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General Category => The Archive => Topic started by: Nathan4775 on April 30, 2012, 05:58:00 PM

Title: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Nathan4775 on April 30, 2012, 05:58:00 PM
Does anybody remeber when Diamond operated the 451, why did they withdrawn


Does Black Diamond still run services on the 9 (Stourbridge - B'Ham)


What other routes do Diamond acompany NXWM other than,
Service 16
Service 50
Service 97
Service 17
Service 37
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on April 30, 2012, 06:09:25 PM
They withdrawn the 451 because lack of patronage, the 9 is not run by black diamond the centro's from here went on the 56 and 202/4.

Diamond compete with NXWM on the 59,301,401E,404E,401,402,404E,410 and 226 against Hansons's
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: D10 on April 30, 2012, 08:13:46 PM
A couple of years back Diamonsd also operated on the following routes not previously mentioned:

126 (Wolves to Dudley only)/406/449/450 and there may have been others too.

These routes just lasted a few months though and were soon withdrawn.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: John on April 30, 2012, 08:17:39 PM
Don't forget the 529E Walsall - Willenhall as well. That also did not last long.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: D10 on April 30, 2012, 08:20:59 PM
Quote from: John-s-91 on April 30, 2012, 08:17:39 PM
Don't forget the 529E Walsall - Willenhall as well. That also did not last long.

Yes thanks John, amazed I forgot that one, as I regularly used to see a Diamond  bus still with branding for the 529E operating on the 401/402 till at least a few months ago!
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: winston on April 30, 2012, 08:24:26 PM
And the 74, 87 & 120

Quote from: D10 on April 30, 2012, 08:13:46 PM
A couple of years back Diamonsd also operated on the following routes not previously mentioned:

126 (Wolves to Dudley only)/406/449/450 and there may have been others too.

These routes just lasted a few months though and were soon withdrawn.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Tomjusttom on April 30, 2012, 08:51:56 PM
 They did the 247/248 and 311 against NXWM at various times
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: richie on April 30, 2012, 10:01:36 PM
Quote from: Tomjusttom on April 30, 2012, 08:51:56 PM
They did the 247/248 and 311 against NXWM at various times

247/248 i wish that was still running!
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Lukeee on April 30, 2012, 10:30:54 PM
Quote from: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well

Didnt know NXWM ever ran the 600? Diamond have competed on the 904.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: winston on April 30, 2012, 11:13:55 PM
NXWM haven't run on the 600, I wrongly thought we were listing former Diamond routes

Quote from: Lukeee on April 30, 2012, 10:30:54 PM
Quote from: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well

Didnt know NXWM ever ran the 600? Diamond have competed on the 904.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Nathan4775 on May 04, 2012, 05:00:02 PM
Quote from: Lukeee on April 30, 2012, 10:30:54 PM
Quote from: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well

Didnt know NXWM ever ran the 600? Diamond have competed on the 904.

What actully happended to the 904 blue diamond, quite a few Diaomd routes have gone without a replacement
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Lukeee on May 04, 2012, 07:56:26 PM
Quote from: NathanJC on May 04, 2012, 05:00:02 PM
Quote from: Lukeee on April 30, 2012, 10:30:54 PM
Quote from: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well

Didnt know NXWM ever ran the 600? Diamond have competed on the 904.

What actully happended to the 904 blue diamond, quite a few Diaomd routes have gone without a replacement

Probably werent making a good (if any) profit, clearly some of the routes do i.e the 16, 50, 404E.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Nathan4775 on May 05, 2012, 10:40:52 AM
Quote from: Lukeee on May 04, 2012, 07:56:26 PM
Quote from: NathanJC on May 04, 2012, 05:00:02 PM
Quote from: Lukeee on April 30, 2012, 10:30:54 PM
Quote from: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well

Didnt know NXWM ever ran the 600? Diamond have competed on the 904.

What actully happended to the 904 blue diamond, quite a few Diaomd routes have gone without a replacement

Probably werent making a good (if any) profit, clearly some of the routes do i.e the 16, 50, 404E.

