Just for a bit of fun, what does your crystal ball see for next year?
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PHYAAOSwotdjtm8S/s-l1600.jpg)
I'll start with the following...
NX Bus's plan to have 300 new electric buses in service 'by December 2024' delayed until 2025 due to issues with getting chargers installed at garages.
Stagecoach to actually announce an order of electric buses for its Leamington, Nuneaton and Rugby garages, so that Coventry can become an all-electric bus city in 2025.
NX Coventry to announce and place an order for single-deck EVs.
Richard Parker to become the new Labour mayor of the West Midlands, and plans to franchise buses to be accelerated.
Opening of new rail stations at Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road delayed until 2025.
NX Bus announce locations of new garages in Longbridge and Kitts Green to replace the Birmingham Central depot.
Stagecoach to announce and open a new depot in Birmingham/Solihull.
The 20 hydrogen buses at Walsall will be used all day every day of the week.
I predict that ALX400s/Geminis will last beyond 2024, possibly due to my prediction of delayed electrics.
I predict that NX will make an order for some Wright Electroliners this year.
The WMR class 730s will be delayed on the Cross City line further until the end of 2024/2025.
There will still be non-euro 6 vehicles beyond February.
I predict that Rotala will look to expand their business in the North West and Midlands but sell off their South East part.
I predict that the new West Midlands Labour Mayor will promote the idea of taking local rail services and bus services under full TfWM control with private operators franchised to run bus services similar to Manchester.
I predict that the Metro extension to Brierley Hill and Merry Hill is put back even further.
I predict that NXWM will cease operation of more services to prioritise needs on trunk routes.
NX bus division to be bought out by either Go-Ahead or Abellio.
The NX eastern bus garage to be commissioned around by the HS2 Birmingham Interchange station. The other one to be either on the Birmingham Wheels site or a similar brownfield site close to the Inner Ring Road.
NX to take over the Chaserider operation in Cannock.
Stagecoach to withdraw from the Birmingham/Solihull area.
Diamond to take over the Arriva Tamworth operation.
Train drivers will still be on strike.
First to withdraw from Worcester, unknown who will step in (possibly Diamond).
Very farfetched ideas from me.
Labour win the metro mayor for the West Midlands & franchise the bus & trains, public transport should be there to provide a service not for shareholders.
Quote from: woody38 on December 09, 2023, 09:08:11 PMLabour win the metro mayor for the West Midlands & franchise the bus & trains, public transport should be there to provide a service not for shareholders.
Don't know whether you've noticed, but franchising actually provides a better return for shareholders at the moment!
Quote from: Tony on December 09, 2023, 09:14:08 PMDon't know whether you've noticed, but franchising actually provides a better return for shareholders at the moment!
Wish we could bring WMPTE back Tony but I accept that is expecting to much
Agree bus franchising and the name Midland Red appears on buses late 2024 when Dudley/Wolverhampton becomes the first ares under franchise scheme, closely followed in the spring 2025 by Walsall/Sandwell. With Birmingham and Coventry coming online by the summer 2025.
Tram lines will be name branded and along with a system rebrand such as Midland Light Rail.
A new sleeper train service is introduced from. Birmingham Snow Hill to the south coast of England
Mobico & First Group to agree a friendly merger.
Stagecoach to join the bidding for Rotala with a hostile bid.
NX Bus to win 2 large Franchises in Manchester Tranche 3.
Rotala to win Wythenshawe Large Franchise in Manchester Tranche 3.
Richard Jones to not annoy anyone.
Quote from: winston on December 09, 2023, 11:03:32 PMMobico & First Group to agree a friendly merger.
Stagecoach to join the bidding for Rotala with a hostile bid.
NX Bus to win 2 large Franchises in Manchester Tranche 3.
Rotala to win Wythenshawe Large Franchise in Manchester Tranche 3.
Richard Jones to not annoy anyone.
I thought Stu had the dubious pleasure of Mr Jones nowadays on his site?
Quote from: Westy on December 09, 2023, 11:35:04 PMI thought Stu had the dubious pleasure of Mr Jones nowadays on his site?
Yes & a few other sites do, I have the face to face pleasure in Wetherspoons... :shocked:
Rotala to make more purchases in the West Midlands;
Possible (but unlikely) acquisitions could include;
Chaserider;
Select Bus Services;
Banga Buses;
Let's Go;
Arriva Tamworth;
Solus Coaches;
Would be interesting to see if ANY of those were to be absorbed by Rotala Group but as I said it is probably unlikely.
QuoteRotala to make more purchases in the West Midlands;
Possible (but unlikely) acquisitions could include;
Chaserider;
Select Bus Services;
Banga Buses;
Let's Go;
Arriva Tamworth;
Solus Coaches;
Would be interesting to see if ANY of those were to be absorbed by Rotala Group but as I said it is probably unlikely.
Solus are already part of a group (BM Coaches)
Hmm...
