Loads of people were saying about that some routes needs new or different on the Electric Buses thread. So I decided to make this thread
The 74
Pn number 9
Quote from: BBS on May 11, 2025, 05:17:57 PMThe 74
Don't the electrics have less capacity? That won't help on the 74 which gets overcrowded as it is.
In terms of Birmingham the one that would benefit the most is the 4/4A.
Quote from: MasterPlan on May 11, 2025, 05:26:32 PMIn terms of Birmingham the one that would benefit the most is the 4/4A.
Which are already using more double-decks than singles now.
Quote from: Stu on May 11, 2025, 05:41:38 PMWhich are already using more double-decks than singles now.
More than they used to have on the route, yes.
Quote from: TheMidlandsTransportGuy on May 11, 2025, 01:50:43 PMLoads of people were saying about that some routes needs new or different on the Electric Buses thread. So I decided to make this thread
To be honest, this thread is a bit pointless now, as has already been pointed out elsewhere, new vehicles are just replacing older ones, and not being allocated to any particular routes, see Yardley Wood for example.
Also, with bus franchising looming in the next couple of years, it is going to be difficult for bus operators to make commitments to invest in vehicles, if there is uncertainty about whether the WMCA will acquire them and for what value.
Of course, in the case of NX Bus, if they continue to partner with Zenobe, then there's no reason why the leasing costs wouldn't pass to WMCA.
Unfortunately I can see the next couple of years being a bit of a 'no-mans land' with fleet renewal being in a bit of 'limbo'.
Members are welcome to comment in this topic, however I warn you all that I won't have this turn into another argument clinic, bickering and squabbling isn't welcome here.
Stick them on the 96. We need some open-top buses and I've missed the joy of seeing two DDs trying to squeeze past each other on Kingfisher Drive.
The X12 may need more buses on weekdays because it gets busy.
Quote from: Stu on May 11, 2025, 06:57:29 PMOf course, in the case of NX Bus, if they continue to partner with Zenobe, then there's no reason why the leasing costs wouldn't pass to WMCA.
Unfortunately I can see the next couple of years being a bit of a 'no-mans land' with fleet renewal being in a bit of 'limbo'.
WMCA mention leases being novated on 600 NX ZEBs and they currently have 329 + the 20 Hydrogens. Add the incoming 130 and around 30 diesels in Coventry to that so maybe the 100 from the 2022 Zebra funding might turn up?
As I've posted elsewhere given the proposed franchising arrangements why would any current service provider even consider acquiring new vehicles?
4M gets overlooked so much but its crying out for alternative vehicles to omnilinks
Quote from: B7RLE on May 11, 2025, 10:07:44 PM4M gets overlooked so much but its crying out for alternative vehicles to omnilinks
It'll probably gain more B7RLE eventually as more omnilinks are withdrawn. Walsall already operate them.
Quote from: joseph88 on May 11, 2025, 07:17:49 PMThe X12 may need more buses on weekdays because it gets busy.
I'd say no, it's the occasional trip thats busy - most of the time the X12 is dead.
Quote from: Stu on May 11, 2025, 06:57:29 PMTo be honest, this thread is a bit pointless now, as has already been pointed out elsewhere, new vehicles are just replacing older ones, and not being allocated to any particular routes, see Yardley Wood for example.
Also, with bus franchising looming in the next couple of years, it is going to be difficult for bus operators to make commitments to invest in vehicles, if there is uncertainty about whether the WMCA will acquire them and for what value.
Of course, in the case of NX Bus, if they continue to partner with Zenobe, then there's no reason why the leasing costs wouldn't pass to WMCA.
Unfortunately I can see the next couple of years being a bit of a 'no-mans land' with fleet renewal being in a bit of 'limbo'.
Members are welcome to comment in this topic, however I warn you all that I won't have this turn into another argument clinic, bickering and squabbling isn't welcome here.
