andrew Pursey and Dave Marshall are feeling tonight. It is a sad day that everyone has known was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier to take. Business as usual doesn't sound promising.
Its been dragging on for the last ten yrs. Rumour after rumour that Anglian would close. Its a wonder Go Ahead bought it in the first place.
ReplyDeleteWith all respect that's a ludicrous statement. Anglian was a thriving company with 90 vehicles employing Lord knows how many with a very loyal customer base. That's why Go Ahead bought them. Perhaps you can direct me to the rumours that were circulating of Anglian's closure 8 or 9 years ago as I wasn't blogging then.
DeleteI remember anglan when it run a hand full of Ford coaches to when it was a leader on service work with top class vehicles when in private ownership and rundown to what it is now let's hope they will keep all the staff and premises under konibus on another note let's see what happens with a certain coach company in Bournemouth under go-ahead
ReplyDeleteIt truly is a shame like watching a good friend die. If I was Andrew I would be so sad seeing it turn into what it has done over these last few years. The 601 in just under 10 years has gone full circle, starting off as a small service between Southwold and Lowestoft, then extended to Yarmouth and then the 601A was introduced. Then when Go-Ahead took over it was slowly whittled down to an end in January.
ReplyDeleteIt's our problem isn't it? Nostalgia is great fun and we all do it for that reason. It keeps this and most other sites in business. But when it comes to buses, or any other business for that matter, do we look to recreate the past or look to meet the needs of the future? There is only one option. Sadly. Not. To me the real question is: where do Konnect go next? Would have been nice if Konnect had re-named as Anglian but maybe not good for business. I don't know. But businesses come and go. They always have, even in the good old days however long ago that was. Without the demise of Anglian would there have been Borderbus? And was that such a bad idea? Even Lynx too. What will Hedingham make of Essex housing growth? Take the blinkers off and it's amazing what we might see!
ReplyDeleteJust warming to my theme - the future not the past - what about rebranding all Go-Ahead regional opcos: Konnect, Anglian, Hedingham and Chambers under the Anglian brand. Would it give them some coherence, particularly if they sought to develop the reputation that the original Anglian enjoyed in the past (rather than the routes). First, their main competitor, may be trying the same thing. For both of them the bugbear - and limitation - is resources, as we know. But perhaps that not an excuse for not running a good business; one leads to the other, but perhaps not the way we all tend to think.
ReplyDeleteI started working for Andrew in 1997 then watched and helped grow Anglian into one of the biggest independent bus operators in east Anglia at our peak we had over 100 buses but then in 2012 due to sad reasons Anglian was sold to Go ahead and that was the beginning of the end . With incompetence of such levels they made Donald trump look good they wanted to run Anglian the same as they run their London operation ,We told them it wouldn't work down here but they had their heads so far up their own arses that they wouldn't listen . so we got the first of many cuts in bus numbers and 1 bus 1 driver went BIG MISTAKE !!!. The second mistake was to start sending buses up to konnect first the Mann solos went then the versas and in return we got old crap some of which didn't even have an mot when we got them, unfortunately old buses usually cost more to keep going and tend to break down more so costs go up and customers ( the ones we had worked so hard to get ) deserted in their droves and so the spiral went on . Our only salvation was the gas buses ( the best buses we ever had ) Go ahead couldn't move them up to Konnect as they didn't have a gas plant to refill them . But eventually they managed to send them somewhere else as well. It is so sad to see all that work we did building a great company destroyed but in another way it is good to see Anglian go the public deserve better than this, if you look on Anglians twitter page all you see is cancelled services and it's not good enough! The Go ahead management are to blame for all this mess because they knew best , they knew the best way to run Anglian Bus ,They did into the ground ! . History will tell who really knew best Andrew or Go ahead BUT as Border bus is thriving and Anglian has gone I don't think it is too hard to work out. RIP ANGLIAN
ReplyDeleteWell said Colin, you've been saying this for as long as I've known you. It is very sad but also infuriating as so many of us saw it coming and why.
DeleteSuch a shame i enjoyed my nearly 10 years working with Anglian,the rivalry we had with beccles to see whether the 588 took more money in a week than the 123/4,the company could do no wrong at 1 point it was a really great time, its a sad shame and even sadder that this is a door of good memories closing.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely
DeleteColin said it all .I could go further but will keep it politically correct
ReplyDeleteYou? Politically correct? Since when!!! The PC army have yet to invade and infect this blog so say what you like, mate!
DeleteAlso I have to say really enjoyed my time at Anglian when the top management trust you to do a job makes life so much easier but under go ahead it's a constant worry as to whether you will be in a job next week . I worked with a lot of good people there and it is a shame but better the name go now as it's tainted and I will use this opportunity to thank all people who worked with me and supported me in this position for 28 yrs thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnglian have now de registered the 61 & 85. They have also registered a new operating centre for 10 buses. I would assume that will be their entire fleet
ReplyDeleteEnough of me being anonymous. What Colin said is bang on. I was at Anglian for 15 years. It was my second home if you like.
ReplyDeleteIt broke my heart seeing those idiots from Go Ahead kill it. Some people were and still are brainwashed.
None of them were there 15 years ago to see Anglian in it's prime. The days when Anglian ruled with the 588 & then the 601 route.
Everyone was happy back then and the company had an excellent reputation.
Then all of the know it alls came in who actually knew jack shit and destroyed everything
So glad I told you not to hold back earlier, Bernice! The stored up frustration and distress was evident to see and you are saying what needs to be said. You were there and stuck it out longer than some.
DeleteFor those who don't know Bernice she worked in the engineering department at Anglian and cared so much for the buses she looked after she had pet names for them. Bernice is a straight talker - very straight this afternoon - and if Bernice says it you'd better believe it. Thanks for breaking your cover. There are some who need to see names and feelings of people who were there. Too many untruths going around.
Arriva Bus strike
ReplyDeleteOutside of this area but of general interest. A dispute in Liverpool has escalated. There have already been several one day walk outs and now thy are planning to walk out for 7 days in December. I suspect this may well cause Arriva to loose council contracts. Strikes always loose the bus companies passengers as well
Out of Area News
ReplyDeleteIn a surprise and short notice Move First Bus have given up the 702 Greenline Service. It is being taken over by Reading bus from the 23rd December whether to the same timetable is unclear
The once large network of Greenline services is now down to a couple of routes at least running under the Greenline brand
I am in regular contact with Martijn Gilbert, CEO of Reading Buses, who I regard to be just about the most forward thinking operator in the country, and he assures me the service level will be similar to present, with some journeys being extended to/from Reading. I'm looking forward to it!
DeleteAdd Trent Barton, Transdev and NCT to the forward thinking list Steve! :D
DeleteMore Bus Cuts
ReplyDeleteThe latest notices and proceedings appear to show further Anglian & Konnect bus cuts although some may be catch ups and transfers of registrations
Rural Areas left out of the budget again
ReplyDelete£1.7B has been promised for transport in city regions but nothing for the rural areas. City regions have at least a usable public transport. The rural areas have no viable public transport for many. If someone needs to get to work in rural areas public transport is not an option. There is a need for an investment in transport in the Non city regions
I wonder if Bill Hiron at Stephensons of Essex will buy the Anglian name to add to his growing collection of defunct local bus company names? It might be a fitting memorial if the winner at Bus Operator of the Year took the Anglian name (less of a mouthful) and lots of little Anglian goodness sprouted up across the region. And make sense, geographically. It won't happen, of course; but neither I suspect will resurrecting the past.
ReplyDeleteWe do need a bit of cheer among the gloom which I think is the worst environment the bus industry has suffered during the last 80 years, virtually the whole of its modern history. Sadly I doubt Anglian will be the only victim.