Brierley Hill to get completely dropped from the Metro (Merry Hill to still happen)
9 to move to BC, with Aston to take PBs single deck work and PB to take the 14 (all temporarily)
PN to take the 3, 12 and 13 from WB as the latter will have staff shortages, so the 9 has to move to BC for a temporary period to accommodate more E400s and E200s for the WB routes moving in
The replacements for BC to be announced, with a depot near the old LH and a depot off the Bristol Road.
NXWM decide to look at replacing WB with a depot in Oldbury, but talks break down.
Due to the (kings square shopping centre) been demolished in West Bromwich, TfWm opens upto the idea of two bus stations.
new square station
5, 16, 40, 45, 66
----------
Diamond and NX have bus reviews
64 Wednesbury - West Bromwich (Dia)
66 West Bromwich - Stone Cross (Dia)
Merge and becomes 1 Wednesbury - Stone Cross
40/47 merge to form a circular route
2A/2C West Bromwich - Wednesbury
Quote from: winston on December 10, 2023, 12:00:27 AMYes & a few other sites do, I have the face to face pleasure in Wetherspoons... :shocked:
I did mention this at the time, but he did give Chaserider one of his 'warm welcomes' on Twitter when they started.
Alas the tweet was deleted.
Quote from: the trainbasher on December 10, 2023, 05:10:55 AMSolus are already part of a group (BM Coaches)
Of course I forgot
For Coventry -
£2 single fare cap to continue up to the election.
NXC will take over the 60 from SC and up the service freq to 30 mins
SC 86 to revert back to 30 min freq and extended to Coventry rail station
Diamond will take over the A Line depot to have a base on the east side of West Mids for Coventry/Rugby area.
Coventry VLR tram project abandoned.
The 002 cut to run Halesowen to Merry Hill only and the X21 extended to Halesowen during the week, or least every other one.
76 to be cut back to Solihull Station to QE Hospital only. Probably with no replacement.
Quote from: MasterPlan on December 10, 2023, 11:16:50 AMThe 002 cut to run Halesowen to Merry Hill only and the X21 extended to Halesowen during the week, or least every other one.
And Kev's would probably take on the Halesowen to Weoley side of the route
Quote from: Ginger66 on December 10, 2023, 08:14:55 AMDue to the (kings square shopping centre) been demolished in West Bromwich, TfWm opens upto the idea of two bus stations.
new square station
5, 16, 40, 45, 66
----------
Diamond and NX have bus reviews
64 Wednesbury - West Bromwich (Dia)
66 West Bromwich - Stone Cross (Dia)
Merge and becomes 1 Wednesbury - Stone Cross
40/47 merge to form a circular route
2A/2C West Bromwich - Wednesbury
Is Kings Square actually due to be demolished, going through West Brom on Friday Kings Square had more shops than Queens Square because New Square took a lot of the shops that Queens Square had so if this planned I assume Queens Square can have the Shops Kings Square does. I assume you would keep the current West Brom bus station for the 4's, 74, 79, 80, 89 and a few others
I heard houses are going to be built on the old kings cinema and indoor market, Superdrug is moving to New Square and I heard Iceland is moving to the high street.
Pensnett to lose Volvo single deckers to a garage with scania single deckers so they can be withdrawn
47xx or 48xx to Wolverhampton
More platinum buses to pensnett to replace them
A lot of routes get re-timings to help with reliability (now that more drivers are being hired they could have some extra runs)
East Birmingham and South Birmingham depot gets confirmed
PB is 50% electric ran
NX have a GB Kite on demo - and then they chooses a single decker ev
NXWM try to change some single decker routes so they don't have to get too many single decker's or they stop operating them (e.g. another op get the 96 again)
X12/X13 has a timetable change with probably another reduction in service (after clock garage - maybe X13 hourly in daytime except for the Hams Hall mess of runs)
Train drivers will continue striking throughout the whole year with another NX strike maybe?
Merry Hill tram line opens
Completely out there predictions:
Diamond to get Arriva Tamworth (NXWM to take 110 - make it either on X5 or new X6)
Diamond take another small operator
First Worcester gets taken by another operator (Kevs/Diamond/NX/Stagecoach)
NX expands into Manchester
A new tram line gets announced
Quote from: GoldenSquid on December 10, 2023, 08:49:01 PMCompletely out there predictions:
Diamond take another small operator
Yeah I think either Banga Buses; Let's Go; Select Bus or Chaserider
With the already confirmed disposal of North America, I predict the Cosmen family to take over Alsa part of Mobico.
Leaving NX UK the only business left in the group. NX bus will be taken over by TfWM and the coach arms to be bought by private firms.
