I heard today via a Diamond driver in Kiddy that supposedly he has heard from someone he knows that allegedly he followed a National Express bus containing several drivers which was supposedly following the 192 route he didn't mention where his friend had seen the bus. The 192 is up for tender in April so it would make sense whether or not there is any truth in these rumours I don't know but if they are legit then National Express running it would be amazing :D
NXWM don't route train drivers two months before a service starts
I want first or diamond to continue with the 192. I doubt nx will take it on.
Quote from: Trident 4194 on February 16, 2016, 07:25:55 PM
I want first or diamond to continue with the 192. I doubt nx will take it on.
I doubt First will want the 192 there nearest garage is in Worcester.
They sold there Kidderminster garage/routes to Diamond in 2013.
Igo could possibly get it.
@Trident 4194
Never gonna happen. I would actually be so surprised, it doesn't seem like NX to just randomly branch off. I mean they have no real background there. They had previous in cannock hence the 54.
Quote from: WN on February 16, 2016, 07:29:19 PM
Never gonna happen. I would actually be so surprised, it doesn't seem like NX to just randomly branch off. I mean they have no real background there. They had previous in cannock hence the 54.
The 54 doesn't go to Cannock. NX never previously operated in Stafford before the 54 started.
Quote from: 2206 on February 16, 2016, 07:31:33 PM
The 54 doesn't go to Cannock. NX never previously operated in Stafford before the 54 started.
True, but its worked hasnt it! The 54 is there to create competition and work in sync with the 154 and to provide a link between Stafford and the i54
Please no, e200s on 192. I would cry
Quote from: Trident 4194 on February 16, 2016, 07:40:39 PM
Please no, e200s on 192. I would cry
The 192 had Enviro 200 when operated by Whittle. Who only left the route in January 2015.
Why would NX jump in now? If they'd wanted it, Whittle's going was an ideal chance just last year, it was said at the time that there was only one operator interested.
Before people fantasize about Birmingham extensions and all that, the old 192 was cut for a reason, it was very quiet and being heavily supported, people from Kidderminster heading into Birmingham have the train! The role for the bus in a fragile industry will never again be competing with the train on long distance routes but will be supporting rail services with local journeys.
Not forgetting NX were originally in the frame for buying RH & KR off First prior to Rotala.
It was probably on private hire / special duties or driver training
Quote from: Winston on February 16, 2016, 08:28:10 PM
Not forgetting NX were originally in the frame for buying RH & KR off First prior to Rotala.
It was probably on private hire / special duties or driver training
doubt it was a training bus
Quote from: karl724223 on February 16, 2016, 08:34:28 PM
doubt it was a training bus
Does the Streetdeck venture far on training duties?
Quote from: Winston on February 16, 2016, 08:39:50 PM
Does the Streetdeck venture far on trying duties?
not today it hasn't moved at all dumped up the top af yard nose in
When it was down Stourbridge it only went round the ring road then back to bus station
Quote from: 2206 on February 16, 2016, 07:31:33 PM
The 54 doesn't go to Cannock. NX never previously operated in Stafford before the 54 started.
If you count Walsall Corporation & Wmpte & Nx as being one company over the years, surely Walsall Corp & Wmpte until 1973 operated a Dudley Walsall Stafford route joint with Midland Red.
And what about the V Festival contract as well?
Do they count?
Hartshill garage operated the X92 Birmingham to Ludlow and Hereford on Sundays from August bank holiday 1986 for a short while (can't remember how long), using at various times C-reg Leyland Lynx, Leyland National DPs, and Metrobus "Timesaver" DPs. They also ran a Stourbridge to Stourport for one season (can't remember route number).
Could it have been route training for a Rail replacement?
Could it have been the one that went to Kidderminster for the photo of the ex bus driver from the Birmingham bombings ?
Quote from: pndriver on February 16, 2016, 10:26:53 PM
Could it have been the one that went to Kidderminster for the photo of the ex bus driver from the Birmingham bombings ?
That thought did cross my mind, there's a link in the Pensnett thread somewhere I posted, but I assumed it was sighted today?
There's a post on midlandred.net regarding NXWM's Streetdeck, so there's something doing the rounds.....
