A new operator in the West Midlands running the Boots contract from Walsall to Burton on Trent.
They were using former Midland Classic SN57 BKL today
Any connection to Deluxe of Drakelow ??
Quote from: B61 ANDREW on September 14, 2023, 06:54:20 PMAny connection to Deluxe of Drakelow ??
No, This is James Boddice from Midland Classic
Quote from: Tony on September 14, 2023, 05:58:11 PMA new operator in the West Midlands running the Boots contract from Walsall to Burton on Trent.
They were using former Midland Classic SN57 BKL today
Just seen SN57 BKL in Erdington on the X11 (Newtown to Burton Boots Contract).
Can't find any reference to this operator. What else do you know about them Tony?
QuoteCan't find any reference to this operator. What else do you know about them Tony?
It's owned by James Boddice, the ex Midland Classic MD. Their operating Centre is at Royal Farm Business Park in Drakelow
So James Boddice has set up his own company fair play to him, I wonder if he can make it as successful as Midland Classic and yes before anyone says I know he didn't own Midland I'm just saying that when he was in charge of Midland it always seemed to run like clockwork and never suffered many problems and was always ran well by him and his staff. Good luck to him hopefully he can strive and hopefully he'll be able to expand in time.
On a separate note I've often wondered why so far Geoff Cross has never ventured back into operating buses again, although I guess it's probably because he's happy the way he is still operating the Centrad side of the business.
James did own Classic along with Julian Peddle around a 70/30 split to him as far I recall
Looks like they have a new VDL gemini 2 reg LJ59 LWV looks mint tbh with the refurbished interior
- Chaserider service 31 / 32 (peak journeys on Lichfield circulars) will be operated by Bus Link Midlands with the same route and timetable, except the 0945 journey on service 31 and the 0930 journey on service 32 (replacing the current 0915 journey) will be operated by Diamond Bus.
Quote from: the trainbasher on May 28, 2024, 08:40:23 PM- Chaserider service 31 / 32 (peak journeys on Lichfield circulars) will be operated by Bus Link Midlands with the same route and timetable, except the 0945 journey on service 31 and the 0930 journey on service 32 (replacing the current 0915 journey) will be operated by Diamond Bus.
Chaserider havent been on there that long surely?
New service X66 now on bustimes:
https://bustimes.org/services/x66-lichfield-tamworth
Lichfield - Tamworth every 30 mins
same route as the hourly X65 service by arriva although taking the quick route out of lichfield instead of going through boley park.
edit:
looking at departure times from tamworth, looks like they are going head to head with the arriva X65/765 with departures 5 mins before the arriva services instead of being between them for a combined 15 min frequency between tamworth and lichfield. (BL services leaving at 10/40 when ARV services leave 15/45)
Quote from: EK40 on July 19, 2024, 10:05:16 PMNew service X66 now on bustimes:
https://bustimes.org/services/x66-lichfield-tamworth
Lichfield - Tamworth every 30 mins
same route as the hourly X65 service by arriva although taking the quick route out of lichfield instead of going through boley park.
edit:
looking at departure times from tamworth, looks like they are going head to head with the arriva X65/765 with departures 5 mins before the arriva services instead of being between them for a combined 15 min frequency between tamworth and lichfield. (BL services leaving at 10/40 when ARV services leave 15/45)
The clocks in Burton-upon-Trent must be set to 1986...
Looks like today was the first day with BusLink on the X66 Lichfield to Tamworth I can imagine arriva are hating it at the moment.
Former Chaserider 998 which was on loan from BusLink along with 996 and 997, 998 is now repainted and allocated fleet number 79 with bus link and apparently was out on the 63 Cannock to uttoxeter today.
Quote from: Wba_lad on August 05, 2024, 09:50:43 PMLooks like today was the first day with BusLink on the X66 Lichfield to Tamworth I can imagine arriva are hating it at the moment.
Former Chaserider 998 which was on loan from BusLink along with 996 and 997, 998 is now repainted and allocated fleet number 79 with bus link and apparently was out on the 63 Cannock to uttoxeter today.
was on 71 earlier on the X66, got to say compared to the citaros that arriva use on the competing routes, the solars are a massive upgrade with clean and refurbished interiors. also that they have fully working audio and visual next stop systems.
Quote from: EK40 on August 05, 2024, 10:07:13 PMwas on 71 earlier on the X66, got to say compared to the citaros that arriva use on the competing routes, the solars are a massive upgrade with clean and refurbished interiors. also that they have fully working audio and visual next stop systems.