Stagecoach to sell Nuneaton and leamington depots to another operator
Nxc to get ecitaros to replace the b7rles/ E200s
Quote from: GoldenSquid on December 10, 2023, 08:49:01 PMA lot of routes get re-timings to help with reliability (now that more drivers are being hired they could have some extra runs)
East Birmingham and South Birmingham depot gets confirmed
PB is 50% electric ran
NX have a GB Kite on demo - and then they chooses a single decker ev
NXWM try to change some single decker routes so they don't have to get too many single decker's or they stop operating them (e.g. another op get the 96 again)
X12/X13 has a timetable change with probably another reduction in service (after clock garage - maybe X13 hourly in daytime except for the Hams Hall mess of runs)
Train drivers will continue striking throughout the whole year with another NX strike maybe?
Merry Hill tram line opens
Completely out there predictions:
Diamond to get Arriva Tamworth (NXWM to take 110 - make it either on X5 or new X6)
Diamond take another small operator
First Worcester gets taken by another operator (Kevs/Diamond/NX/Stagecoach)
NX expands into Manchester
A new tram line gets announced
I can see 110 being taken by NXWM, personally id go for X6, also i would see the 907 being renumbered to the X7, 934-7 & 997 being renumbered and i would like a bus route connecting West Bromwitch and erdington, and one connecting scott arms and merry hill (sound familar)
Quote from: Ginger66 on December 10, 2023, 04:07:16 PMI heard houses are going to be built on the old kings cinema and indoor market, Superdrug is moving to New Square and I heard Iceland is moving to the high street.
My other sister lives in West Brom near the Tesco.
Hasn't mentioned anything AFAIK.
Predictions - First and NX bus to merge and First Midlands depots in Worcester, Stoke and Leicester to be incorporated with NX West Mids into a wider midlands operation.
Worcester to Birmingham express service via M5 to be launched due to continued train strikes making such a service more viable.
20 QE to Bromsgrove frequency to be increased again to half hourly.
And hopefully no Labour Mayor here - Andy Street has done a fair job in the grand scheme of things, dealing with the Covid period, etc. As long as there aren't any more global pandemics or similar, passenger numbers will increase next year and hopefully support operators to start being proactive again with new routes.
Andy Burnham to realise that money does not grow on trees, and the Bee livery has to be rebranded as 'U' instead (standing for unmitigated tax payer disaster!)
I'd predict Kidderminsters B7RLE fleet is withdrawn. The 3 Kidderminster - Stourport is upgraded with Steetlites from the North West cascaded in, as this seems to be Kidderminsters busiest route.
A large number of Omnilink single deckers will be withdrawn.
2/3 8A/8C upgaded to electric double deck operation from single deck.
Some more minor services cut and key services will have frequency increases.
X5 to Tamworth maybe.
Hydrogens on the 51 continue to be a rare sight.
Another prediction I've just thought of
LandFlight end up collapsing exactly the same as DeCourcey did and effectively cease trading and all services transfer to Diamond.
Johnsons take on the coach division of the business.
All the buses are sold on.
Quote from: BN on December 10, 2023, 08:54:49 PMWith the already confirmed disposal of North America, I predict the Cosmen family to take over Alsa part of Mobico.
Leaving NX UK the only business left in the group. NX bus will be taken over by TfWM and the coach arms to be bought by private firms.
Mobico are only putting North American school bus up for sale, they will still have North American transit & shuttle. That's assuming they get a decent offer for school bus.
Quote from: Ginger66 on December 10, 2023, 04:07:16 PMI heard houses are going to be built on the old kings cinema and indoor market, Superdrug is moving to New Square and I heard Iceland is moving to the high street.
That's where I went to West Brom on Friday Superdrug, Iceland might move to where Poundland was Queen Square/High Street how about the other shops. New Square is honestly the best part of West Brom Kings Square felt busier than Queen Square although Queen Square was busy at 3PM when I was heading back to the bus station. Besides Poundland there is a Holland and Barrett and other than that it looked empty almost like I shouldn't go there. The busiest part was the Esclators to New Square which I assume is where the Christmas lights and decorations are. If they demolish Kings Square I'd imagine a lot of West Brom High Street on that side would be moved and rebuild sort of like when they demolished the Shopping Centre in Walsall to build Primark a lot of the shops moved to the new units built the other side of Primark heading twoards Asda.
Actual bus related prediction unlikely but due to congestion around the M5 J1 worse when West Brom play at home WB run a 74E Matchday shuttle to The Hawthorns. Other Predictions Sprint will be delayed/Scrapped when or if the New Mayor takes over. BCC Will sell the Hydrogens to NX in a bid for more cash. The Walsall to Wolverhampton line will be further delayed although Willenhall might open for tests at the end of 2024 with the whole line maybe by the end of 2025. The new Mayor will realise it is pointless taking the Tram everywhere when it like Buses and Cars has to sit in congestion on street sections and that it's construction causes delays. The Metro itself will have another suspension and eventually all the CAF Trams are scrapped with WN and WB joining forces to run the 74 and 79 maybe with 79 temporarily extended to Birmingham. New Trams are then ordered. The Section to Brierley Hill/Dudley will be scrapped and instead Bus lanes will be built, Cross City bus network like Sprint will fail due to increasing congestion from the outgoing mayors Metro obsession. And HS2 to Birmingham will be scrapped by a Labour government who now deem it pointless and will instead use some of the sections to upgrade the WCML or for new routes.
