Thoughts from Southwestbus

So today's post is something of a backtrack in our global plans.  Previously, we've discussed the improvement overall of our fleet and the new vehicle investment which has taken place during 2021. We thought things might improve in the medium to longer term with local buses and with private hire work, and this was the foundation, if you like, of the investment we were making.  The signs are not encouraging. The county council where we operate has submitted what is a 'very ambitious' BSIP bid for £160m and then some. The chances of that being awarded in full are somewhat slim given their historic disinterest in supporting a bus network in the county.  The modern bus and coach world makes extensive use of finance for new vehicles. It is the only reasonable way you can get in large numbers of vehicles to meet the various 'requirements' of operating in the modern world. There are a few operators sufficiently rich enough to write cheques when they buy new vehicles, s...

This blog is our second, or third attempt at opening a little window into what goes on in my 'model bus' fleet. I hope everyone reading finds it of interest. As someone perennially hard up, the heady world of model railways isn't for me - purchase prices for trains run to three figures, and as I never appear to have funds such things aren't an option for me.  I thought I'd open the blog with a post about me, what I've done in my career and my interests in model buses and in fleet operation given how specialist the field is.  I come from Yeovil in Somerset, and was born with diesel in my veins as my late father was a taxi proprietor and mother was the controller. He had just the one vehicle and traded as Camelot Cabs until the bank refused a loan for further vehicles, so he was left with some lucrative Dorset school runs and no vehicles. Luck appears to have been in short supply for Dad, and depressingly my life seems similar as I head, or am dragged kicking and ...