I think Diamond service 16 is mainly used by connesinary users as it serves the Markets

The 50 on the other hand have quite a few people travel on it at Peak times, On Thursday (3rd May) they had standing passangers which was actully quite surpriseing
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Stu on May 05, 2012, 05:40:42 PM
In the case of the 904, I imagine when Blue Diamond withdrew their service, there was no need to 'replace' it, as there was sufficient capacity on the existing NXWM service, or maybe NXWM just introduced additional journeys.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 05, 2012, 08:08:42 PM
The 50 has people standing on it really often.... To be honest the 63 and 64 used to be really busy-why did they stop. Is there now possibly an opportunity to come back on the route with other companies gone-eg. Travel Express...
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: 4504 on May 05, 2012, 09:14:27 PM
Where did the 221 go?

Quote from: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: winston on May 05, 2012, 09:16:47 PM
221 West Bromwich - Bearwood

Quote from: 4504 on May 05, 2012, 09:14:27 PM
Where did the 221 go?

Quote from: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: 4504 on May 05, 2012, 09:18:38 PM
Oh yeah, I remember now, didn't they try and combine the 443 and 221, so it was Quinton - Bearwood - West Bromwich.

Quote from: winston on May 05, 2012, 09:16:47 PM
221 West Bromwich - Bearwood

Quote from: 4504 on May 05, 2012, 09:14:27 PM
Where did the 221 go?

Quote from: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Justin Tyme on May 05, 2012, 09:31:03 PM
Quote from: Peter123 on May 05, 2012, 08:08:42 PM
To be honest the 63 and 64 used to be really busy-why did they stop. Is there now possibly an opportunity to come back on the route with other companies gone-eg. Travel Express...

I understand that usage of the 64 went down over time, and it was no longer profitable.  A pity, because Diamond would sometimes put Volvo Olympians on the service.  Those Olympians, for those that may not know, are now with Green Bus.

Would it work now?  I believe First Midland Red charge competitive fares between Birmingham and Rubery, so it's difficult to say.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: winston on May 05, 2012, 09:46:45 PM
Don't remember them trying to merge those routes, but could be wrong. Didn't WMB/TWM introduce the 447 in competiton with BCC's 221?

Quote from: 4504 on May 05, 2012, 09:18:38 PM
Oh yeah, I remember now, didn't they try and combine the 443 and 221, so it was Quinton - Bearwood - West Bromwich.

Quote from: winston on May 05, 2012, 09:16:47 PM
221 West Bromwich - Bearwood

Quote from: 4504 on May 05, 2012, 09:14:27 PM
Where did the 221 go?

Quote from: winston on April 30, 2012, 10:03:47 PM
217, 221, 300 & 600 as well
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: D10 on May 05, 2012, 09:49:48 PM
Quote from: winston on May 05, 2012, 09:46:45 PM
Don't remember them trying to merge those routes, but could be wrong. Didn't WMB/TWM introduce the 447 in competiton with BCC's 221?

Yeah, WMB just used to operate the 448 which I think as now was every half hour, and then the 447 was introduced with I think 3 buses per hour to combat the 221.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: 4504 on May 05, 2012, 10:06:52 PM
Oh ok, I thought the 447 was introduced like 20 years ago, but it's all coming back to me. Anyone remember when the 66 operated Bearwood, what ever happened to that?

Quote from: D10 on May 05, 2012, 09:49:48 PM
Quote from: winston on May 05, 2012, 09:46:45 PM
Don't remember them trying to merge those routes, but could be wrong. Didn't WMB/TWM introduce the 447 in competiton with BCC's 221?

Yeah, WMB just used to operate the 448 which I think as now was every half hour, and then the 447 was introduced with I think 3 buses per hour to combat the 221.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Stu on May 06, 2012, 11:15:11 AM
Yes, the 448 has always been operated every 30 minutes, and the 447 was introduced, both to compete with the old 221 route, and to increase the frequency along parts of the 448 route, as well as being a quicker link between West Bromwich and Bearwood.

I do remember the 66 terminating at Bearwood at some point in the past, but it was curtailed to terminate by City Hospital (some blinds showed 'City Hospital, Dudley Road', while others showed "Ladywood, Northbrook St"). I believe at that point, the 82 frequency was increased to 10 minutes to compensate?
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Nathan4775 on May 06, 2012, 11:20:14 AM
Quote from: Stu on May 06, 2012, 11:15:11 AM
Yes, the 448 has always been operated every 30 minutes, and the 447 was introduced, both to compete with the old 221 route, and to increase the frequency along parts of the 448 route, as well as being a quicker link between West Bromwich and Bearwood.

