Greyhound Launches Bus Service in the U.K.
Aug 20th, 2009, 05:27 PM
#1
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Greyhound Launches Bus Service in the U.K.
I was shocked to read in the Guardian that the iconic American long-distance bus company - Greyhound - is launching services in Britain.
First Greyhound (meaning i guess the first First Greyhound) services between London and Portsmouth and Southampton - the coaches themselves will carry saccharine American-themed names like Sweet Caroline, Barbara Ann, Jolene and Peggy Sut - all from 'American songs dedicated to women'
Well the Guardian article says that actually this development is by a British company - Laidlaw International is Greyhound's parent company and that parent was 'bought two years ago by the Scottish-based First Group'
Interestingly it says First Group has already introduced another American icon - the yellow school bus to British services.
So add to the Byzantine mix of British transport companies Greyhound Buses.
Though Greyhound is yes an American icon IMO it does not have a really great cachet in the States - our local Greyhound bus station is very dumpy and basically unchanged since built in the early 50s - the computer they used when i bought a bus ticket for a friend was the most primitive i've seen in commercial use - anyway just a ramshackle place. Good luck in the seemingly highly competitive British bus business.
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Get your kicks on the A3? Greyhound buses launch in UK - 1 day ago
Britons will get the chance to catch the Greyhound bus. But can a trip from Portsmouth or Southampton to London compare with a jaunt along Route 66? ...
guardian.co.uk - 132 related articles »
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Silobreaker: Get your kicks on the A3? Greyhound buses launch i...
Aug 19, 2009 ... Get your kicks on the A3? Greyhound buses launch in UK.
http://www.silobreaker.com/get-your-...38321773199361
First Greyhound (meaning i guess the first First Greyhound) services between London and Portsmouth and Southampton - the coaches themselves will carry saccharine American-themed names like Sweet Caroline, Barbara Ann, Jolene and Peggy Sut - all from 'American songs dedicated to women'
Well the Guardian article says that actually this development is by a British company - Laidlaw International is Greyhound's parent company and that parent was 'bought two years ago by the Scottish-based First Group'
Interestingly it says First Group has already introduced another American icon - the yellow school bus to British services.
So add to the Byzantine mix of British transport companies Greyhound Buses.
Though Greyhound is yes an American icon IMO it does not have a really great cachet in the States - our local Greyhound bus station is very dumpy and basically unchanged since built in the early 50s - the computer they used when i bought a bus ticket for a friend was the most primitive i've seen in commercial use - anyway just a ramshackle place. Good luck in the seemingly highly competitive British bus business.
#
Get your kicks on the A3? Greyhound buses launch in UK - 1 day ago
Britons will get the chance to catch the Greyhound bus. But can a trip from Portsmouth or Southampton to London compare with a jaunt along Route 66? ...
guardian.co.uk - 132 related articles »
#
Silobreaker: Get your kicks on the A3? Greyhound buses launch i...
Aug 19, 2009 ... Get your kicks on the A3? Greyhound buses launch in UK.
http://www.silobreaker.com/get-your-...38321773199361
Aug 20th, 2009, 11:03 PM
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Greyhound is a red herring here (if that's biologically possible)
First Group have a huge share of Britain's rail and local bus services: it's got next to no share of intercity buses, which is heavily dominated by National Express (whoes finances are down the pan right now).
So First are using NE's troubles as a spur to move into intercity buses. Greyhound is a useful brand, since they own it, to hang onto that operation - and there may be skills in the US business they can import.
But it's just using a brandname of a minor subsidiary. Greyhound's not "coming to Britain": the question is whether there's a niche for another long-distance coach operator.
That'll be determined by whether First can offer prices and convenience it can make a profit on. Giving the buses the kind of silly names you'd expect from a Richard Branson stunt is a total side-issue.
First Group have a huge share of Britain's rail and local bus services: it's got next to no share of intercity buses, which is heavily dominated by National Express (whoes finances are down the pan right now).
So First are using NE's troubles as a spur to move into intercity buses. Greyhound is a useful brand, since they own it, to hang onto that operation - and there may be skills in the US business they can import.
But it's just using a brandname of a minor subsidiary. Greyhound's not "coming to Britain": the question is whether there's a niche for another long-distance coach operator.
That'll be determined by whether First can offer prices and convenience it can make a profit on. Giving the buses the kind of silly names you'd expect from a Richard Branson stunt is a total side-issue.
Aug 21st, 2009, 06:42 AM
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We have Megabus service in my area - to Chicago and back for a few bucks.
khun - it's Peggy Sue but Brits may be more enamored by Peggy Slut perhaps?
Americans at least would not flock to any bus service under the Greyhound brand name - very low respect here even though iconic.
khun - it's Peggy Sue but Brits may be more enamored by Peggy Slut perhaps?
Americans at least would not flock to any bus service under the Greyhound brand name - very low respect here even though iconic.
Aug 22nd, 2009, 06:11 AM
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BBC NEWS | UK | England | Hampshire | Greyhound buses take to UK roads
Aug 20, 2009 ... American-style Greyhound buses offering £1.50 trips between London and ... The buses will run between London and Portsmouth and Southampton ...
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/.../8211437.stm - Cached - Similar
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Some more British newspapers' take on the Greyhound background and current launch in the U.K.
Iconic Greyhound buses to begin UK services in challenge to ...
Aug 20, 2009 ... Immortalised in songs and movies, a Greyhound bus might take you from Arizona to ... The first services will run from London to Portsmouth and Southampton ... Dean, Leeds England, 19/8/2009 23:40. Click to rate Rating 2 ...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Iconi...-services.html -
BBC NEWS | UK | England | Hampshire | Greyhound buses take to UK roads
Aug 20, 2009 ... American-style Greyhound buses offering £1.50 trips between London and ... The buses will run between London and Portsmouth and Southampton ...
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/.../8211437.stm - Cached - Similar
#
Some more British newspapers' take on the Greyhound background and current launch in the U.K.
Iconic Greyhound buses to begin UK services in challenge to ...
Aug 20, 2009 ... Immortalised in songs and movies, a Greyhound bus might take you from Arizona to ... The first services will run from London to Portsmouth and Southampton ... Dean, Leeds England, 19/8/2009 23:40. Click to rate Rating 2 ...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Iconi...-services.html -