I've heard a rumour they plan to use them on the 192...http://www.midlandred.net/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1435503755/s-225/
Quote from: Winston on February 16, 2016, 10:38:57 PM
That thought did cross my mind, there's a link in the Pensnett thread somewhere I posted, but I assumed it was sighted today?
There's a post on midlandred.net regarding NXWM's Streetdeck, so there's something doing the rounds.....
I've heard a rumour they plan to use them on the 192...
http://www.midlandred.net/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1435503755/s-225/
I've not heard about 192 at all, none of our drivers have been for a ride to Kidderminster either.
Now the streetdeck ('s) I've heard about that but that's a secret
Quote from: pndriver on February 16, 2016, 10:46:16 PM
I've not heard about 192 at all, none of our drivers have been for a ride to Kidderminster either.
Now the streetdeck ('s) I've heard about that but that's a secret
Re: probably Chinese whispers... on the back of the negative press comments regarding WCC tenders & Diamond etc. Why would anyone put a DD on the 192 when you're lucky to fill an MPD on the majority of trips
Quote from: Winston on February 16, 2016, 10:50:45 PM
Re: probably Chinese whispers... on the back of the negative press comments regarding WCC tenders & Diamond etc. Why would anyone put a DD on the 192 when you're lucky to fill an MPD on the majority of trips
A diamond driver has told me Centro have told them not to bid for any routes too. I'd take it with a pinch of salt though....... Some drivers are full of crap
Quote from: pndriver on February 16, 2016, 10:53:28 PM
A diamond driver has told me Centro have told them not to bid for any routes too. I'd take it with a pinch of salt though....... Some drivers are full of crap
Even the ban from WCC I would have my doubts about, who else is going to replace their tendered routes, Diamond have probably helped reduce WCC's tender bill. They may well have threatened stripping them of their contracts to improve their services/reliability, whether they would actually carry through the threat is another matter, it would more than likely cost WCC more.
If WCC work in a similar way to Centro, if terminated for poor performance, the outgoing operator is liable for the cost of retendering.
Quote from: 646 on February 17, 2016, 01:09:16 PM
If WCC work in a similar way to Centro, if terminated for poor performance, the outgoing operator is liable for the cost of retendering.
I wasn't referring so much as the cost of re-tendering, more the future tender costs. Obviously if First were to takeover some of the routes, their overheads are far more than Diamond's etc. Plus if Diamond are removed from the process, there's also less competition
Quote from: Winston on February 17, 2016, 01:31:21 PM
I wasn't referring so much as the cost of re-tendering, more the future tender costs. Obviously if First were to takeover some of the routes, their overheads are far more than Diamond's etc. Plus if Diamond are removed from the process, there's also less competition
I don't think First would want any of Diamonds routes though, except possibly the Kidderminster - Worcester routes.
Quote from: 2206 on February 17, 2016, 01:42:19 PM
I don't think First would want any of Diamonds routes though, except possibly the Kidderminster - Worcester routes.
Exactly my point, if not First who else is there to take them over if they were stripped from Diamond. The 303 is commercial anyway
Quote from: Winston on February 17, 2016, 01:44:38 PM
Exactly my point, if not First who else is there to take them over if they were stripped from Diamond. The 303 is commercial anyway
Igo could possibly get some of the WCC tendered routes
Though I don't anyone else would want them.
Quote from: Winston on February 17, 2016, 01:31:21 PM
I wasn't referring so much as the cost of re-tendering, more the future tender costs. Obviously if First were to takeover some of the routes, their overheads are far more than Diamond's etc. Plus if Diamond are removed from the process, there's also less competition
I was referring to the cost of the new tender.
Quote from: 646 on February 17, 2016, 02:05:57 PM
I was referring to the cost of the new tender.
Fair enough, I took it you meant the cost for re-tendering process rather than cost of the actual new tenders. To be fair in the long run WCC & Diamond would be better working together rather than going down that route, with Diamond being main supplier of contracted services in that part of WCC.
Quote from: Winston on February 17, 2016, 01:44:38 PM
Exactly my point, if not First who else is there to take them over if they were stripped from Diamond. The 303 is commercial anyway
Johnsons, Whittles they have plenty of space in there depot in Kiddy and I know they want Kidderminster work as well but like other companies they are put off because of Diamond.
