Go-North West Alexander Dennis Enviro 200
Go-North West - A potted history
Go North West commenced operations on 2 June 2019 following the Go-Ahead Group's purchase of First Greater Manchester's Queens Road depot with 163 vehicles. Unlike the sale of part of another part of First’s operations to Rotala, the sale included all of the vehicles at the depot.
Buses were initially painted into a livery designed by local marketing agency We Are Buzz, as seen here on 4060 (LX13CZA) a former Stagecoach London bus. However, the livery was redesigned in late 2019. This redesign later coincided with the introduction of the 'Manchester's Orbits' and 135 branding.
Although the best of the inherited First fleet have been retained and refurbished, others have been sold. Acquisitions have been in the main decent second hand vehicles including some from sister-fleets Go-North East and Go-Ahead London. Most recent arrivals include some rare (for outside London at least) Volvo B5LH/MCV eVoSetis cascaded from London.
Buses are based at the former First depot in Queen's Road, Cheetham Hill, opened in 1901 by the Manchester Carriage and Tramways Company as the first electric tram depot to open in Manchester. The depot premises is adjacent to the Museum of Transport in Manchester. Following the acquisition of the garage in 2019, Go North West had the depot's original clock restored to working order and also funded an auction bid to help return the golden key used to first open the garage to the adjacent museum.
The company hasn’t had its problems to seek however. On 28 February 2021, a strike was called by the union Unite over concerns that the new payment package was a 'fire and re-hire' scheme, following Go North West making a loss of £1.8 million per year, which probably explains why First wanted out. A reduced service operated during the period of industrial action, with the company hiring other local operators to maintain services, some of which were criticised by Unite for overcrowding buses during the third COVID-19 lockdown. The strike ended on 18 May 2021 after successful talks between both parties in Unite's favour. Lasting 85 days, Unite claims this to have been their longest period of strike action.There was also much negative publicity over the dismissal of one of its female drivers over an issue with destination displays on newer vehicles.
However the company seems to have now settled down and it leaves the Go-Ahead group well placed should franchising in the region begin.
Go-North West Alexander Dennis Enviro 200
Go-North West - A potted history
Go North West commenced operations on 2 June 2019 following the Go-Ahead Group's purchase of First Greater Manchester's Queens Road depot with 163 vehicles. Unlike the sale of part of another part of First’s operations to Rotala, the sale included all of the vehicles at the depot.
Buses were initially painted into a livery designed by local marketing agency We Are Buzz, as seen here on 4060 (LX13CZA) a former Stagecoach London bus. However, the livery was redesigned in late 2019. This redesign later coincided with the introduction of the 'Manchester's Orbits' and 135 branding.
Although the best of the inherited First fleet have been retained and refurbished, others have been sold. Acquisitions have been in the main decent second hand vehicles including some from sister-fleets Go-North East and Go-Ahead London. Most recent arrivals include some rare (for outside London at least) Volvo B5LH/MCV eVoSetis cascaded from London.
Buses are based at the former First depot in Queen's Road, Cheetham Hill, opened in 1901 by the Manchester Carriage and Tramways Company as the first electric tram depot to open in Manchester. The depot premises is adjacent to the Museum of Transport in Manchester. Following the acquisition of the garage in 2019, Go North West had the depot's original clock restored to working order and also funded an auction bid to help return the golden key used to first open the garage to the adjacent museum.
The company hasn’t had its problems to seek however. On 28 February 2021, a strike was called by the union Unite over concerns that the new payment package was a 'fire and re-hire' scheme, following Go North West making a loss of £1.8 million per year, which probably explains why First wanted out. A reduced service operated during the period of industrial action, with the company hiring other local operators to maintain services, some of which were criticised by Unite for overcrowding buses during the third COVID-19 lockdown. The strike ended on 18 May 2021 after successful talks between both parties in Unite's favour. Lasting 85 days, Unite claims this to have been their longest period of strike action.There was also much negative publicity over the dismissal of one of its female drivers over an issue with destination displays on newer vehicles.
However the company seems to have now settled down and it leaves the Go-Ahead group well placed should franchising in the region begin.