Rotala Management - Questions & Answers

[woody38]

Hi Simon further to your post about the review of services in the West Midlands asking what us members thing, the service that I used to use all the time was the 56 Birmingham-Brownhills, the only thing that stopped me using the service was it became very unreliable, taking to other people they all agree with me that when Diamond changed the route along the A34 to avoid the flyovers & underpasses the service went downhill fast.  Buses turn up late or not at all, that might be why NXWM but on the 936 because so many people where unhappy with the Diamond service.  The time's I,ve used the service nobody ever gets on or of at Perry Barr or Aston.  If the Service was to go back to the old route Limted stop down the A34 using the underpasses & flyover also the Lancaster tunnels surely the service would become faster & more reliable.  People might come back to using it, because what people from Aldridge & Brownhills want is a reliable, fast service into Brum.

I have past your comments onto the Commercial team.  I am told the service was changed in 2009, is this the change you are talking about?

Yes that's when it changed

[Ash]

Hi Simon, I just wondered what you consider or are the flagship services of Rotala within the West Midlands.

Centro consider the signature services we operate to their Flagship services.  From our perspective for commercial reasons I would rather not comment

Totally understand, thank you for your response.

[PM]

Thanks for your replies Simon-just a couple more questions
1) Is R610YCR still in service or not-has it been withdrawn yet?
2)Do you plan to sell AE10CSF soon seeing as others of the type have gone and it is a one off in the WMids?
3)Do you plan to repaint KX57OVV soon or concentrate the MAN/centro type at any one depot as opposed to them being everywhere but kidderminster?
4) Which do you prefer-a plaxton centro or a wright eclipse? Just out of interest
5) What are your "favourite" buses run by diamond-ie best from an operational perspective, most reliable, cheapest to run, best value etc
6) Could rotala bring out a west midlands guide like the ones for redditch and kidderminster like arriva has done to raise awareness of the diamond network?

Thanks again  :)

[Simon Dunn]

Thanks for your replies Simon-just a couple more questions
1) Is R610YCR still in service or not-has it been withdrawn yet?
2)Do you plan to sell AE10CSF soon seeing as others of the type have gone and it is a one off in the WMids?
3)Do you plan to repaint KX57OVV soon or concentrate the MAN/centro type at any one depot as opposed to them being everywhere but kidderminster?
4) Which do you prefer-a plaxton centro or a wright eclipse? Just out of interest
5) What are your "favourite" buses run by diamond-ie best from an operational perspective, most reliable, cheapest to run, best value etc
6) Could rotala bring out a west midlands guide like the ones for redditch and kidderminster like arriva has done to raise awareness of the diamond network?

Thanks again  :)

1.  It is still in service at present, but is due for imminent withdrawel
2.  We have an offer from New Zealand, which we are considering.
3.  No plan at present.
4.  Wright Eclipse.
5. 

Mercedes Engine, Optare Solo up to 9.5m
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse - 12m.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

6.  it is something we should do.  However, until the network is stable this is difficult

[winston]

.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

Simon,

I was surprised that the Scania Omnideck featured our your favorites list, are those not quite so thirsty on fuel? It's a pity Ross @ Ensign wouldn't accept your offer on the 10 plate for sale there

[PM]

Thanks for your replies Simon-just a couple more questions
1) Is R610YCR still in service or not-has it been withdrawn yet?
2)Do you plan to sell AE10CSF soon seeing as others of the type have gone and it is a one off in the WMids?
3)Do you plan to repaint KX57OVV soon or concentrate the MAN/centro type at any one depot as opposed to them being everywhere but kidderminster?
4) Which do you prefer-a plaxton centro or a wright eclipse? Just out of interest
5) What are your "favourite" buses run by diamond-ie best from an operational perspective, most reliable, cheapest to run, best value etc
6) Could rotala bring out a west midlands guide like the ones for redditch and kidderminster like arriva has done to raise awareness of the diamond network?

Thanks again  :)

1.  It is still in service at present, but is due for imminent withdrawel
2.  We have an offer from New Zealand, which we are considering.
3.  No plan at present.
4.  Wright Eclipse.
5. 

Mercedes Engine, Optare Solo up to 9.5m
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse - 12m.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

6.  it is something we should do.  However, until the network is stable this is difficult

Thanks for all your replies again Simon!

