I didn't know about this until a few days ago when invited on uk.rail
to have a look at their website.

On Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:48:40 -0800 (PST), Stephen Allcroft
 wrote:

>I didn't know about this until a few days ago when invited on uk.rail
>to have a look at their website.

Because they've been trying their hand at commuter services (see the
MK1 experiment) and presumably feel that buying an existing operator
is easier then building up from scratch?

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

On Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:48:40, Stephen Allcroft
 wrote:

>I didn't know about this until a few days ago when invited on uk.rail
>to have a look at their website.

W/e 09/11/07.  Why not try Googling next time?

Paul Harley

Paul Harley wrote...
>On Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:48:40, Stephen Allcroft
> wrote:
>
>>I didn't know about this until a few days ago when invited on uk.rail
>>to have a look at their website.
>
>W/e 09/11/07.  Why not try Googling next time?
>
How would someone know to Google for something if they didn't know it
had happened?
-- 
Martin Clark

On Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:13:42, Martin Clark  wrote:
>>
>>>I didn't know about this until a few days ago when invited on uk.rail
>>>to have a look at their website.
>>
>>W/e 09/11/07.  Why not try Googling next time?
>>
>How would someone know to Google for something if they didn't know it
>had happened?

Err, once they knew about it a few days ago when invited on uk.rail to
have a look at their website??

Paul Harley

On 18 Dec, 20:52, wensleyd...@pacersplace.org.uk (Neil Williams)
wrote:
> On Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:48:40 -0800 (PST), Stephen Allcroft
>
>  wrote:
> >I didn't know about this until a few days ago when invited on uk.rail
> >to have a look at their website.
>
> Because they've been trying their hand at commuter services (see the
> MK1 experiment) and presumably feel that buying an existing operator
> is easier then building up from scratch?
>
> Neil
>
> --
> Neil Williams
> Put my first name before the at to reply.

Thanks for a sensible answer. I haven't replied to many of these posts
as the January edition of Buses arrived and answered most of my
questions- still hard to reconcile with a "uniform brand" though.

Also noticed (pace Buses) that TKF made a net return of 7%; does this
mean the days of 15% profit rates are over.

On Thu, 27 Dec 2007 07:48:18 -0800 (PST), Stephen Allcroft
 wrote:

>Thanks for a sensible answer. 

Even though I answered "why" and not "when" ;)

> I haven't replied to many of these posts
>as the January edition of Buses arrived and answered most of my
>questions- still hard to reconcile with a "uniform brand" though.

I have a feeling it will be rebranded something like "National Express
Commuter" before very long.

>Also noticed (pace Buses) that TKF made a net return of 7%; does this
>mean the days of 15% profit rates are over.

Will be interested to see what changes.  Family businesses (like TKF)
very often go for a lower return.

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

> >Also noticed (pace Buses) that TKF made a net return of 7%; does this
> >mean the days of 15% profit rates are over.
>
> Will be interested to see what changes.  Family businesses (like TKF)
> very often go for a lower return.

This isn't a net amount whatever Buses says. It's before depreciation
and finance charges and I leave you to surmise the real "profit"