I do remember the 66 terminating at Bearwood at some point in the past, but it was curtailed to terminate by City Hospital (some blinds showed 'City Hospital, Dudley Road', while others showed "Ladywood, Northbrook St"). I believe at that point, the 82 frequency was increased to 10 minutes to compensate?


The 66 operated Between;
Sutton Coldfeild - Ladywood, Heath Street when operated by BY Then sutton - Coldfeild - ??? (BY)
Sutton Coldfeild - Birmingham Markets (PB) Before only operating between Sutton Coldfeild & Priory Queensway
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Stu on May 06, 2012, 11:24:50 AM
We're remembering much further back than that!  ;)
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Nathan4775 on May 06, 2012, 01:42:23 PM
Quote from: Stu on May 06, 2012, 11:24:50 AM
We're remembering much further back than that!  ;)

How much further back ;D
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Mike360 on May 12, 2012, 06:18:40 PM
A small Dennis Dart 20543 was on the 002 today which I had a great ride on which was empty and running early and going pretty fast. Interesting how there's a digital clock on this bus to see.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 12, 2012, 06:34:50 PM
Yes, I was going through Weoley Castle and I saw this not in service http://wmbusphotos.com/diamondpages/20543.html. I assume this is the bus you were on about. It was parked up in Castle Square Weoley Castle at 2:09 this afternoon with the driver having a cigarette.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Mike360 on May 12, 2012, 07:10:42 PM
Yes that's the bus I got on, It got to Weoley Castle at 2.06pm and it's the one that should have got to Bartley Green towards Weoley at 2.10pm.
Quote from: Peter123 on May 12, 2012, 06:34:50 PM
Yes, I was going through Weoley Castle and I saw this not in service http://wmbusphotos.com/diamondpages/20543.html. I assume this is the bus you were on about. It was parked up in Castle Square Weoley Castle at 2:09 this afternoon with the driver having a cigarette.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 12, 2012, 11:17:58 PM
30453 (X639AKW) still has the digital clock and the voice annoucements for the stops when it was used on the 404E like some of the blue diamond (X634/6/7/8) still have
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 10:12:06 AM
In that case, diamond, put it back on the 404E or order new buses for it ASAP. They need some enviro 200s I think.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 04:24:55 PM
It was on the 404E not so long back and didnt sound very good, diamond really do need some investment in buses even  buses are only 2/3 years old to replace some of the older darts hitting 15 years of age.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 05:00:23 PM
I agree and not just optare solos either as these are way too small for anything other than tendered services. They need to buy some new/secondhand enviro 200s and why did they get rid of mcv bodied DARTs. I know the MAN's were unreliable-were these two?
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 05:04:09 PM
Diamond dont seem to keep there new buses they lost 9 of their centro's to wessex connect and lost all there mcv's to get replaced by small darts that are just dont have enough capacity and the solo's from preston with only new versa's in return this will probably go soon lol
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Nathan4775 on May 13, 2012, 06:26:02 PM
Diamond Solo's seem to be apperaing on the 16 quite alot
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: 4504 on May 13, 2012, 06:27:40 PM
Had a ride on 30216 today, sounds great
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 06:51:18 PM
For me 30216 is the best of the wright cadet darts at diamond always an enjoyable ride, what service was it on 16/301?
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: 4504 on May 13, 2012, 06:57:37 PM
16.
Yeah, they are some of the best in the fleet for me, 216/217 are the best cadets they have

Quote from: Ash on May 13, 2012, 06:51:18 PM
For me 30216 is the best of the wright cadet darts at diamond always an enjoyable ride, what service was it on 16/301?
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 07:01:46 PM
Where has 217 gone havent seen it for months most of the cadets appear on the 404E at some time or another but havent seen it on the route, just seen 216 and 218 of the ex ludlow cadets
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 07:09:18 PM
Love 30216 as I remember it on the 64 for several weeks back at the end of 2008. What an epic bus!
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 07:10:06 PM
Please let some diamond buses be preserved when they are withdrawn and I think 30216 would be a good choice for this.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 07:15:39 PM
May be preserved back into the livery it was in when with Ludlow of who it was orginally with
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 07:24:18 PM
Quote from: Ash on May 13, 2012, 07:15:39 PM
May be preserved back into the livery it was in when with Ludlow of who it was orginally with