my predictions
Hydrogen Buses to finally get the heave ho, due to lack of availability
Electrics continue to dominate, following on from CV, WA, WN & PB go all electric,
AG continue to get the left overs, and WB get nothing, a NEW Livery is launched AGAIN, Grey is now out, Andy Street says Blue is the new colour to match his beloved Trams, AG continues to just run a patchwork of cast of colours
11A/ 11C gets a further change, it is decided they should serve all Hospitals, on the route, now calling at Q.E. service frequency becomes every 10 - 15 minutes, Solihull Hospital via 7 Star Road, (right) onto Loade Lane, Right onto Warwick Road for AG & back to normal line of route, now known as "The Hospital Bus"
Handsworth is no longer served, services on this section now run from NEW City Hospital (drop back) then onto Birmingham for The Childrens Hospital
No.1 "Moseley" is taken off parts are added to other routes & garages
due to Rail Strikes, 999 service makes a welcome return now known as X999 connecting Solihull with NEC / Airport etc.
New Mini Bus service to run Solihull Hospital to Dorridge Station, making use of Ambulances cascaded by further NHS cuts, 10 minute service known as 181 operates via Bentley Heath & Widney Manor to Solihull, Then Warwick Road, Station Road Knowle (and reverse) AG scheduled to close and merge with YW
37 service (Warwick Road) becomes 37C Birmingham to AG & Return
Sprint Bus fails to get off the ground
as its fantasy might aswell let imagination run riot
Regarding Sprint, I wouldn't be surprised if the plans to buy and use articulated buses get quietly shelved, and the whole scheme gets dropped, with the Walsall to Bham Airport/Solihull just becoming the first 'cross-city' bus service instead, using new electric double-decks or the existing hydrogens.
Quote from: Stu on December 11, 2023, 07:59:06 PMRegarding Sprint, I wouldn't be surprised if the plans to buy and use articulated buses get quietly shelved, and the whole scheme gets dropped, with the Walsall to Bham Airport/Solihull just becoming the first 'cross-city' bus service instead, using new electric double-decks or the existing hydrogens.
Or the Cross City network slowly gets scrapped and services are timed to connect with each other and timed to be more frequent and faster. With the Mayor's obessesion with Trams everything will get congested
Diamond buys all the independents
Quote from: spacecowboy150 on December 11, 2023, 08:56:46 PMDiamond buys all the independents
Then one of the "big boys" buy Diamond ?? ??
Quote from: B61 ANDREW on December 11, 2023, 09:14:19 PMThen one of the "big boys" buy Diamond ?? ??
well, Go-Ahead tried that a few years back, If any company it will be NXWM
I might go back and check the 'predictions' for 2023 . :laugh: :wink:
Quote from: spacecowboy150 on December 11, 2023, 09:18:15 PMwell, Go-Ahead tried that a few years back, If any company it will be NXWM
A bit out there. Rotala bought Diamond from Go Ahead.
Quote from: Tony on December 11, 2023, 09:42:30 PMA bit out there. Rotala bought Diamond from Go Ahead.
my bad then, still shows that even a big company cant properly compete against NXWM.
TBH I look at places like Newcastle and think that it must be pretty interesting with 3 big operators in a 3-way 'bus war'
Quote from: spacecowboy150 on December 11, 2023, 09:46:12 PMmy bad then, still shows that even a big company cant properly compete against NXWM.
TBH I look at places like Newcastle and think that it must be pretty interesting with 3 big operators in a 3-way 'bus war'
They're not in a bus war though, they all do their own thing
Quote from: B61 ANDREW on December 11, 2023, 09:14:19 PMThen one of the "big boys" buy Diamond ?? ??
Simon, Bob and John are buying it, already confirmed for Q1 2024.
Hydrogens never all out together on the same day
Quote from: Mayfield on December 12, 2023, 03:41:00 PMHydrogens never all out together on the same day
Unlikely even if they sort out the refueling issues due to MOTs, inspections, breakdowns etc
Quote from: BN on December 10, 2023, 08:54:49 PMWith the already confirmed disposal of North America, I predict the Cosmen family to take over Alsa part of Mobico.
Leaving NX UK the only business left in the group. NX bus will be taken over by TfWM and the coach arms to be bought by private firms.
I don't think TfWM would be able to buy NX as I don't think they have the legal right to buy a private company. However TfWM could follow the Manchester area and introduce Franchising which could lead to Stagecoach and Rotala being beneficiaries.