I've never been on a citaro so I can't comment I went on a ex Cardiff bus scania solar that was at Chaserider which is a BusLink vehicle which was on loan they was nice they sounded amazing. However it's nice to see that they have working next stop announcements, I do need to do a Lichfield to Tamworth run at some point weather it is being on a Buslink run or an arriva run.
YN57FWM on Stafford-Crewe Rail Replacement today via Stoke today - rather a contrast in presentation to YX61FYE of Eminence. Just a pity it left Stafford showing Stafford as the destination, as did JKT'S GO70 JKT.
It is Bus Link who have purchased 4642 & 4644, they are collecting them tomorrow
BusLink also now have a dual door optare solo which was at Chaserider depot today for MOT.
Quote from: Wba_lad on August 30, 2024, 11:03:40 PMBusLink also now have a dual door optare solo which was at Chaserider depot today for MOT.
presumably the one showing on bustimes now as YJ12 GVV with the fleet number 31.
new solo sr in white was on 63 yesterday YJ67FZT fleet no 34
Anyone have an email ?
Do these still operate the Walsall to Boots Bus as My mate has to get On a bus tonight to there, does it have a service number and does it track on bustimes
Quote from: BlackCountryBusSpotter on November 19, 2024, 07:21:56 PMDo these still operate the Walsall to Boots Bus as My mate has to get On a bus tonight to there, does it have a service number and does it track on bustimes
If they do it's not a public service at least as far as I know.
The X11 from Aston Six Ways tracked as YN57FWG this morning but I believe it'd be closed door.
Quote from: BlackCountryBusSpotter on November 19, 2024, 07:21:56 PMDo these still operate the Walsall to Boots Bus as My mate has to get On a bus tonight to there, does it have a service number and does it track on bustimes
The Boots service from Wolverhampton to Burton via Walsall is operated by us at J.K.T International on a Zeelo contract.
Quote from: 2206 on November 19, 2024, 07:44:06 PMIf they do it's not a public service at least as far as I know.
The X11 from Aston Six Ways tracked as YN57FWG this morning but I believe it'd be closed door.
He works there so he would be allowed to use it
Ex NX Gemini on the last 63 last night, first time I've seen one of these on there
have heard that buslink have won the 77/77A/X15 tender for january. be very nice to see some of their fleet over here.
Quote from: EK40 on November 21, 2024, 08:30:05 PMhave heard that buslink have won the 77/77A/X15 tender for january. be very nice to see some of their fleet over here.
I've heard this too...
Quote from: MW on November 21, 2024, 11:48:19 PMI've heard this too...
That wouldnt be the whole 77 would it, as previous to the last change Nx were operating Sutton to Streetly in the main.
Quote from: Westy on November 22, 2024, 07:05:36 AMThat wouldnt be the whole 77 would it, as previous to the last change Nx were operating Sutton to Streetly in the main.
Need to find out which option they were awarded, IIRC it was either the 77/77A/X15 as currently,
or the 675,676,677,677A,X15 from sutton to minworth/erdington/streetly/castle vale/erdington/birmingham
You'll see the two options in the original tender thing on the first message in the jan 2025 changes thread.
The changes have all been posted for Jan 25 and there is no mention of the 77/77A or X15 changing
Quote from: cris 99 on November 22, 2024, 08:02:47 PMThe changes have all been posted for Jan 25 and there is no mention of the 77/77A or X15 changing
see from the jan 2025 changes page,
Quote from: Stu on November 22, 2024, 07:56:21 PMAs I mentioned earlier, I'd hold back from making assumptions just yet as I don't believe that TfWM have updated that page fully yet.
its not complete just yet it seems.
77 77A X15
This service will be operated by Stevensons Bus Services from 23 February 2025, with no changes to route or timetable.
Quote from: Lynx1103 on December 19, 2024, 09:11:29 PM77 77A X15
This service will be operated by Stevensons Bus Services from 23 February 2025, with no changes to route or timetable.
Not completely true, the X15 will have minor timetable changes.
have heard rumours that 3 of the short 73X e200s leaving NX are likely going to buslink.
lots of new additions to the fleet alongside the 2 55/06 plate B7TL ALXs from arriva and another 2 59 plate omnidekkas from reading. (Replacing the 2 B7TLs they got from NX previously)
Quote from: EK40 on February 05, 2025, 07:57:47 PMhave heard rumours that 3 of the short 73X e200s leaving NX are likely going to buslink.
lots of new additions to the fleet alongside the 2 55/06 plate B7TL ALXs from arriva and another 2 59 plate omnidekkas from reading. (Replacing the 2 B7TLs they got from NX previously)
News to me. I'm busy parking them up at Miller Street at the moment.
(That doesn't mean Buslink aren't negotiating with one of our directors)