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Get your camera out for something new on the 55 tomorrow

Not correct, we are and always have been part of the £2 scheme on all TfWM services but not Worcester services.

Are they definitely participating @Stu as they are not listed in the West Midlands section on the Gov site?
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/2-bus-fare-cap#west-midlands

Kev's are participating in the £2 flat fare but you will not find it on the Government site as we claim through TfWM as our routes are all tendered services. I hope that helps.

I have not been on the 355 for some time but the 318 and 147 have 'regular' drivers who are always polite and helpful. 

Thanks Andrew. John on the 355 would welcome you along for the ride anytime, nice scenic route this time of year.

It's not a case of them needing to be 'retrofitted', as @igogeneral already stated the dual-door setup is just not suited to West Midlands operations. Besides, I believe its already been posted earlier in this thread that Kevs have some new buses already on order and awaiting delivery for their new TfWM contracts, so these will naturally become surplus to requirements.

Most stops in WM are fitted with Kassell kerbs for front entrance vehicles which makes it impossible to park the vehicle in an accessible manner for wheelchairs and some buggies. Also because of the front of the vehicle configuration it is impossible to even load some of the larger buggies through the front entrance. All this delays the service. The vehicles themselves are excellent mechanically and have already been converted to Euro 6 but we want to get back to where we were pre the fire with a modern fleet suited for operation in our area. That said we will be forever grateful to Dawson rentals who supplied us with these vehicles at such short notice.
Four new vehicles for the 10/55 due to arrive June

Cheers for the help all, Got round to using Kevs today instead of the usual NX services.

Both 19 and 39A bus I caught where both On time which was excellent   - Managed to catch one of the Ex London E200s, are these a permanent addition to the fleet?

Thanks Liam. Good to hear that both services were as reliable as ever. Hopefully the ex London vehicles will leave us by July as their centre exits do not suit West Midlands operation but we at Kev's will be for ever thankful for them as we would never have got over the fire without them

Excellent Thanks, I'm just about in the West Midlands zone 

Hi Liam and welcome to KEVSbus. As much as anyone else we want this strike over because of the effect it could have on the long term future of public transport in our area. That said we hope you and others have, in Kev's, found a viable alternative to your normal travel arrangements.

Thank you, those comments are appreciated and encouraging

The cynic in me could say suspending your £1.20 fare is to ensure you are getting £2.00 fares!

The cynic in you could be correct. However I suspect everyone who has a NatEx pass will get a full refund for strike days. The cynic in you thinks we need another 80p for what amounts to a small number of passengers. The bus man in me would like to refuse anyone who is not a regular on our services but I know that within two or three stops we will be full up and leave behind loyal passengers, will they still be loyal after it is over ?. The bus professional in me with 50 years experience in the bus industry hopes this strike will not go ahead and all involved will be happy with the outcome. Our industry cannot take many more blows. Unless you make a living from our once proud industry you will not know what I mean

Like everyone else we hope that the forthcoming NatEx strike action will be resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

If not then Kev's will not be duplicating services or putting larger vehicles on to certain routes but we will be looking at ways of ensuring that our regular passengers are accommodated. At the moment we charge £1.20 if a passenger wishes to use another operators pass but we will suspend this option throughout the period of the strike

[Registered route for 55 service]

Registered route for 55 service

55 line of route
 
Ridgacre Road, Quinton Road West, Simmons Drive, Martley Croft, Quinton Road West, Hopedale Road, Pitman Road, Faraday Avenue, Worlds End Lane, Firsby Road, West Boulevard, Court Oak Road, Croftdown Road, Lordswood Road, Gillhurst Road, Ravenhurst Road, High Street, Metchley Lane, Mindelsohn Way, QE Hospital, Mindlesohn Way, Metchley Lane, Harborne Lane, Harborne Park Road, Old Church Road, Grove Lane, Ferncliffe Road, Kelfield Avenue, Kenwick Road, Sedghill Avenue, Ferncliffe Road, Grove Lane, Quinton Road, Northfield Road, Stonehouse Hill, Swinford Road, Reservoir Road, Harborne Lane, Chapel Lane, Bristol Road South, Oak Tree Lane, Raddlebarn Road, Umberslade Road, Pershore Road, Mary Vale Road, Franklin Road, Ashmore Road,  Watford Road, Middleton Hall Road, Selly Oak Road, Heath Road, Hawthorne Road, Kingsley Road, Woodlands Park Road, Mulberry Road, Hole Lane, Hole Farm Road, Heath Road South, St Laurence Road, Bristol Road South, Frankley Beeches Road, Tessell Lane, Hollymoor Way, Tessall Lane, Rubery Lane, Park Way, Morrisons Supermarket, Bristol Road South, Beverley Road, Leach Heath Lane, Newman Way, Eachway Lane, Leach Green Lane, Cliff Rock Road, Edgewood Road,  Ryde Park Road, Bristol Road South, Longbridge Lane, Longbridge Station

No changes to running time on 55 but road works in Kings Norton has resulted in some late running. Changes to 10 timetable commencing Monday 27 February. Changes only due to excessive running time inherited from NatEx I suspect because of the roadworks disruption previously caused by Metro extension works.

It would be interesting to know why the question was asked ?

I agree with all you say other than it was not the driver that gave the bird, it was the bus enthusiast

Thank you and I bow to your superior knowledge. I would have thought however that any respectable bus enthusiast could respect the drivers wishes.

My assumption is based on article 6.1 of GDPR which to me states that the media printing the picture is responsible and perhaps not the photographer especially in the case as the photo gives away the fact that the driver works for the operator of the vehicle. However this could be different if the photographer claims copyright of the picture.

I am a bus man, not a lawyer, so hopefully this will now be put to bed and we can all get on with our day to day lives without any further concern 

Thank you Stu. Unfortunately the bus enthusiast has now made an official complaint to TfWM stating our driver threated him. We have investigated and taken the appropriate action. We are happy to welcome all enthusiasts to our vehicles and by prior appointment to our yard. However can I remind all members of the forum with regard to individual rights under GDPR, if a driver says they do not want their picture taken that is exactly what they mean and right is on their side
Thank you all for your understanding of this message