A new bus route to replace the 600 and 25 would come in handy, also a route connecting Erdington and West Bromwitch, and maybe a route connecting Kingstanding, Sutton or erdington to Q.E Hospital?
Quote from: SuperSonic07 on December 12, 2023, 09:27:06 PMA new bus route to replace the 600 and 25 would come in handy, also a route connecting Erdington and West Bromwitch, and maybe a route connecting Kingstanding, Sutton or erdington to Q.E Hospital?
25 and 600 were scrapped due to extremely low usage and being in close proximity to other high frequency routes can't see them coming back.
And how many people really travel from Erdington to West Bromwich?
Probably not enough to warrant its own service I expect. When you can catch the fast X4 into the City and then the metro or the 74 to West Bromwich.
Further industrial action to affect National Express West Midlands.
Payrises for all bus/coach companies in the west midlands 😉
NXWM to take in orders of the next gen E400 EV and E200/100 EV
Quote from: SuperSonic07 on December 12, 2023, 09:27:06 PMA new bus route to replace the 600 and 25 would come in handy, also a route connecting Erdington and West Bromwitch, and maybe a route connecting Kingstanding, Sutton or erdington to Q.E Hospital?
The 5 and the sutton lines do that just fine tbf
Quote from: Straightlines on December 12, 2023, 09:43:51 PMFurther industrial action to affect National Express West Midlands.
That's not a prediction, its a fact.
Quote from: j789 on December 10, 2023, 10:15:15 PMAnd hopefully no Labour Mayor here - Andy Street has done a fair job in the grand scheme of things, dealing with the Covid period, etc. As long as there aren't any more global pandemics or similar, passenger numbers will increase next year and hopefully support operators to start being proactive again with new routes.
Andy Burnham to realise that money does not grow on trees, and the Bee livery has to be rebranded as 'U' instead (standing for unmitigated tax payer disaster!)
Agreed,given who runs-allegedly-the City Council in Birmingham. And on Mr Photo Op-as I call Burnham-he has no functioning brain.
There are pros and cons to both labour and tory mayors. Franchising only seems to work in London and even then it doesn't make much money. I don't know who would pay the Drivers Salary would it still be NX if say they were driving a Franchise Route let's say the X1 or would it change if say a new operator were allocated an old NX Route let's say the 16 which in that case would That Driver be happy if they had NX Wages and the new operator paid less. How would smaller firms who run into the County such as Chaserider, Banga and Arriva be affected. How would you get operators like Let's Go to comply with the Franchising ways considering most of there buses don't have a livery. Would NX seem to be happy to loose it's majority. So that goes against Labour there.
But the current mayor Trains yes fine, although HS2 should be scrapped it's pointless now just upgrade and build new loop lines or reopen lines with proper clearance for faster WCML Trains. 22 years ago Richard Branson who I don't like proposed the 390's could do 140MPH and asked if Railtrack/Network Rail could upgrade infrastructure to allow this speed they got to 125MPH surely if we had 140 we could have pushed to 160/180 and now maybe 180/200MPH Trains working to 220MPH Trains for 2030. So yes Local Trains work although the Walsall to Wolverhampton Train is still less convient than getting the 529 The 34 and Darlaston Corridoor and the X51 to Birmingham or even Walsall for a train, would still be quicker than the initial planned Frequency from Darlaston or even getting one to Darlaston and getting the 79 to Wolverhampton or Wednesbury and the Tram from Wednesbury to Brum or the Train from Wolverhampton to Brum or beyond. If you live in the town which a lot who get the 34/37/39 to connect to the Birmingham buses do get on in Darlaston these are more efficient options.
Sprint has been delayed and delayed and delayed. It doesn't inspire Tax Payers when you keep pushing it back. Whose mental idea was it to demolish the Perry Barr Flyover for it you could have repurposed it. Sprint will sit in the same traffic that the 51 and X51 and X1/X2 do now. The fact Sprint goes from Walsall to the Airport is madness when there is now direct Trains to the Airport I believe Semi fast calling at Tame Bridge, New Street and International. That would be more convenient and have more capacity. There is then his obsession with Trams which as someone who regularly uses the 79 including when the Trams failed due to Cracks can testify it was the bus that existed long before the Trams inception that saved the day much to the inconvenience of anyone who lived in Darlaston, Bilston or Moxley who were quicker to use the Bus. So if he extends it to Merry Hill and it fails what takes the slack the good old bus. Yes it is a good idea and one proposed from Merry Hill's inception that is taking place. If the Tram uses the Street Section to Merry Hill then it will be delayed that area is gridlocked around December. The 5's W's he planned including ghr Tram through Darlaston. There is a problem the old Darlaston Town station not far from where the Tram would stop On Picturedome way behind the Main King Street to Darlaston James Bridge line doesn't exist it is now Victoria Park or built over.