Totally agree this would look fantastic as Ludlows were a FANTASTIC operator.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 07:36:05 PM
Yeah Ludlows at the time had a modern fleet with i think 3 omnicities which all got sold to Arriva when rotala brought the company
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 07:39:13 PM
Surprise surprise. Tho Im surprised they decided to sell out to rotala as they were a profitable company. Maybe rotala made them a good offer to this family firm.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 07:52:03 PM
With the new emmission requirements coming into force will the '51' reg cadets be able to enter the city centre as i guess 217/8 wont be allowed
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 07:58:06 PM
They should be as I think they are euro 2 as the sb120 was only ever built in euro 2/3 form and then it ceased when euro 4 came in. So, it should be okay until January 2013 at which point they could fit traps anyway. To be honest most Diamond routes into the city will be fine its blue diamond that need new buses most.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 08:20:40 PM
Yeah but blue diamond have been getting some of the shorter sarts from Wessex which are only 7/8 years old and are still in overall white but not enough to replace the exisiting older darts that need to be replaced.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 08:21:39 PM
And some newsish solos..... tho more need to be bought.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 08:27:39 PM
Wessex seem to have all the new buses new gemini's,omnilinks, fairly new eclipses and the older diamond centro's smart fleet with a great livery i just wish the centro's would return good buses and im sure if diamond new how unsucessful the mcv's were within the company they would not have branded the ones they have for the 50 and 002 as im sure if they will still in the black diamond livery they would be used back on the 404E like before the mcv's
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 08:46:21 PM
I agree about Wessex tho the vehicles in the u+we livery look horrible. The centros need to return and diamond need to invest in new buses for the west midlands.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 08:49:03 PM
There not in the u+we livery anymore there in wessex red very smart livery probably my favourite in the group
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 13, 2012, 08:50:57 PM
Oh have they all been repainted? Thats good then because the centros in that livery the vdl ones looked absolutely horrendous. Tho i like the blue U18 livery as thats really smart.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 13, 2012, 08:53:12 PM
Couple of examples of the new livery, wessex red

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocknrave/7170812480/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocknrave/7176380376/
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: 4504 on May 15, 2012, 10:23:04 PM
What do people make of the signature routes?
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: MW on May 15, 2012, 10:25:03 PM
Quote from: 4504 on May 15, 2012, 10:23:04 PM
What do people make of the signature routes?

They look nice. The interior is nice. They turn up late regularly though. If Rotala sort out the punctuality, then they'd be excellent. They do get very busy as well.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: 4504 on May 15, 2012, 10:32:00 PM
I agree, rode the 82 today from Solihull Station, I was surprised with the quality of the interior, I also rid a solo on the S2A to Dorridge railway station, seems like passengers really appreciate these buses because even the seats are in mint condition.

Was quite disappointed that the new solos don't have the same whistle sound that the old ones did.

Quote from: Michael on May 15, 2012, 10:25:03 PM
Quote from: 4504 on May 15, 2012, 10:23:04 PM
What do people make of the signature routes?

They look nice. The interior is nice. They turn up late regularly though. If Rotala sort out the punctuality, then they'd be excellent. They do get very busy as well.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Nathan4775 on May 18, 2012, 07:13:48 PM
Quote from: 4504 on May 15, 2012, 10:23:04 PM
What do people make of the signature routes?

I think the Signature buses are amazing, the interors stand out from other blue diamond buses, the only problem is there allways late like Michael said, they jsut need to fix thyis problem 8), I remeber seeing a Signature 82 on the 904 in Sutton when Central Connect now blue diamond operated it
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Liberator9 on May 26, 2012, 08:23:39 PM
Let me tell you as a frequent user of the S2 and S3. They are late and unreliable and I myself complained to Centro and their contract could be at threat if they had any more buses fail to turn up. I must say the Mercedes and MCV that turn up each day are great but the Solo Srs, well, awful. They rattle, vibrate and some seats at the back have been vandalled on one. One has a engine that keeps cutting out and it hardly fills you with confidence when this happens. The 82 is excellent though and the 30 is alright, just seems to be always empty. The S2 and S3 have lost passengers massively. When it was NXWM (+40A/C) the Liberators were full of a evening and the Crusaders even had to leave people behind. People are fed up of changes and are put off and resort to their cars which are always there.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: MW on May 26, 2012, 08:30:26 PM
Quote from: Liberator9 on May 26, 2012, 08:23:39 PM
Let me tell you as a frequent user of the S2 and S3. They are late and unreliable and I myself complained to Centro and their contract could be at threat if they had any more buses fail to turn up. I must say the Mercedes and MCV that turn up each day are great but the Solo Srs, well, awful. They rattle, vibrate and some seats at the back have been vandalled on one. One has a engine that keeps cutting out and it hardly fills you with confidence when this happens. The 82 is excellent though and the 30 is alright, just seems to be always empty. The S2 and S3 have lost passengers massively. When it was NXWM (+40A/C) the Liberators were full of a evening and the Crusaders even had to leave people behind. People are fed up of changes and are put off and resort to their cars which are always there.

