Messages

Theres scania , Gemini and alx400 sat in Pensnett garage, is that all scrap?

There's no Gemini there

Enough to replace all the non Euro 6 vehicles?

Yes, but won't happen 

What time did 1846 have it's RTC I saw it earlier yesterday and are you sure it was an RTC and not ASB

err yes, it was an RTC, and one that will have written the bus off

First 24 registrations at last!

42 are so far registered, 10 with 73 plates and 32 with 24 plates

What about the 8a and 8c

No, the first 42 are going on the routes listed 

It's looking likely from early June the new electrics will be scheduled on to all of the following routes, obviously not all buses on each route:

7, 16, 33, 52, 65, 67, 101, 907, X3, X4, X5 & X14

every route at PB that is double deck

See answer 647 along with several others

Thing is people are moaning about the 79 not being reliable when the Wolverhampton 1 is far more unreliable

Do you have figures to show that?

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.

Yes, I know Labour Councillors who actually praised Andy Street for doing a good job during his tenure, but he would have been fighting a losing battle for getting money for anything other than franchising with the expected Labour government

When franchising happens in WM, do u think they will follow London or Manchester's method?

London: Operators have their own depot and bid for routes
Manchester: Council owns the depot and the vehicles and the operator bids for it


^ think thats how they work, correct me if im wrong

Manchester: TfWM only own certain depots and buses

Another golden oldie making a comeback today.

4492 is back in use after a 7 month rest, mostly at hartshornes!

Yes because people were moaning and I distincly remember hearing about a bus on fire in West Bromwich from a family member who saw it was the 79 and were making sure I was OK. People were moaning that the 79 was late, I hadn't been waiting for long before so I didn't know, before long they moved a Platty over. Another time was when there was a diversion in Wednesbury this year of the 79 people were again moaning at West Bromwich this time about the bus being late and then two rocking up. Until we got to Wednesbury and they saw why. I had already known about them as I had to get some stuff from West Brom

If you have to refer to an incident that happened over 2 years ago, 4456 last ran in March 2022, then reliability cannot be that bad

[E165]

There will be even more electric bus movements from tomorrow to watch out for. Perry Barr are starting the 5 weekly inspections on them doing 3 a day ready to enter service at the end of the month, but because there's not enough room for more than 5 electrics at PB until they enter service these 3 a day are going to be coming and going between there and the current parking spots.

E225 is now at Perry Barr to be the first one inspected tomorrow and when that one gets swapped mid morning it will be the first one carrying a '24' plate.

Current locations are:-

PB	BC	WA	WN	PN	Aston	MS	Roberts
E165	E231	E166	E164	E229	E196	E176	E174
E167	E232	E171	E168	E236	E198	E191	E175
E170	E245	E218	E169	E237	E199	E219	E177
E225	E246	E220	E172	E238	E200	E223	E179
	E248	E221	E173	E239	E201	E224	E180
	E253	E222	E178	E240	E203	E226	E181
	E256	E235	E184	E241	E204	E227	E182
	E258	E244	E189	E243	E213	E230	E183
	E260	E247	E194				E185
	E261	E249	E195				E186
	E262	E250	E197				E187
		E254	E205				E188
		E257	E207				E190
			E208				E192
			E210				E193
			E211				E202
			E216				E206
			E228				E209
			E242				E212
			E251				E214
			E252				E215
			E255				E217
			E256

I'm just wondering if there is going to be a purge by NX to improve reliability, customer feedback etch because in the event of franchising imagine Stagecoach or Arriva winning franchises for the Sutton routes or Bristol Road or Pershore Road etc. NX could end up losing work. Parker is already making a lot of noise and if NX aren't worried then maybe they should be.

Only 3 garages now aren't fully staffed and lost mileage due to breakdowns or no bus is less 1% so not much more NX can do about reliability other than get more electric buses into service which seem to be doing very well at Coventry. All other reliability is down to roads and traffic, like this morning with Six Ways Aston underpass closed causing chaos for all Birchfield Road services, but to someone in Aldridge complaining the 997 is late towards Walsall, that will still be NX's fault

Wait, 4802 has returned to service?

Yes, been back over a week