The other issue he wants the Tram to go to the Airport you have the Train, Sprint and the Tram going there. BHX is not LHR, it would be nice if he could maybe tempt Singapore Airlines, American and others to BHX to warrant it even Heathrow doesn't have conflicting rivalling transport, the Underground's is part of a different line to the Elizabeth Line and the Heathrow Express only terminates at Paddington and is used for Terminal 5 Express Passengers. So why does BHX need 3 methods not including the X1, 97, X12 and Coaches.
Some of the Tory Ideas are good, I don't know many of Labour's ideas other than Franchising but Both candidates need to forget the Trams Mr Street and Franchising Labour and focus on maybe making the current Buses more efficient ie Bus Lanes or replacing the Perry Barr Flyover or improving the Roads despite the obsession with Transport they both have trying to tempt Mondeo man out of his Mondeo to get on Sprint. People are still going to use cars for freedom of there own Choice, Radio Station's, Setting off Later than getting a bus or 2 to get to Birmingham, they will be quicker and they don't have to risk waiting 40 minutes when a crash, Roadworks, A breakdown or other issues causes buses to be missed out and people to cram onto the first 14 they see. The Car driver can navigate around, have there own space not be stressed, soaked, tired, wet, cold and squashed. Focus on having Buses and Cars work on the roads together then focus on Sprint, Trams which there construction delays the Buses and Sprint more and maybe then extensions. There is no guarantee that any of these extensions Mr Street wants will be profitable and won't be abandoned in 30 years time when I tell my kids years ago that was a Tram Line now it is an Urban Park and walkway or an Urban concrete Canal or a massive Cycle Lane But there is no Gaurantee the Labour Canidate will do much better with his ideas. Both have Pros and Cons I don't really know much about Labour's ideas so can't go into more depth fully. Whereas I do know more Tory ideas or things he is going/continuing to do.
Plausible
The 9 into city will be diverted and will follow the tram via town hall stopping outside the government building on Stephenson St and the pulling into the layby by Urban Outfitters on Corporation St.
Way out there/on another planet
(1) The Metro Mayor will trial, 'Boris Style buses' in the city centre.
(2a) Trams run 24/7 from first tram on Friday until the last tram on a Sunday evening.
(2b) Night trams continually after 23:00 until 04:00 trams will be every 35 mins throughout the night seven days a week
We find out what ALF means!!
I think I've got it, but I'd like to see.
Quote from: mesub on December 14, 2023, 08:22:17 PMWe find out what ALF means!!
I think I've got it, but I'd like to see.
Alternative/Alien Life Form or something along those lines
Quote from: winston on December 15, 2023, 10:12:48 AMClose - It's "Another lying f*cker"
I was gonna guess that eventually but wanted to be PG. We know what it means in 2023 no need to predict it in 2024 now
Another prediction for 2024...
1st April, you'll see the usual triple decker/water bus/April fool posts from bus operators online
Annoying little f-cker apparently
Amazing lovely fellow.
Quote from: the trainbasher on December 15, 2023, 01:38:34 PMAnother prediction for 2024...
1st April, you'll see the usual triple decker/water bus/April fool posts from bus operators online
I like to try something different with the April Fools posts I put on my website.
If anyone has any good original ideas for a spoof news article then please let me know!
TfWM annnouces a joint venture with the Westfield group which sees the Pool Meadow station become enclosed station known as Midland Blue within the Sky Blue Arcade.
Quote from: Stu on December 16, 2023, 03:58:28 PMI like to try something different with the April Fools posts I put on my website.
If anyone has any good original ideas for a spoof news article then please let me know!
The new extension of the tram is actually finished ahead of time and under budget!
Quote from: Stu on December 16, 2023, 03:58:28 PMI like to try something different with the April Fools posts I put on my website.
If anyone has any good original ideas for a spoof news article then please let me know!
The 966 bus route will be coming back and will be extended to warwick and lichfield, smashing records and will become the new longest bus route in birmingham.
Birmingham city centre will be getting an underground bus station, linking all city centre bus routes into one hub
I have always thought public transport should be there to provide a service not to make money, especially in the climate we live in now, somehow we have to stop people obsession with the car.
I don't like Andy Street never have, he has killed Birmingham with his obsession with his bet project the metro. instead of wasting all the money on closing roads like Corporation Street, it would have been better to have built a busway like in Luton, buses then could have entered & exited the busway using normal roads saving millions
My prediction for 2024 is he is massively beaten & the West Midlands area can move on better & stronger.
Quote from: woody38 on December 17, 2023, 04:25:19 AMI have always thought public transport should be there to provide a service not to make money, especially in the climate we live in now, somehow we have to stop people obsession with the car.
I don't like Andy Street never have, he has killed Birmingham with his obsession with his bet project the metro. instead of wasting all the money on closing roads like Corporation Street, it would have been better to have built a busway like in Luton, buses then could have entered & exited the busway using normal roads saving millions
My prediction for 2024 is he is massively beaten & the West Midlands area can move on better & stronger.