A lot of the Signature buses leave Solihull with no spare seats actually.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Liberator9 on May 26, 2012, 08:33:22 PM
Not the S2 or S3. Anyway they are smaller than Liberators which used to be filled up.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: MW on May 26, 2012, 08:36:59 PM
Quote from: Liberator9 on May 26, 2012, 08:33:22 PM
Not the S2 or S3. Anyway they are smaller than Liberators which used to be filled up.

I work in Solihull and have a full view of the Santander stops. They often leave Solihull with no spare seats. End of.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Liberator9 on May 26, 2012, 09:05:41 PM
Okay, but are both of the two seats full? And in the peaks it is always much quieter than it was, end of.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: MW on May 26, 2012, 09:33:04 PM
Quote from: Liberator9 on May 26, 2012, 09:05:41 PM
Okay, but are both of the two seats full? And in the peaks it is always much quieter than it was, end of.

Yes, both.

I work between the hours of 12pm till 5am on different shifts so I see the route at various times, and it is usually full up in the evenings.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on May 26, 2012, 09:42:33 PM
Signature buses are always full other than the 30 and the 82 needs the citaros on the route.....
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on May 26, 2012, 10:50:10 PM
I think both blue and black diamond needs investment in larger buses for certain routes as wessex connect (wessex red) seem to have much newer better quality buses as well what they inherited from Preston Bus
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Discodave on July 05, 2012, 05:16:38 PM
If they are always late apart from blaiming the company if the route is tendered centro should look at the running times as they have control of setting them according to most traffic manangers as the old 562 had this problem which i mentioned before (wolves bloxwich route) 30 min running time having to serve new cross hospital,coppice farm,lots of traffic calming no catch up at either end just got later until a trip was lost.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Stu on July 06, 2012, 08:57:54 PM
Quote from: Peter123 on May 26, 2012, 09:42:33 PM
Signature buses are always full other than the 30 and the 82 needs the citaros on the route.....

When I first moved to Acocks Green, I started catching the 30 instead of the 37 to get to work, as the 30 (then operated by NXWM) used Metrobuses and I could guarantee myself a seat as I got on at the starting point. It would soon fill up in the mornings with schoolkids on Pierce Avenue, Richmond Rd and Olton station, but it wasn't too bad, as while it operated every 30 minutes, there was an extra bus at peaktimes so the service was every twenty minutes, so there was a decent running time (about 40mins) to keep the service reliable. During the rest of the day, the Metrobuses were near empty though.

It started going downhill when the 30 was withdrawn, and replaced by NXWM's new S3 service at the Solihull review. B10Ls and B6LEs were used instead of Metrobuses, and the frequency was reduced to 30 mins at peaks, but retained an 'S803' school service (sometimes Metrobus operated). The journeys I took would get ridiculously overcrowded, and the new route the S3 took made it run very late, as it still had the old running time. Then when NXWM withdrew the S3 and reinstated the old 30, they kept the 30 min frequency, but with a 26 minute running time, even at peaks! Even Google Maps (when plotting the route in) said the journey would take 24 minutes, without stopping! So once the morning peak journeys got delayed, it was screwed for the rest of the day, as drivers had NO chance of making time up!

When Central Connect (now Blue Diamond Signature) took the 30 over, they kept the same timetable, frequency and running time. It's an impossible route to keep on time.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on July 06, 2012, 09:55:38 PM
Quote from: Stu on July 06, 2012, 08:57:54 PM
Quote from: Peter123 on May 26, 2012, 09:42:33 PM
Signature buses are always full other than the 30 and the 82 needs the citaros on the route.....

