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Another used acquisition today for PB:

20191 SK67FNF WF Wright Streetlite 9.5M Daimler Euro 6

Both this & the previous DF Streetlite will be at the painters in Hucknall, Nottingham by tomorrow.

Yeah I seen 32296 in stone cross last night was suprised I did think what it was when I looked on bus times and seen the reg I thought I'm pretty sure that was on a warranty loan before.

It seems they've been rushed in to service, they were only acquired Monday this week. 

It was on loan for Warranty Cover via Wrightbus last time, there is a picture in my original post you quoted

[I understand that Arriva was recently purchased, so I wonder if the new owners want to axe the areas that lose money?]

Arriva have proposed to close those depots: it probably will happen, but not 100% confirmed yet. Also the new 280 is seemingly only going as far as Thame, not all the way to Aylesbury.

I can't say the news about Aylesbury is a huge surprise - they have lost a lot of market share to Red over the previous years, and only operate 3 longer interurban routes currently with a PVR of less than 20. However, it will still be sad to net see any famous blue buses in Oxford anymore!

What is a bit of a surprise is the timing, with timetable changes planned for June. This suggests to me that it is a sudden upper management decision for cost-cutting purposes. I understand that Arriva was recently purchased, so I wonder if the new owners want to axe the areas that lose money?

I'm not sure whether the physical sale by DB to I Squared Capital has physically taken place yet? 

I'd say the closures are pretty certain, they're all over the Trade Press

Rotala has today agreed to purchase the following used bus from Close Leasing:

32294 SL16YPG DF Wright Streetlite Cummins Euro 5 x 10.8m

Rotala have today agreed to purchase the following used buses from Close Leasing:

32295 SN65OLW DF Wright Streetlite Diamler Euro 6 x 10.8m
32296 SK68TXN DF Wright Streetlite Diamler Euro 6 x 11.5m

32296 has been on loan to Diamond previously to cover Wrightbus Warranty work:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanjack/51822769585

Both are for Tividale.

[What makes you think they are uninsipring?]

Platinums were an upgrade over existing vehicles, boasting many new comfort features to attract new passengers. This has allowed the platinum spec to become standard for National Express fleet. What makes you think they are uninsipring?

Because Straightlines has never has anything positive to say towards NX, constantly negative no matter what they do / don't do.
The Platinum's were high spec when first introduced back in 2015, and offered something different, the Platinum spec has since become standard. 
I'm not keen on the latest standard livery I.e single grey, but that's been done to death.....

I thought the idea was that it would lead to Franchising eventually I was younger at the time so didn't really know what it meant

No, they were only co-ordinated timetables, liveries & fares provided by two different operators.

I've since learnt the following from a reliable source:

Richard Parker can easily bring in franchising within two years, by using the model already drawn up & fully costed by Andy Street.

Andy Street was also planning to introduce franchising to the WM, the plan should he have won the Mayoral election was for this to be formally announced after the Transport Delivery Committee approval meeting in July.

That franchising plan was based on a mixture of the London & Manchester models, to be based on core route corridor packages:

Hagley Rd
Bristol Rd
The 4s
etc.

I understand that Richard Parker is intending to use the format & work already undertaken.

London wasn't deregulated to start with.

If your suggestion was followed, how would new operators be able to compete for work?

Bid for work then setup a depot on securing the work. There isn't the shortage of suitable depot sites in the WM that there are in London. 

I thought I saw in another article - possibly on the Birmingham Mail - that he had said within 3 years.

This has been mooted for some time though, I wouldn't be surprised if TfWM already have plans at a very advanced stage, hence the recent purchase of NX's Walsall garage by the WMCA.

I still also believe that this would be going ahead even if Andy Street was voted back in.

This article says within 2 years:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4n19w30351o

I'd much prefer the London model of tendering by route, existing operators will be at less risk of losing large chunks of their business overnight I.e. Rotala losing Bolton, First losing Oldham & Stagecoach losing most of South Manchester...

This is why I've given up moaning about Buses for example 4456 I think was due to be my 79 home and it was fire in West Bromwich NX moved a Platty over and that was our bus home, but there could be other issues causing buses to be late

4456 was scrapped in October 2022. It that the most recent example you've got...

I'm pretty sure with all the legal challenges and wrangling that would occur against franchising, it won't get done in the 4 years this mayor has.

Such a small majority of votes will very likely mean that unless this new guy gets everything right (and labour's track record does not point to that happening in the west Mids!) he will be gone in 2028 and franchising hopefully won't be a thing here. In Manchester that mayor has a big majority of can get away with stuff like this as he knows Labour will still be there in 2028 and beyond.

Richard Parker seems to think he'll have bus franchising up & running in the WM within 2 years... We'll see! 🤔

Not me nothing to do with me

Did it say it was.... but someone is using your name as their username & also trying to remove NXWM buses from bustimes fleetlist

They've also been a member for sometime:
https://bustimes.org/accounts/users/1975/

well, Labour are in IT'S OFFICIAL (just announced) so lets see how much of Andy Streets mess, they can clear up ???

Look at the mess of labour controlled Birmingham City Council... don't hold your breath.....

A 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.