Interesting to hear about CSF potentially going to new zealand as well soon and also interesting that you prefer eclipses over centros-sorry if it seemed a weird question but I was just intrigued as rotala have bought both types so can compare them directly. Personally, I prefer centros in terms of appearance and I like the royale ones-so do passengers as people often say about how its a posh bus when they pop up on unfamiliar routes. I understand your point about a network guide entirely-I guess its pointless to spend money on a quickly outdated guide.  Also interesting about your favourite buses-I too like eclipse gemini's, b7rles, but also MAN/centros, MAN/evolutions and dart slfs.

Where abouts is R610YCR at the moment as I havent been able to find it anywhere for ages. I imagine its at kidderminster and when is it coming off service?

Thanks again

[Jay]

.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

Simon,

I was surprised that the Scania Omnideck featured our your favorites list, are those not quite so thirsty on fuel? It's a pity Ross @ Ensign wouldn't accept your offer on the 10 plate for sale there

Scania are more thirsty about 7 mile to the gallon, Volvo and ADL are lot better on fuel you be look around 10 + miles to the gallon

[Simon Dunn]

.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

Simon,

I was surprised that the Scania Omnideck featured our your favorites list, are those not quite so thirsty on fuel? It's a pity Ross @ Ensign wouldn't accept your offer on the 10 plate for sale there

We do not have a large requirement for Double deckers.  This year we have had to replace 1 and acquire an additional decker for Avonmouth.  We offered the 10 plates as an alternative to new.  In the end Ross wanted more than I thought they were worth, and the client wanted new.  Hence why we currently have 2 demo's from Volvo, until the new are delivered.

[Simon Dunn]

Thanks for your replies Simon-just a couple more questions
1) Is R610YCR still in service or not-has it been withdrawn yet?
2)Do you plan to sell AE10CSF soon seeing as others of the type have gone and it is a one off in the WMids?
3)Do you plan to repaint KX57OVV soon or concentrate the MAN/centro type at any one depot as opposed to them being everywhere but kidderminster?
4) Which do you prefer-a plaxton centro or a wright eclipse? Just out of interest
5) What are your "favourite" buses run by diamond-ie best from an operational perspective, most reliable, cheapest to run, best value etc
6) Could rotala bring out a west midlands guide like the ones for redditch and kidderminster like arriva has done to raise awareness of the diamond network?

Thanks again  :)

1.  It is still in service at present, but is due for imminent withdrawel
2.  We have an offer from New Zealand, which we are considering.
3.  No plan at present.
4.  Wright Eclipse.
5. 

Mercedes Engine, Optare Solo up to 9.5m
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse - 12m.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

6.  it is something we should do.  However, until the network is stable this is difficult

Thanks for all your replies again Simon!

Interesting to hear about CSF potentially going to new zealand as well soon and also interesting that you prefer eclipses over centros-sorry if it seemed a weird question but I was just intrigued as rotala have bought both types so can compare them directly. Personally, I prefer centros in terms of appearance and I like the royale ones-so do passengers as people often say about how its a posh bus when they pop up on unfamiliar routes. I understand your point about a network guide entirely-I guess its pointless to spend money on a quickly outdated guide.  Also interesting about your favourite buses-I too like eclipse gemini's, b7rles, but also MAN/centros, MAN/evolutions and dart slfs.

Where abouts is R610YCR at the moment as I havent been able to find it anywhere for ages. I imagine its at kidderminster and when is it coming off service?

Thanks again

The build quality on an eclipse is far superior to that of a Centro.

From memory I believe R610YCR is in Kidderminster and the plan is to remove and a number of other vehicles from Redditch and Kidderminster when the V registration darts from Wessex enter service/New Streetlites and Deckers are removed

[Simon Dunn]

.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

Simon,

I was surprised that the Scania Omnideck featured our your favorites list, are those not quite so thirsty on fuel? It's a pity Ross @ Ensign wouldn't accept your offer on the 10 plate for sale there

Scania are more thirsty about 7 mile to the gallon, Volvo and ADL are lot better on fuel you be look around 10 + miles to the gallon

We are not a large operator of Double decks.  However, from our experience I would say the Scania double deck is better than the Volvo double deck

[PM]

