Messages

A3 is changing from 29th April.

Will be rerouted to serve Bentley Heath, ommiting part of Station Road instead serving Widney Rd, Slater Rd, Mill Ln & Poplar Road. Timetable changes aswell, still roughly hourly frequency.

Cheers - as in 30856 was swapped with 30491 ?

Appears that way, not 100% sure though

Or was only a loan to Redditch ?

I'm lead to believe 30856 is now at Redditch

15518 is still showing as at Redditch on Rotala's own fleetlist, any idea where it went?

Can't remember when, it was a while ago though!

11540 (YR17 RHK) Scania/Higer and 15518 (WLT 987) Mercedes/EVM are shown on Tony's fleet list as allocated to Redditch garage.
Does anyone know what duties these vehicles are used on?

They are used on National Grid Shuttles.

15518 is no longer at Redditch, it was replaced by 15520

5 Streetlites coming to Redditch tomorrow are

32224
32225
32227
32231
32232

3 Mellors are coming within the next few hours.

Leaving Redditch are
20014
20016
20027
20201
30404
30405

20016 has left Redditch and the 3 Mellors have now arrived

And is still there now!

I agree they could have had continued to use the 80's series, eg 89 Solihull-Knowle-Dorridge, 80/80A and 81/81A for the new circular routes (80E shorts for Cheswiick Green) etc.

The proposals in the tender spec was using 78/9 83 etc which sort of made sense!

Diamond used to have an S2A and S2C in recent years as well.

I agree. Having 3 route numbers for the same route, isn't very user friendly either in my opinion. A3, A4 and A5. Usually 3 seperatre route numbers mean they are 3 seperate routes and A7/A8.

Why could they not just use a set of standard route numbers? e.g 40, 41, 42, etc.

Only the A4 & A5 share the same route, with one extending past Dickens Heath to Wythall. The same as currently with the S3 to Dickens and S3W to Wthall.

Tividale operate the 75 too? @Matt.N0056

Seems PVR is 3 at midday?

Tividale just do two trips to cover for breaks. I believe they are using their own bus for this again.

Has the Diamond 12 service that operates between Cradley Heath and Blackheath been officially withdrawn, I know notices on buses were saying that Diamond were no longer operating the service, but can't find a replacement operator and the timetable has vanished from the Network West Milands website.

According to the NWM upcoming changes page it says service withdrawn due to very low passenger numbers.

20982 was on the 30 again today.

That's the route is allocated to while it's at Redditch

Kind of relevant. For the last few weeks, the tickets issued on the Diamond 50 say West Midlands Bus and not Diamond. At least on the Sunday service operates out of Redditch.

With the driving I've done last week I've noticed it on various routes but not all the time. Some were printing it on Solihull's  & some journeys on the 75...

It's parked up in the background of this very recent shot:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1973839552673511&set=gm.542518852858596&type=3&theater&ifg=1

I'm not sure Redditch have any requirements for a double decker, 40540-3 are all now withdrawn. I think 40631 will eventually join it's sisters at Preston.

I believe it is due to go to Preston, it is currently sat in the yard VOR, however has been on the road since it broke down. The only requirement Redditch have for a decker is the 301 school.

I've also noticed the other day that one of the flags at Solihull Station says "S16 Damsonwood", though the S16 doesn't go to the Damsonwood, neither does it go to the Station.

Should be S1. I have reported this via the website but nothing seems to have been done...

Not sure if there's a fault with that one, but not many people seem to realise that there's a power on/off switch for the Centrad unit on the dashboard, and just assume it's not working.

It's not there anymore! @MW