Quote from: Reece on February 17, 2016, 04:39:27 PM
Johnsons, Whittles they have plenty of space in there depot in Kiddy and I know they want Kidderminster work as well but like other companies they are put off because of Diamond.
Central buses possibly, don't they have an out station in Stourbridge to help reduced dead milage also
Quote from: Lukeee on February 17, 2016, 09:30:14 PM
Central buses possibly, don't they have an out station in Stourbridge to help reduced dead milage also
Wow where have you been lol they're based at Kidderminster now down by Sainsbury's have been nearly 12 months
A report in the Worcester News has stated that Diamond have lost the contracts for three school services but have kept the contract for a fourth route.
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/14283796.Bus_operator_loses_its_contract_to_run_services_on_school_routes_following_complaints/ (http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/14283796.Bus_operator_loses_its_contract_to_run_services_on_school_routes_following_complaints/)
Perhaps that has been turned into a rumour about all tendered services.
Quote from: Will on February 17, 2016, 09:31:57 PM
Wow where have you been lol they're based at Kidderminster now down by Sainsbury's have been nearly 12 months
Whoops, my bad lol
Quote from: WN on February 16, 2016, 07:29:19 PM
Never gonna happen. I would actually be so surprised, it doesn't seem like NX to just randomly branch off. I mean they have no real background there. They had previous in cannock hence the 54.
WMPTE ran the X92 in 1986, using Leyland Lynx (Hereford and Worcestershire tendered service).
Quote from: don on February 19, 2016, 12:39:25 PM
WMPTE ran the X92 in 1986, using Leyland Lynx (Hereford and Worcestershire tendered service).
And they used Timesaver liveried DP Leyland Nationals
Quote from: Winston on February 19, 2016, 12:44:12 PM
And they used Timesaver liveried DP Leyland Nationals
Yeah indeed - did any Metrobuses make that trip, I wonder?
Quote from: don on February 19, 2016, 01:02:12 PM
Yeah indeed - did any Metrobuses make that trip, I wonder?
yes
I have a photo I took on 2 May 1988 of 2359 (LOA359X) cresting Clee Hill on the 92 to Hereford (no X on blind)
When were Wmt/Twm/Nx buses first able to display X as part of a service number?
Quote from: Westy on February 19, 2016, 06:33:40 PM
When were Wmt/Twm/Nx buses first able to display X as part of a service number?
When they stopped using the old Birmingham City Transport A-L suffixes and changed to the A/C for circulars and E for short workings.
These reels had A C E N S W X on in addition to 0-9
the route then on a sunday was numbered the 192 or 292 if I remember right
Quote from: Cedric on February 19, 2016, 06:44:24 PM
the route then on a sunday was numbered the 192 or 292 if I remember right
It was the X92 when this photo was taken and 1066 hadn't got an X on the blinds
http://wmbusphotos.com/NXWM/gonebatches/1061-1316/1066.html
Quote from: Tony on February 19, 2016, 06:41:47 PM
When they stopped using the old Birmingham City Transport A-L suffixes and changed to the A/C for circulars and E for short workings.
These reels had A C E N S W X on in addition to 0-9
What did the final merc reels have?
Quote from: WN on February 19, 2016, 07:01:49 PM
What did the final merc reels have?
0-9 full alphabet no f
Quote from: WN on February 19, 2016, 07:01:49 PM
What did the final merc reels have?
Most letter were on there, only about 4 were missing, there was no I, O and no U (That was missed off to stop F*CK and C*NT being displayed) and I don't think there was a Z
M normally had the Metro symbol above it
tony my mistake. mind you that service over the years kept being renumbered that much . and lots of operator changes
Quote from: Tony on February 19, 2016, 07:27:48 PM
Most letter were on there, only about 4 were missing, there was no I, O and no U (That was missed off to stop F*CK and C*NT being displayed) and I don't think there was a Z
M normally had the Metro symbol above it
Thanks for that. Didn't stop people though. I remember 601 having '69ER' on the back. I think
@P419 EJW mentioned it.