So which bit of Metro are you blaming Andy Street for?
Everything currently being built was planned more than 6 years ago when he bacame Mayor
Someone thinks outside the mentality that my road should be on a Walsall to Cannock route & brings back a service after nearly 2 years to somewhere!
Quote from: Tony on December 17, 2023, 08:32:53 AMSo which bit of Metro are you blaming Andy Street for?
Everything currently being built was planned more than 6 years ago when he bacame Mayor
Andy Street signed of the Wednesbury Dudley link when it could have easily have been a busway, wasted millions on rapid bus transit, which is no nearer to being operational than the day they started it.
Quote from: woody38 on December 17, 2023, 10:43:17 AMAndy Street signed of the Wednesbury Dudley link when it could have easily have been a busway, wasted millions on rapid bus transit, which is no nearer to being operational than the day they started it.
Could you highlight where these 'wasted millions' were spent? Upgrading roads with bus priority measures is NOT A WASTE OF MONEY no matter what type of bus eventually runs along the route, Sprint or traditional, so what 'wasted millions' are you actually talking about?
And as for advocating a Labour mayor, perhaps look at the sh*t show that is Labour-run BCC. I don't believe it was just the conservatives who decided to underpay women for decades and thus bankrupted the modern day set up - Labour are as bad!
Quote from: j789 on December 17, 2023, 11:49:03 AMCould you highlight where these 'wasted millions' were spent? Upgrading roads with bus priority measures is NOT A WASTE OF MONEY no matter what type of bus eventually runs along the route, Sprint or traditional, so what 'wasted millions' are you actually talking about?
And as for advocating a Labour mayor, perhaps look at the sh*t show that is Labour-run BCC. I don't believe it was just the conservatives who decided to underpay women for decades and thus bankrupted the modern day set up - Labour are as bad!
The whole reply is contradictory moaning about wasting millions on 'rapid bus transit' then saying the Dudley tramlink could be a 'rapid bus transit'
Without Andy Street there's no way the current Government would have given the many millions for public transport they have.
Let's see which works out best for bus travel between the West Midlands & Greater Manchester, You won't find many people in Wigan happy with their bus service at the moment, general comment there is 'can we have Stagecoach back'
Quote from: woody38 on December 17, 2023, 04:25:19 AMI have always thought public transport should be there to provide a service not to make money, especially in the climate we live in now, somehow we have to stop people obsession with the car.
I don't like Andy Street never have, he has killed Birmingham with his obsession with his bet project the metro. instead of wasting all the money on closing roads like Corporation Street, it would have been better to have built a busway like in Luton, buses then could have entered & exited the busway using normal roads saving millions
My prediction for 2024 is he is massively beaten & the West Midlands area can move on better & stronger.
I have mixed feelings I don't like Tories as a rule, I do like some of the stuff he has done New Trains although are they gonna be viable or are they gonna be gone in 30 years but the Tram is killing off buses and the City of Birmingham and the Black Country. You still won't attract Mondeo man out of his Mondeo when the Tram is late overbudget and sits in the same traffic as him and is rammed. But I do not want Franchising.
I think Sprint should be sacked. I do agree though with Tony and the others that the Tram is good in some regards. And had we not got him the Transport would have been rubbish which for an area as well as connected as Birmingham and The Black Country that has 3 major Motorways in the M6, M5 and M42 serve it, Major A Roads The A5, A34, A38, A41, A47, A454, A449, A456 and many others it would have been shambles had the Second City not good Transport to rival London. Trams to me are good and Bad. For example if your a West Brom fan and you want to get to West Brom you can't get the 74 after the game for a while due to the Road being closed so you could get the Tram to West Brom or walk but for example today it's Sunday Service you might walk miss a bus and wait half an hour whereas the Tram you could get the bus as it's quicker than Walking. But when the Tram fails the bus picks up the slack and if the A41 is screwed in Wolverhampton then the Tram and the bus is screwed.
Quote from: Tony on December 17, 2023, 12:37:52 PMThe whole reply is contradictory moaning about wasting millions on 'rapid bus transit' then saying the Dudley tramlink could be a 'rapid bus transit'
Without Andy Street there's no way the current Government would have given the many millions for public transport they have.
Let's see which works out best for bus travel between the West Midlands & Greater Manchester, You won't find many people in Wigan happy with their bus service at the moment, general comment there is 'can we have Stagecoach back'
BRT systems could never replace a proper light rail system honestly but they do have a place but the general concensus ive seen in most urban planning/transport spaces ive seen is that light rail is always a better option.
in an ideal world it should be light rail/heavy rail doing the trunk routes with local buses connecting these systems together with other towns & areas, with BRT systems filling in the gaps where a light rail system may not be as viable but a local bus service is not enough. obviously though none of this is probably going to happen since we are in the uk lmao and we cant do anything without it being overly expensive,overbudget and late.
