After the takeover

[PM]

Redditch's fleet is showing as:
20201   KX03JBU; 20304   KX03HZJ; 20503   T71JBA; 20504   V266BNV;
20533   X372CUY; 20537   Y37SVV; 20546   T468HNH; 20573   W573JVV
20608   KU52YJY; 30013   Y3NBB; 30111   AE10CSF; 30428   S405JUA
30516   W906JNF; 30701   MW52PZP; 30802   KX08HMZ; 30803   BU08DBO
30804   KX57OVV; 30805   KX08HMY; 30831   MX08PZH; 30850   BU08DAO
30851   BU08DBX; 30852   BU08DBV; 30854   WX58FSE; 30855   WX58FRZ
30856   WX58FSD; 30857   BU08DHO;  30858   BU08DHP; 30859   WX58FSC
30860   WX58FRR; 30861   MX07OYT; 30862   BU08MTE; 30933   VX54MSU
30934   VX54MSY; 30935   VX54MTE;
40610   V857HBY; 40611   V860HBY; 40612   V862HBY; 40613   V877HBY
40614   T881KLF; 40615   V882HBY; 40616   T884KLF; 40617   T885KLF
40618   V886HBY; 40619   V894HLH;
42563   N963SOS; 42564   K123URP; 42565   K126URP

Both lists have been cut and pasted form a list sent to me by Rotala so don't blame me for any typos

Interesting that redditch now has an ex wessex evolution bodied dart which it would be nice to have a ride on. Also, do we have any idea yet of what is happening to the 50 service as its current buses have been transferred over

[Cedric]

Diamond have sold 6 Lances they are receiving off First this weekend, 5 for scrap and 246 for preservation, so don't expect to see any of them in service next week. Anyone needing to see/ride on/photograph them should get to Kidderminster in the next 3 days! 255 is the only one showing as surviving.
The KR fleet next week should be
Solos 20841   MX09HJG; 20844   MX58KZG; 15000   MX08MYT; 20026   MX08MZG
Darts 30930   VX54MUC; 30931   VX54MUO; 30932   VX54MUP; 31501   R220MSA
31510   R475CAH; 31500   R610YCR; 31507   R455CCV; 31505   P405MLA
31506   P406MLA; 31504   P404MLA; 31502   P402MLA; 31503   P403MLA
31508   N341EUY (Still showing on Rotala fleet, but I have been told from the first end this is being replaced by (P401 MLA)
Lance 31516   M255MRW   

Lance 31516   M255MRW   could be   that it is fitted with seatbelts and a  orange school  sign is fitted  so might be   for a school contract

Thought 20842 MX58KZM was due to come to Kidderminster as well

[PM]

I always wanted to ask this as well and the topic of AE10 CSF has reminded me. Why did rotala sell the evolution bodied darts to tranzit if the problems with the buses diamond had were due to the MAN chassis? Always wondered-why didnt they keep the ones blue diamond had running in white at one time-picture on this site. Just interested does the rotala group have many of these buses left at other depots and are the signature ones still aroung? Didn't they have normal interiors as well or have I made that up or are there ones with leather seats etc.

[Ash]

I always wanted to ask this as well and the topic of AE10 CSF has reminded me. Why did rotala sell the evolution bodied darts to tranzit if the problems with the buses diamond had were due to the MAN chassis? Always wondered-why didnt they keep the ones blue diamond had running in white at one time-picture on this site. Just interested does the rotala group have many of these buses left at other depots and are the signature ones still aroung? Didn't they have normal interiors as well or have I made that up or are there ones with leather seats etc.

The signature one was around a couple of months back and it just has the normal material seating i think. I'm not sure why some were kept and some were sold just that the ones with black diamond were not that reliable, uncomfortable for passengers due to lack of leg room and drivers complained about the lack of space in the cab (leg room etc).