When I first moved to Acocks Green, I started catching the 30 instead of the 37 to get to work, as the 30 (then operated by NXWM) used Metrobuses and I could guarantee myself a seat as I got on at the starting point. It would soon fill up in the mornings with schoolkids on Pierce Avenue, Richmond Rd and Olton station, but it wasn't too bad, as while it operated every 30 minutes, there was an extra bus at peaktimes so the service was every twenty minutes, so there was a decent running time (about 40mins) to keep the service reliable. During the rest of the day, the Metrobuses were near empty though.

It started going downhill when the 30 was withdrawn, and replaced by NXWM's new S3 service at the Solihull review. B10Ls and B6LEs were used instead of Metrobuses, and the frequency was reduced to 30 mins at peaks, but retained an 'S803' school service (sometimes Metrobus operated). The journeys I took would get ridiculously overcrowded, and the new route the S3 took made it run very late, as it still had the old running time. Then when NXWM withdrew the S3 and reinstated the old 30, they kept the 30 min frequency, but with a 26 minute running time, even at peaks! Even Google Maps (when plotting the route in) said the journey would take 24 minutes, without stopping! So once the morning peak journeys got delayed, it was screwed for the rest of the day, as drivers had NO chance of making time up!

When Central Connect (now Blue Diamond Signature) took the 30 over, they kept the same timetable, frequency and running time. It's an impossible route to keep on time.


Thats really interesting as I know the 30 is often late-as is the 82 to be honest-maybe they could use a third bus on the route and up the frequency a bit.....
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on July 06, 2012, 10:02:30 PM
I think quite a few of diamonds routes are quite tight in terms of the timetable like the 30 is for blue diamond and is often meaning late runnings of services.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Discodave on July 07, 2012, 12:04:20 PM
Quote from: Ash on July 06, 2012, 10:02:30 PM
I think quite a few of diamonds routes are quite tight in terms of the timetable like the 30 is for blue diamond and is often meaning late runnings of services.
A lot of them are to keep infront of NXWM if not its usually tight times being tendered (so smite me again I know from experiance) like explained more clearly in another post companies alter routes and do not take into account traffic conditions and put in extra bits and do not add more time its just bad planning and cost cutting in some cases.  I know companies need to make money but losing milage due to bad timing loses more money and passengers faith in your company/service and eventually fines from the authorities or loss of operating licences if they really want to punish you.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: DC3 on July 08, 2012, 05:45:49 PM
Quote from: Ash on July 06, 2012, 10:02:30 PM
I think quite a few of diamonds routes are quite tight in terms of the timetable like the 30 is for blue diamond and is often meaning late runnings of services.

The 30 has always been 30mins freq. and only used 2 running board. Even before the S3! Always has been a merry go round!
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on July 15, 2012, 05:41:16 PM
One of the services I was suprised diamond ended was the 404H as when i saw this service is seemed to be well used and provided a quicker link to merry hill form West Bromwich, it must have seen some patronage otherwise NXWM wouldnt have picked the service up on saturdays and sundays and operated commerically. I think a better option would be to introduce the service between Walsall and Merryhill like NXWM do and operate it every 30 minutes monday to friday and every 30 minutes on weekends and operate it so it has a combined 15 minute frequency with NXWM 404H service. It seems rare for NXWM to pick up a service created by another company which was withdrawn and to operate it commerically themselves they must have seen the potential only wished it operated weekdays but with the sandwell review this could happen, hopefully :)
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on July 15, 2012, 06:19:52 PM
Yes, I was also surprised when it was withdrawn-maybe Diamond will reintroduce it in the future-hopefully.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Discodave on July 15, 2012, 09:01:24 PM
Quote from: Peter123 on July 15, 2012, 06:19:52 PM
Yes, I was also surprised when it was withdrawn-maybe Diamond will reintroduce it in the future-hopefully.
Agree the 404H needs to operate mon to fri can't see why it can not it would complement exsting services does it need extra buses or would it be ok with the allocation it has
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Ash on July 15, 2012, 09:47:20 PM
I believe when the 404/H was at West Bromwich garage the PVR was 20 on a saturday compared to the 19 mon-fri for the 404/A. So only needs 1 extra bus on a saturday and one extra on a sunday ( 5 for the 404H and 3 for the 404). Walsall recieved 20 scanias when the 404 transferred there so there should be enough scanias for the service.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: Discodave on July 16, 2012, 02:08:11 PM
Can you make a suggestion to them if so how as I would like to ask.
Title: Re: Diamond Bus routes
Post by: PM on July 16, 2012, 04:41:28 PM
Go on their website and click contact us in the top right hand corner of the page and then type the message