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West Midlands Bus Network Review(s)

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bussnapperwm

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Next lot of tender changes, from October 28th:

Diamond
Lose - 12, 14, 19*, 250, 251, 287, 303 (Bilston)
Gain - 64 (West Brom)
Retain - 74 (Walsall)

Igo
Lose - 64 (West Brom)
Gain - N/A

Midland Classic
Lose - N/A
Gain - 53 (Erdington)

Travel Express
Lose - N/A
Gain - 303 (Bilston)

NXWM
Lose - Unconfirmed
Gain - 3A (Walsall), 19*, 287
New Routes - 23 (replacing 14, 250, 251)

Arriva Midlands
Lose - 3A (Walsall)
Gain - N/A

All in all, this has turned out to be one of the most interesting tender rounds yet, with some very surprising results, especially with Travel Express going onto one of my locals, which i am not happy about, and Midland Classic making an entrance into the West Midlands...

Great. Means I lose my direct bus from work to home (250/251).

Bloody NX.
 
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bussnapperwm

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Most of the 250/251 is staying, the only bit that isn't is the Merry Hill-Amblecote-Stourbridge section

Last time they did that (when Hanson's tried to run the 250 as Stourbridge - Wollaston - Brierley Hill - Merry Hill only) reliability was shot to pieces.

As an aside, do you know what route it will take in Brockmoor (i.e. will it go Leys Road, Moor Street to Hawbush Road or will it be going Norwood Road and Moor Street) and will it still be serving the High Park Avenue/South Road end of Wollaston/Norton.

If not then there will be several unhappy pensioners...
 
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Alex 2901

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Willenhall, West Midlands
Last time they did that (when Hanson's tried to run the 250 as Stourbridge - Wollaston - Brierley Hill - Merry Hill only) reliability was shot to pieces.

As an aside, do you know what route it will take in Brockmoor (i.e. will it go Leys Road, Moor Street to Hawbush Road or will it be going Norwood Road and Moor Street) and will it still be serving the High Park Avenue/South Road end of Wollaston/Norton.

If not then there will be several unhappy pensioners...

I believe the 23 will be exactly the same as the 250 to Merry Hill Centre, then as the 14 to Fatherless Barn, then through the Hayley Green/Hasbury area into Halesowen.
 

Alex 2901

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Willenhall, West Midlands
Interesting to here that they have won the 53 from Igo. Operating in areas of East Birmingham that they have never operated in before.
Do you know if there will just be an operator change? Or are there any changes to the route/timetable as well.
Does anyone know what they’ll be using?

As its a short notice contract, i believe it'll just be an operator change. As for vehicle type, I'd imagine it'll be E200s
 

walsall buses

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Who's taking over the 12 bye any chance
And is the new 23 going to fatherless barn-merry hill or am I wrong
 

bussnapperwm

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Reports are that Diamond have registered a number of journeys on the 250/251 commercially. Where that leaves the 23 I'm not sure...
 

Anthony ross

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I’m travelling to Birmingham in November for a week between the 3rd and 9th and ill be Downloading the national express app to purchase my ticket on for the duration of my trip does the ticket have to be scanned on the buses or do I just show the driver thanks in advance
 

bussnapperwm

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I’m travelling to Birmingham in November for a week between the 3rd and 9th and ill be Downloading the national express app to purchase my ticket on for the duration of my trip does the ticket have to be scanned on the buses or do I just show the driver thanks in advance

Just show the driver
 

walsall buses

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PD0001374/487 Registered (Short notice)
DIAMOND BUS LTD
Route: Wednesbury Bus Station to West Bromwich Bus Station via Hill Top
Service number: 64
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 08 Oct 2018

PD0001374/447 Registered (Short notice)
DIAMOND BUS LTD
Route: Stourbridge bus Station to Stourbridge Bus Station via Brockmoor
Service number: 250 (251)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Oct 2018
 

bussnapperwm

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PD0001374/487 Registered (Short notice)
DIAMOND BUS LTD
Route: Wednesbury Bus Station to West Bromwich Bus Station via Hill Top
Service number: 64
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 08 Oct 2018

PD0001374/447 Registered (Short notice)
DIAMOND BUS LTD
Route: Stourbridge bus Station to Stourbridge Bus Station via Brockmoor
Service number: 250 (251)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Oct 2018

250/1 been registered as partly commercial
 

Anthony ross

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I wonder the what the reason was for midland classic turning down the contract for the 53 maybe no nearby suitable depot
 

Alex 2901

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Location
Willenhall, West Midlands
Worth noting, is that the 14 in Birmingham will have to go to single deck operation from some time in early 2019, until the Autumn of 2020, so expect to see 46xx Tridents moving elsewhere...
 
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bussnapperwm

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Next bit of the rumour mill, is to do with the next batch of new vehicles:

50 new Platinums to Pensnett for the 9, 126 and X10

25 new Platinums to Yardley Wood for the 50.

The 15 plate standard MMCs (6101-48) to Acocks Green for the Outer Circle (11)

Where that leaves the OCs Geminis, I'm not sure of...

Also worth noting, is that the 14 in Birmingham will have to go to single deck operation from some time in early 2019, until the Autumn of 2020, so expect to see 46xx Tridents moving elsewhere...

Pity we couldn't have some new single decks for the 6/7/8.

Instead we get clapped out deckers and 12 plate Eclipses.

Unless the Streetdecks are to be permanently on the 6
 

Alex 2901

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Willenhall, West Midlands
Pity we couldn't have some new single decks for the 6/7/8.

Instead we get clapped out deckers and 12 plate Eclipses.

Unless the Streetdecks are to be permanently on the 6

I'd be more inclined for newer deckers on the 6, and I'd go so far as to say the 8 wouldn't go amiss for newer deckers sometimes. The 7 would be wishful thinking, but until the trees in Norton are cut, not a cat in hells chance of deckers being a staple on there...
 

goldisgood

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The new Platinums are coming for the Birmingham 9, 50 and X70 and Coventry 11 and 12X.
plat-nework-map-2018-900x700px.jpg
 

Mal

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22 Feb 2015
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Location
Liverpool
Does anyone know if there are any plans to renumber the rest of the 9xx routes into the X series?
 

Aictos

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Ahh thank you so same bodyshell but a more upgraded interior?
 
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