[winston]

I always wanted to ask this as well and the topic of AE10 CSF has reminded me. Why did rotala sell the evolution bodied darts to tranzit if the problems with the buses diamond had were due to the MAN chassis? Always wondered-why didnt they keep the ones blue diamond had running in white at one time-picture on this site. Just interested does the rotala group have many of these buses left at other depots and are the signature ones still aroung? Didn't they have normal interiors as well or have I made that up or are there ones with leather seats etc.

Not sure if I'm reading your question right? but the 23 x MCV Evolutions that were sold to Transit were on MAN chassis (different chassis to the MAN/Plaxton Centro's, the particular chassis they were built on had reliability issues I believe), the MCV's that remained at Rotala including the above were on Dart chassis

[PM]

I always wanted to ask this as well and the topic of AE10 CSF has reminded me. Why did rotala sell the evolution bodied darts to tranzit if the problems with the buses diamond had were due to the MAN chassis? Always wondered-why didnt they keep the ones blue diamond had running in white at one time-picture on this site. Just interested does the rotala group have many of these buses left at other depots and are the signature ones still aroung? Didn't they have normal interiors as well or have I made that up or are there ones with leather seats etc.

Not sure if I'm reading your question right? but the 23 x MCV Evolutions that were sold to Transit were on MAN chassis (different chassis to the MAN/Plaxton Centro's, the particular chassis they were built on had reliability issues I believe), the MCV's that remained at Rotala including the above were on Dart chassis

But they also sold some enviro200s with this bodywork too I just wondered why-can't be due to unreliability

[winston]

I always wanted to ask this as well and the topic of AE10 CSF has reminded me. Why did rotala sell the evolution bodied darts to tranzit if the problems with the buses diamond had were due to the MAN chassis? Always wondered-why didnt they keep the ones blue diamond had running in white at one time-picture on this site. Just interested does the rotala group have many of these buses left at other depots and are the signature ones still aroung? Didn't they have normal interiors as well or have I made that up or are there ones with leather seats etc.

Not sure if I'm reading your question right? but the 23 x MCV Evolutions that were sold to Transit were on MAN chassis (different chassis to the MAN/Plaxton Centro's, the particular chassis they were built on had reliability issues I believe), the MCV's that remained at Rotala including the above were on Dart chassis

But they also sold some enviro200s with this bodywork too I just wondered why-can't be due to unreliability

Not that I'm aware of, the Diamond 23 were all MAN's. What were the Enviro 200 fleetnumbers?

[PM]

I always wanted to ask this as well and the topic of AE10 CSF has reminded me. Why did rotala sell the evolution bodied darts to tranzit if the problems with the buses diamond had were due to the MAN chassis? Always wondered-why didnt they keep the ones blue diamond had running in white at one time-picture on this site. Just interested does the rotala group have many of these buses left at other depots and are the signature ones still aroung? Didn't they have normal interiors as well or have I made that up or are there ones with leather seats etc.

Not sure if I'm reading your question right? but the 23 x MCV Evolutions that were sold to Transit were on MAN chassis (different chassis to the MAN/Plaxton Centro's, the particular chassis they were built on had reliability issues I believe), the MCV's that remained at Rotala including the above were on Dart chassis

But they also sold some enviro200s with this bodywork too I just wondered why-can't be due to unreliability

Not that I'm aware of, the Diamond 23 were all MAN's. What were the Enviro 200 fleetnumbers?

30102 and 30103 for a start and think there were more that went as well to NZ

[winston]

I always wanted to ask this as well and the topic of AE10 CSF has reminded me. Why did rotala sell the evolution bodied darts to tranzit if the problems with the buses diamond had were due to the MAN chassis? Always wondered-why didnt they keep the ones blue diamond had running in white at one time-picture on this site. Just interested does the rotala group have many of these buses left at other depots and are the signature ones still aroung? Didn't they have normal interiors as well or have I made that up or are there ones with leather seats etc.

Not sure if I'm reading your question right? but the 23 x MCV Evolutions that were sold to Transit were on MAN chassis (different chassis to the MAN/Plaxton Centro's, the particular chassis they were built on had reliability issues I believe), the MCV's that remained at Rotala including the above were on Dart chassis

But they also sold some enviro200s with this bodywork too I just wondered why-can't be due to unreliability

Not that I'm aware of, the Diamond 23 were all MAN's. What were the Enviro 200 fleetnumbers?