Thanks for your replies Simon-just a couple more questions
1) Is R610YCR still in service or not-has it been withdrawn yet?
2)Do you plan to sell AE10CSF soon seeing as others of the type have gone and it is a one off in the WMids?
3)Do you plan to repaint KX57OVV soon or concentrate the MAN/centro type at any one depot as opposed to them being everywhere but kidderminster?
4) Which do you prefer-a plaxton centro or a wright eclipse? Just out of interest
5) What are your "favourite" buses run by diamond-ie best from an operational perspective, most reliable, cheapest to run, best value etc
6) Could rotala bring out a west midlands guide like the ones for redditch and kidderminster like arriva has done to raise awareness of the diamond network?

Thanks again  :)

1.  It is still in service at present, but is due for imminent withdrawel
2.  We have an offer from New Zealand, which we are considering.
3.  No plan at present.
4.  Wright Eclipse.
5. 

Mercedes Engine, Optare Solo up to 9.5m
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse - 12m.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

6.  it is something we should do.  However, until the network is stable this is difficult

Thanks for all your replies again Simon!

Interesting to hear about CSF potentially going to new zealand as well soon and also interesting that you prefer eclipses over centros-sorry if it seemed a weird question but I was just intrigued as rotala have bought both types so can compare them directly. Personally, I prefer centros in terms of appearance and I like the royale ones-so do passengers as people often say about how its a posh bus when they pop up on unfamiliar routes. I understand your point about a network guide entirely-I guess its pointless to spend money on a quickly outdated guide.  Also interesting about your favourite buses-I too like eclipse gemini's, b7rles, but also MAN/centros, MAN/evolutions and dart slfs.

Where abouts is R610YCR at the moment as I havent been able to find it anywhere for ages. I imagine its at kidderminster and when is it coming off service?

Thanks again

The build quality on an eclipse is far superior to that of a Centro.

From memory I believe R610YCR is in Kidderminster and the plan is to remove and a number of other vehicles from Redditch and Kidderminster when the V registration darts from Wessex enter service/New Streetlites and Deckers are removed

That is interesting about build quality and thanks for the info about YCR-will try to get across to kidderminster soon and I imagine the buses leaving redditch soon will be the deckers, T418MNH?, old MPDs, S405JUA and R455CCV? Am I right or miles off?!

Thanks again

[Jay]

.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

Simon,

I was surprised that the Scania Omnideck featured our your favorites list, are those not quite so thirsty on fuel? It's a pity Ross @ Ensign wouldn't accept your offer on the 10 plate for sale there

Scania are more thirsty about 7 mile to the gallon, Volvo and ADL are lot better on fuel you be look around 10 + miles to the gallon

We are not a large operator of Double decks.  However, from our experience I would say the Scania double deck is better than the Volvo double deck

Hi Simon

I talking about more on the lines off single decker such as  OmniLink there are more thirsty vs B7's and E200 's but i not sure on double decker

[Westy]

Surely it would be easier to make leaflets available rather than bus guides?

Most of the West Midlands services are available via NWM leaflets anyway apart from the 301 obviously.

[PM]

Surely it would be easier to make leaflets available rather than bus guides?

Most of the West Midlands services are available via NWM leaflets anyway apart from the 301 obviously.

I guess it would but people know about individual routes-what is needed is something to heighten network awareness-like arriva have done and like in the redditch and kidderminster guides

[winston]

.
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Gemini/ Scania OmniDeck (not currently available due to not being whole type approved) - Double Deck

Simon,

I was surprised that the Scania Omnideck featured our your favorites list, are those not quite so thirsty on fuel? It's a pity Ross @ Ensign wouldn't accept your offer on the 10 plate for sale there

We do not have a large requirement for Double deckers.  This year we have had to replace 1 and acquire an additional decker for Avonmouth.  We offered the 10 plates as an alternative to new.  In the end Ross wanted more than I thought they were worth, and the client wanted new.  Hence why we currently have 2 demo's from Volvo, until the new are delivered.

So you have 2 new Omnicity double deckers on order for Avonmouth then, are these from stock? As I though Scania have stopped making them unless they received a large fleet order

One thing I've wondered, is why New Zealand operators are so keen to take on the MCV Evolutions if the build quality isn't up to scratch, do you have an any inklings?