Topics

For those who think going back to PTE days is a good idea, this report makes interesting reading. Great choice of photo though
http://www.route-one.net/industry/cost-of-regulation-is-exposed/

Interesting that the four shortlisted bidders for the next London Overground concession includes MTR & Arriva seperately. The current concession is a joint venture. I wonder if MTR have fallen out with Arriva

Not Norton Canes as the article states!

Great news though

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/06/26/18m-rail-link-in-staffordshire-given-go-ahead/

A lot of the threads are getting filled up with people linking to their Flickr or similar sites.

While I have no problem with people adding the links, they do get a bit boring in the main topics if they are not news worthy, or someone else has already told us about it.

So..... If you want to promote a photo of anything and you are not the first person to tell us about it please put your links in this board.

It would be good if the first person giving a link to each company started a new topic with the title being the name of that company.

(thanks to Dom for the idea)

It still seems strange when stood on a high 'railway like' platform to see trams being driven this cl;osely behind each other
http://wmbusphotos.com/Trains/Manchester/3059.html

Perhaps those promoting local government control of buses services again might like to read this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-31725891

Anyone know exactly what Arriva are doing on the Wolverhampton-Stafford corridor?

It looks like lots of different variations appearing (76, 76A, 76S, X76 and 78), but reduced to hourly overall and with diversions via Brewood

At Heathrow
http://wmbusphotos.com/NXWM/Coaches/8363.html

On Saturday 28th February 2015, at 2359 hrs Rotala Plc completed the acquisition of the entire share capital of Green Triangle Buses Ltd.

Upon acquisition the current Directors will resign; Simon Dunn, Kim Taylor, Bob Dunn and Antony Goozee will be appointed Directors of the new acquisition.  The legal entity name will be changed to Diamond Bus (North West Ltd) and over the medium term the intention is to rebrand the business.

The new acquisition will form part of the Rotala Plc North West Division. Consequently it will be supported by the Preston Bus business and Bob Dunn will become the Managing Director.

Rotala Plc sees this opportunity as an entrance route into the Greater Manchester market, and it leaves the group well positioned for future market developments and potential opportunities.

Although the acquisition does not represent a material transaction to Rotala, it will be notified to the London Stock Exchange before the market opens on Monday.

[Lifted from an article in this weeks Route 1]

Lifted from an article in this weeks Route 1

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed that it is actively pursuing operators that are not complying with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

DDA compliance became mandatory for buses with a maximum gross weight (MGW) of 7,500kg or below and a carrying capacity of 22 or more passengers on 1 January.

Compliance is enforced by the DVSA.

Buses in this category require certification of compliance with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR). Any that do not comply fully with the regulations cannot be certificated, which is necessary if they are to continue to be used on registered services. "If operators are found to be operating buses without the required PSVAR certificate, then the matter could be raised with the Traffic Commissioner," says the DVSA.

Guidance issued by the DfT also states that operators using a vehicle that does not conform to the relevant provision of the Regulations are liable to a fine up to £2,500.

Operators should be aware that the vehicle being low-floor and having a wheelchair ramp does not mean automatic compliance with the regulations, although both are necessary for certification.

Many early low-floor buses were built before PSVAR was agreed, and are not compliant. Issues for these vehicles are the size of the wheelchair space, positioning of handrails, and the lack of side destination displays.

Several other factors are considered, such as contrast between handrails and surrounding surfaces, ramp angle, wheelchair space provision, and provision of destination displays, meaning that vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz Vario are no longer permitted to be used on stage carriage services.

DVSA also enforces certificated buses' compliance. "If buses with PSVAR certificates are found not to be in compliance – defects are listed in the Categorisation of Defects – then a prohibition notice and fixed penalty notice can be issued," adds the DVSA.

routeone is aware of a number of operators still using non-certificated buses with an MGW of below 7,500kg on local service work. The DVSA says the agency is "at the early stages" of three investigations into non-compliance with PSVAR. All single-deck buses used on stage carriage service must comply with PSVAR from 1 January 2016, and all double-deckers by 1 January 2017. Coaches on scheduled routes must be compliant by 1 January 2020. In all categories, vehicles used on 'closed door' contracts are not subject to PSVAR.

In service in old livery to be painted
BC - 4432 (front only rest of the bus is a Morrisons advert   + 4177 in experimental livery (also a Morrisons advert)

4675 now back at Acocks Green and has been out on the 966 this morning
4669 now at Walsall for repaint/retrim


Vehicles currently being repainted
AG 4520(WA); 4669 (WA)
BC 4472 (WB); 4613(Carlyle);
CV 4404 (WA); 4450 (WA)
PB 1844 (WA); 1846 (WA)
PE 4346 (WA)
WA 4307 (WA); 4329 (Trailways) 4331 (Trailways)
WB 4264(WA); 4511 (WB)
WN 4596(WA)
YW 4379 (Trailways); 4389(WA)

South Yorkshire PTE have agreed massive cuts in public transport provision.

http://www.sypte.co.uk/Media.aspx?id=4237

Bus timetable leaflets are no longer going to be produced or presumably any other literature either.

All travel centres across South Yorkshire are going to be closed

Bus shelter cleaning reduced to once every three months, Interchange cleaning halved

Same rules apply as the NXWM unusual workings threads

Doers anyone know where this is hiding?

After the final running day at Acocks Green in 2010 it was sold to Willenhall Commercials, but appears to have been sold on as it is still being declared SORN

Currently on fire causing the Coventry Road to be closed and diversions & chaos in the area

Period 11 fleet changes are now on the front page of the main site
http://wmbusphotos.com/

As I cannot put them on the main site at the moment (getting fed up with the host at the moment)
Here are the fleet changes for the 4w/e 7/12/14
Flt No.   Reg No.   Vehicle Type   From/To
15196   TN64 AOG   Scania E400   Reserve to on loan to S/C Yorkshire
15829   YN12 GYU   Scania E400   S/C Yorkshire to on loan Northampton
17127   V127 MEV   Dennis Trident   S/C East Scotland to Reserve
22374   SP55 EGK   MAN A300   S/C East Scotland to Reserve
22375   SP55 EGU   MAN A300   Northampton to Delicensed
22376   SP55 EGV   MAN A300   Northampton to Delicensed
33460   S460 CVV   Dennis Dart SLF   Disposal - Sold to A H Hardwick
33911   P911 SMR   Dennis Dart SLF   Disposal - Sold to A H Hardwick

Withdrawn dart 3610 is now registered W289 WFG
The Health Bus 1687 has now taken the registration C 8 NEX

Just drive brand new buses straight to Miller Street!
http://wmbusphotos.com/NONWM/Abellio/YY64GXG.html

Good news, someone has posted a video on facebook of Foden 6300 moving under its own power again in John Cherry's yard on Merseyside. One bus I really want to see out again