30102 and 30103 for a start and think there were more that went as well to NZ

Did those ones go from Wessex then?
http://londonbuspics.smugmug.com/Operators-RotalaGroup/Wessex-Connect/22733707_LD4sbX/1823647109_xBhpHM2#!i=1825654369&k=BtNv7nx
http://londonbuspics.smugmug.com/Operators-RotalaGroup/Wessex-Connect/22733707_LD4sbX/1823647109_xBhpHM2#!i=1823647109&k=xBhpHM2

[Tony]

http://wmbusphotos.com/centralConnect/30102.html

They both went from blue diamond, although both white, se photo above and link to next both on the 10H

[Ash]

I always wanted to ask this as well and the topic of AE10 CSF has reminded me. Why did rotala sell the evolution bodied darts to tranzit if the problems with the buses diamond had were due to the MAN chassis? Always wondered-why didnt they keep the ones blue diamond had running in white at one time-picture on this site. Just interested does the rotala group have many of these buses left at other depots and are the signature ones still aroung? Didn't they have normal interiors as well or have I made that up or are there ones with leather seats etc.

Not sure if I'm reading your question right? but the 23 x MCV Evolutions that were sold to Transit were on MAN chassis (different chassis to the MAN/Plaxton Centro's, the particular chassis they were built on had reliability issues I believe), the MCV's that remained at Rotala including the above were on Dart chassis

But they also sold some enviro200s with this bodywork too I just wondered why-can't be due to unreliability

Not that I'm aware of, the Diamond 23 were all MAN's. What were the Enviro 200 fleetnumbers?

30102 and 30103 for a start and think there were more that went as well to NZ

Did those ones go from Wessex then?
http://londonbuspics.smugmug.com/Operators-RotalaGroup/Wessex-Connect/22733707_LD4sbX/1823647109_xBhpHM2#!i=1825654369&k=BtNv7nx
http://londonbuspics.smugmug.com/Operators-RotalaGroup/Wessex-Connect/22733707_LD4sbX/1823647109_xBhpHM2#!i=1823647109&k=xBhpHM2

The last time I saw these two buses was last year and they were both debranded and working blue diamond's X30 at the time in plain white.

[winston]

Thanks Tony/Ash,

Don't remember those coming up to the Midlands

[Ash]

No Probs Winston, After looking at diamond's fleetlist's the age of the vehicles they have are not too bad but most seem to be around the early 2000's and are mostly the midi pointer darts and solo's. Any investment into the midlands needs to be to replace the remaining red and white darts in service may be accept for the W???VGX one's so would probably need around 15 vehicles shame they don't make the centro's anymore would have been an ideal choice already having quite a few in service.

[winston]

No Probs Winston, After looking at diamond's fleetlist's the age of the vehicles they have are not too bad but most seem to be around the early 2000's and are mostly the midi pointer darts and solo's. Any investment into the midlands needs to be to replace the remaining red and white darts in service may be accept for the W???VGX one's so would probably need around 15 vehicles shame they don't make the centro's anymore would have been an ideal choice already having quite a few in service.

There are Centro's available on the second hand market, Tanat Valley have recently bought two 08 plate examples ex Alton Towers

[Ash]

No Probs Winston, After looking at diamond's fleetlist's the age of the vehicles they have are not too bad but most seem to be around the early 2000's and are mostly the midi pointer darts and solo's. Any investment into the midlands needs to be to replace the remaining red and white darts in service may be accept for the W???VGX one's so would probably need around 15 vehicles shame they don't make the centro's anymore would have been an ideal choice already having quite a few in service.

There are Centro's available on the second hand market, Tanat Valley have recently bought two 08 plate examples ex Alton Towers

I definitely think Rotala should consider doing something similar for diamond but buy in bulk numbers if some are available on the market rather than just the odd bus like they have done with the enviro 200 they have introduced.