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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.

It's on rail replacement the demo bus

There's been a number of people on Bustimes first trying to remove it from the Diamond fleetlist stating it has been de-roofed under a low bridge, then trying to amend it to open top, the latest one is user by the name of KarlTotney123

[It would be nice if the Metrocity keeps some sort of Airway9 branding.]

Presumably 40521 and 30994 looking at bustimes. It would be nice if the Metrocity keeps some sort of Airway9 branding.

I doubt it will, as isn't it the 8/9 routes that Rotala have won funding for, to buy a new fleet of EV's for.

There's a Midland Classic liveried E400 & Versa currently parked in Tividale depot, Simon Dunn has since confirmed that the E400 is for repaint, the Versa for accident repairs & I assume it will be repainted at the same time. 

Please continue to view the spreadsheet below as to what does/doesn't constitute as a 'Noteworthy Working', please also inform Stu of any amendments that need to be made:
http://wmbusphotos.com/forum/index.php?topic=4016.0

Noteworthy Workings posts only - Only 'Tony' is to reply/comment on posts made in this thread - Should anyone else needs to comment, please post in the respective garage thread with a mention to the original poster.

I was asking which of the services at Perry Barr  that currently uses deckers will have the new electric buses on to start with

Why do people have to know everything in advance, why can't people just wait until they enter service. 

When you say current NX build, how many are in the order which will be ADL BYDs?

The current batch being delivered numbers 30.