Quote from: EK40 on December 17, 2023, 03:06:36 PMBRT systems could never replace a proper light rail system honestly but they do have a place but the general concensus ive seen in most urban planning/transport spaces ive seen is that light rail is always a better option.
in an ideal world it should be light rail/heavy rail doing the trunk routes with local buses connecting these systems together with other towns & areas, with BRT systems filling in the gaps where a light rail system may not be as viable but a local bus service is not enough. obviously though none of this is probably going to happen since we are in the uk lmao and we cant do anything without it being overly expensive,overbudget and late.
Very much agree with your comments. However, I don't think that solely trams would really cut it anymore here in the WMCA. Seeing the amount of economic growth in Birmingham alongside the lackluster infrastructure requires thinking beyond trams, perhaps a segregated rapid transit network running adjacent to many corridors. However, the only thing I can see occuring in 2024 is more delays to current projects.
Quote from: EK40 on December 17, 2023, 03:06:36 PMBRT systems could never replace a proper light rail system honestly but they do have a place but the general concensus ive seen in most urban planning/transport spaces ive seen is that light rail is always a better option.
The city of Bogota in Columbia has had a BRT system since 2000, and that would seem to work very well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU6ImWY4IBc
I can't find the video I originally watched about this now, but I recall this worked by having these articulated buses running frequently along major trunk corridors, while having 'regular' buses on local services that connected with the BRT routes as 'feeder' services.
Quote from: woody38 on December 17, 2023, 10:43:17 AMAndy Street signed of the Wednesbury Dudley link when it could have easily have been a busway, wasted millions on rapid bus transit, which is no nearer to being operational than the day they started it.
Agree in principle, could have easily turned into guided busway for the old 311/313 Walsall - Dudley during the early days and used single deckers while funding for Tramway was there.
Quote from: Ginger66 on December 18, 2023, 08:09:23 AMAgree in principle, could have easily turned into guided busway for the old 311/313 Walsall - Dudley during the early days and used single deckers while funding for Tramway was there.
Yes, It could have been a guided busway, but no it couldn't replace the 11/11a (311/313) as it would have missed some of the areas where those routes pick up large numbers of passengers
Quote from: Tony on December 18, 2023, 10:20:18 AMYes, It could have been a guided busway, but no it couldn't replace the 11/11a (311/313) as it would have missed some of the areas where those routes pick up large numbers of passengers
Ocker Hill, Princes End and Tipton at a guess. If it was a Guided Bus Way could it do Walsall to Wednesbury limited Stop along the Wood Green Road runs to the where the old train line starts near to the Metro serves the Metro Stop as the 11 and 11A do then run alongside it with limited stops to Merry Hill Via the old Railway Alingment maybe stopping at Dudley Port to connect with the Train and maybe Tipton to
Yeah id be happy to see any improvement but we are in the uk, we cant even plan and then build a 80 mile railway line in the space of nearly 3 decades lmao
while morocco (credits to them) have managed to plan,build then open from scratch a 300 mile high speed railway line in the span of a decade. In that same period we didnt even start construction of hs2
Due to Nottingham City Council issuing a Section 114 notice, the council will sell off their 82% stake in Nottingham City Transport, possibly to Transdev who have had an 18% stake in NCT since 2000.
Quote from: joieman on December 18, 2023, 02:41:42 PMDue to Nottingham City Council issuing a Section 114 notice, the council will sell off their 82% stake in Nottingham City Transport, possibly to Transdev who have had an 18% stake in NCT since 2000.
That doesn't surprise me at all.
Quote from: Stu on December 09, 2023, 07:48:42 PMJust for a bit of fun, what does your crystal ball see for next year?
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PHYAAOSwotdjtm8S/s-l1600.jpg)
I'll start with the following...
NX Bus's plan to have 300 new electric buses in service 'by December 2024' delayed until 2025 due to issues with getting chargers installed at garages.
Stagecoach to actually announce an order of electric buses for its Leamington, Nuneaton and Rugby garages, so that Coventry can become an all-electric bus city in 2025.
NX Coventry to announce and place an order for single-deck EVs.
Richard Parker to become the new Labour mayor of the West Midlands, and plans to franchise buses to be accelerated.
Opening of new rail stations at Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road delayed until 2025.
NX Bus announce locations of new garages in Longbridge and Kitts Green to replace the Birmingham Central depot.
Stagecoach to announce and open a new depot in Birmingham/Solihull.
The 20 hydrogen buses at Walsall will be used all day every day of the week.
Looks like this was accurate
Quote from: LD713821 on May 04, 2024, 09:03:50 PMLooks like this was accurate
A further drop in Mobico shares..?
Quote from: MW on May 04, 2024, 09:26:19 PMA further drop in Mobico shares..?
WMT Ltd suddenly lost a who heap of value at 9pm tonight.
Based on Mobico winning diddly squat from 3 x Manchester Franchise rounds, it doesn't bode well for NXWM.