As I've just posted in the Franchising thread, I completely agree with the statement in bold italic above.
Several routes across the region need new buses, some routes by choice, and some operators that need them and just won't invest (Travel Express for one!). With the advent of franchising, it's forced a lot of operators hands - to upgrade, or not upgrade - and with WMCA seemingly buying diesel fleets for £77m, I'm sure someone there would have mooted to operators, "don't go buying anymore buses, especially not diesels", to keep the local authority's costs down and to save any awkward discussions along the lines of, "we've just bought X new buses at a cost of Y, so where do we stand?!".
There's also going to be a hell of a loot of second hand diesels knowing around at WMCA look to recoup some of the £77m spent. It may not have any benefit in the West Midlands, but for the likes of operators in Staffordshire, Warwickshire and beyond, it may help them upgrade.
QuoteDon't the electrics have less capacity? That won't help on the 74 which gets overcrowded as it is.
In terms of Birmingham the one that would benefit the most is the 4/4A.
The 4/4A is those routes that are in dire need of new buses, but since it's operated by Acocks green and the mass influence of E200mmcs they have, there's no chance that they'll make that route fully decker yet
Quote from: Stu on May 11, 2025, 06:57:29 PMTo be honest, this thread is a bit pointless now, as has already been pointed out elsewhere, new vehicles are just replacing older ones, and not being allocated to any particular routes, see Yardley Wood for example.
Also, with bus franchising looming in the next couple of years, it is going to be difficult for bus operators to make commitments to invest in vehicles, if there is uncertainty about whether the WMCA will acquire them and for what value.
Of course, in the case of NX Bus, if they continue to partner with Zenobe, then there's no reason why the leasing costs wouldn't pass to WMCA.
Unfortunately I can see the next couple of years being a bit of a 'no-mans land' with fleet renewal being in a bit of 'limbo'.
Members are welcome to comment in this topic, however I warn you all that I won't have this turn into another argument clinic, bickering and squabbling isn't welcome here.
With franchising though it could bring buses that we would likely have assumed nx or diamond wouldnt get such as first potentially bringing un U11DDs
Quote from: tombzy on May 12, 2025, 02:39:19 PMWith franchising though it could bring buses that we would likely have assumed nx or diamond wouldnt get such as first potentially bringing un U11DDs
please no
Quote from: jasmine on May 12, 2025, 03:45:22 PMplease no
Huh? Are you on about the hypothetical where first brings u11dds into the west midlands?
I liked UU11 DDD which diamond had as a demonstor vehicle mainly on the 50.
Quote from: tombzy on May 12, 2025, 03:52:33 PMHuh? Are you on about the hypothetical where first brings u11dds into the west midlands?
I liked UU11 DDD which diamond had as a demonstor vehicle mainly on the 50.
yeah, i just have a personal dislike for the u11dd.
Quote from: tombzy on May 12, 2025, 02:39:19 PMWith franchising though it could bring buses that we would likely have assumed nx or diamond wouldnt get such as first potentially bringing un U11DDs
WMCA want to own the vehicles and then lease them back to the contracted operators.
Any future fleet renewal will then be up to the WMCA to decide what vehicles they source, it wouldn't be up to the individual operators.
Quote from: Stu on May 12, 2025, 08:01:19 PMWMCA want to own the vehicles and then lease them back to the contracted operators.
Any future fleet renewal will then be up to the WMCA to decide what vehicles they source, it wouldn't be up to the individual operators.
Ahh. I wonder what WMCA would choose for us to get though.
94/95
Quote from: monkeyjoe on May 13, 2025, 05:57:43 AM94/95
What so the yobs in shard end and smith's wood can kick the windows out of them?
Quote from: dw1308 on May 29, 2025, 09:14:14 PMWhat so the yobs in shard end and smith's wood can kick the windows out of them?
Chelmsley centre
373 after 6pm around Blakenall circa 1993 :laugh: