Not sure if this has already been answered, apologies if it has!
What will happen to the 37 which Blue Diamond compete with NXWM, although I use the word compete with loosely! none of the buses that operate the route will meet the new emissions as they are old darts! Are they going to withdraw or will they reduce their frequency (not sure what their current frequency is though) or will newer buses be introduced?
Not just the 37, they run some journies on the 97 and 17 too so will need a few buses, I'm sure they have something planned!
They have a number of vehicles which would be suitable, but not enough for all their city centre services it would seem.
With Rotala rebranding Central Connect and merging it with the rest of the 'Diamond' operation, I suppose it may be possible for them to transfer vehicles around, or even transfer in vehicles from other operations around the country.
The blue Diamond 97/17 are used quite a lot but saying that me & my freind travelled on the 97 from Chelsmley Wood - Birmingham and it was just me and him on it to Birmingham :-\.
Blue Diamond should invest in some new Hybrid Buses like Black Diamond have. which have now gone in an all green branding 8). If thats not possible will then the 37/17/97/97A could all ways operate between Digbeth Coach Station - Solihull (37) Chelmsley Wood (97/A) Tile Hill (17). Or will Digbeth come under the new emmison aswell. Also what will happen to the Birmingham Market buses (669) I think operated by central Buses ??
You mean the 650 operated by VIP Travel (Birmingham Markets - Kings Heath)? I think their vehicles are new enough to be okay.
The 669 runs from Kings Heath to Shirley. That'll soon be replaced by a new 69 service operated by Johnsons, replacing the 649 and 669.
Thats the route 650 8).
I though the V.I.P buses were same as the Blue Diamond bus ? but clearly not if there allowed into Birmingham :D
I would have thought blue diamond would have replaced the 2mcv that have left that were used on the X30 as before the mcv's plaxton centro's were used and now all that seen is a primo or an old w reg dart. May be it might recieve the 2 '56 reg' solo's that will be released from the loss of the park and ride north in Coventry.
Carnt Blue Diamond use some of them Signature buses for Birmingham routes (97/17/37) becuase they come under the new emmison buses
PRN & PRS in Coventry are being qithdrawn since when ??
Blue Diamond could invest in Enviro 200 darts as I'm rapidly going off rattling and squeaking Optares! Although a lot of people seem to just wait for the NXWM buses as their passes won't work which is a problem as they are missing out on passengers.
I hope they leave the signature buses alone! Especially the Mercs on the 82, I enjoy riding on those when ever I use the 82.
Quote from: Stu on April 09, 2012, 11:40:57 AM
You mean the 650 operated by VIP Travel (Birmingham Markets - Kings Heath)? I think their vehicles are new enough to be okay.
The 669 runs from Kings Heath to Shirley. That'll soon be replaced by a new 69 service operated by Johnsons, replacing the 649 and 669.
The 650 is run by 05' plates isn't it? The ex London darts. They should be fine.
VIP Have 4 05 plate Darts and some 02 plate darts which should easily meet the new emission rules.
Quote from: 966 on April 09, 2012, 05:21:20 PM
I hope they leave the signature buses alone! Especially the Mercs on the 82, I enjoy riding on those when ever I use the 82.
I also love the Mercs, excellent buses that really I think NXWM should invest in to replace the old mercs.
I like the Signatures used on the 30/82 they look good operating in Solihull & placing them on the 97/37 they would probally get ruined so I withdrawn my other comment about using them on those routes
They could just invest in new buses (Enviro 200's) (Enviro 300's) (Dennis Darts) etc little buses like that tbf
When I used to catch the 30, when it was operated by NXWM, in the mornings the bus would fill up with school-kids and then empty at Blossomfield, and would run near-empty the rest of the day. I don't catch it now, but it still seems the same way, its a shame that such nice buses are wasted on an unpopular route. But at least they're miles better than the battered old B6LEs that NXWM used to put out on it!
Quote from: Stu on April 10, 2012, 07:18:47 PM
When I used to catch the 30, when it was operated by NXWM, in the mornings the bus would fill up with school-kids and then empty at Blossomfield, and would run near-empty the rest of the day. I don't catch it now, but it still seems the same way, its a shame that such nice buses are wasted on an unpopular route. But at least they're miles better than the battered old B6LEs that NXWM used to put out on it!
Soo true 8)
I like the Versas but the 30 seems awfully quiet during the day.
isnt the 30 only a daytime route anyways. For concessinary users?
Well it runs in the early evenings and it is open to everyone, not just concessionary users.
Seen a Blue Diamond branded 37 running with the rear engine cover open whilst in service in City Centre today.
Quote from: Liberator9 on April 12, 2012, 01:55:45 PM
Well it runs in the early evenings and it is open to everyone, not just concessionary users.
Ohhh I know all bus routes are
I was just saying isnt it mainly used by Concessionary Users
Why was the blue diamond 37 frequency reduced? They had that touchwood connection branding, which I think looked quite smart, and an every 10 minute frequency provides 6 buses an hour
I think the passengers numbers were quite low as i never saw them with many passengers, most blue diamond routes that compete with NXWM dont seem to do well, whereas black diamond seem to fair better when in direct competition.
I agree, a prime example of that is the 16
Quote from: Ash on April 19, 2012, 12:57:57 AM
I think the passengers numbers were quite low as i never saw them with many passengers, most blue diamond routes that compete with NXWM dont seem to do well, whereas black diamond seem to fair better when in direct competition.
I cant believe how empty their "touchwood connection" 37's are during the morning and evening rush hours to and from birmingham.
Ive been on the touchwood connection about 6 times and on about 3 occasions its been quite full surprisingly...
Its un-common for a Blue Diamond service to be full if it operates the same route as NXWM e.g. 97/A which very commonly is empty were as NXWM are full to the brim
I was waiting for a NXWM 37 this evening, and a Blue Diamond 37 (which was empty) saw me waiting and slowed down. Even though I stepped away, to indicate that I didn't want this bus, he still slowed to a crawl, maybe in the hope I would change my mind and flag him down. ;D
Couple of minutes later, a NXWM 37 arrived, which was near full. 8)
Quote from: Stu on April 23, 2012, 07:37:19 PM
I was waiting for a NXWM 37 this evening, and a Blue Diamond 37 (which was empty) saw me waiting and slowed down. Even though I stepped away, to indicate that I didn't want this bus, he still slowed to a crawl, maybe in the hope I would change my mind and flag him down. ;D
Couple of minutes later, a NXWM 37 arrived, which was near full. 8)
I always feel sorry for them when they slow down even though I've stepped back haha. It's always at the Burton stop in the Village.
Quote from: Stu on April 23, 2012, 07:37:19 PM
I was waiting for a NXWM 37 this evening, and a Blue Diamond 37 (which was empty) saw me waiting and slowed down. Even though I stepped away, to indicate that I didn't want this bus, he still slowed to a crawl, maybe in the hope I would change my mind and flag him down. ;D
Couple of minutes later, a NXWM 37 arrived, which was near full. 8)
Can I ask why didn't you get on it?
Quote from: Liberator9 on April 23, 2012, 08:14:53 PM
Quote from: Stu on April 23, 2012, 07:37:19 PM
I was waiting for a NXWM 37 this evening, and a Blue Diamond 37 (which was empty) saw me waiting and slowed down. Even though I stepped away, to indicate that I didn't want this bus, he still slowed to a crawl, maybe in the hope I would change my mind and flag him down. ;D
Couple of minutes later, a NXWM 37 arrived, which was near full. 8)
Can I ask why didn't you get on it?
Most likely had a daysaver or travel card, like me. In South Birmingjam there's not really a need for an nbus ticket from a passengers view as NX covers everything whereas in North Birmingham/Black Country there is a higher amount of operators.
I still have a network pass as it allows great versatility can get train or bus and nxwm or first or diamond tho they dont do the Bristol Road any more. Used to be really useful when First/diamond/travel express/a line/sandwell travel and midland rider.
Quote from: Liberator9 on April 23, 2012, 08:14:53 PM
Can I ask why didn't you get on it?
I use a NX Regional Faresaver monthly pass. I can travel on NX West Midlands and Coventry services, but not on Blue Diamonds. Not without paying extra, if they still do that. Besides, the NXWM 37s are so frequent (and there's the option of the 31/31A) I don't need to catch Blue Diamond's 37.
Oh, I use to have that. But have an Nbus now.
Quote from: Liberator9 on April 24, 2012, 07:42:32 PM
Oh, I use to have that. But have an Nbus now.
NBus passes are better as you dont have to stand around waiting for the NXWM buses
The thing with me is I prefer to get Blue Diamond/Diamond/Claribels etc but the thing is they never bloody stop which is quite annoying if NXWM are due in 10/15 minutes, I think there so used to not having many passangers when they see a passanger at the bus stop they automatically think there waiting for NXWM, thats also another reason were Rolta loose passangers
Quote from: NathanJC on April 24, 2012, 07:51:19 PM
Quote from: Liberator9 on April 24, 2012, 07:42:32 PM
Oh, I use to have that. But have an Nbus now.
NBus passes are better as you dont have to stand around waiting for the NXWM buses
The thing with me is I prefer to get Blue Diamond/Diamond/Claribels etc but the thing is they never bloody stop which is quite annoying if NXWM are due in 10/15 minutes, I think there so used to not having many passangers when they see a passanger at the bus stop they automatically think there waiting for NXWM, thats also another reason were Rolta loose passangers
NathanJc I couldnt agree more i am fed up of rotala buses passsing me on certain routes in particular and it occurs even more when there is a NXWM bus behind, atleast NXWM stop for you :)
I think its just they dont want to stop if a NX bus is behind then they will not stop, but it dont bother me now because im not the company loosing passangers/money & The 97's at moor street just by pass the bus stop sometimes even though I give clear hand signals, the only blue Diamond buses that seem to stop is the 37/17.
Anyone have any idea on what will be happening to the Blue Diamonds 37 - and other city centre routes. I see from Tony's uploads that they are starting to debrand the Touchwoos Connection vehicles. Does this mean they will be allocating newer buses that meet the new emissions or are they going to withdraw completely?
since they reduced the frequency of the 37 less buses are needed and a few branded ones sneak onto other services anyway, blue diamond are recieving newer darts from wessex like the 05 reg examples that have transferred up.
I used to have an nBus, but I got a nNetwork - for trains, metro and bus.. I hardly ever use the bus nowadays, I'd rather take a 8 minute cycle to the station, and have a choice of services to catch than get the bus
Quote from: 966 on May 10, 2012, 12:19:23 AM
Anyone have any idea on what will be happening to the Blue Diamonds 37 - and other city centre routes. I see from Tony's uploads that they are starting to debrand the Touchwoos Connection vehicles. Does this mean they will be allocating newer buses that meet the new emissions or are they going to withdraw completely?
I saw a Tourchwood Branding bus today in Birmingham working the full 37
Quote from: NathanJC on May 18, 2012, 07:15:44 PM
Quote from: 966 on May 10, 2012, 12:19:23 AM
Anyone have any idea on what will be happening to the Blue Diamonds 37 - and other city centre routes. I see from Tony's uploads that they are starting to debrand the Touchwoos Connection vehicles. Does this mean they will be allocating newer buses that meet the new emissions or are they going to withdraw completely?
I saw a Tourchwood Branding bus today in Birmingham working the full 37
Have they extended the 37 to a secret research centre?
One of the ex P&R solos appeared on there Thursday
http://tomonthebuses.smugmug.com/Rotala/Rotala-Optare-Solo/22085363_Wnz8xt#!i=1782322376&k=g4rsSh2&lb=1&s=A
Had a one of BD darts today on the 37 and I must say it was very good. The driver was very friendly and obviously knew several people he saw. The actual bus was very good, just needs some interior work done. My only moan was the fact that it ended at Olton but the driver told us another was two minutes behind and he was right! I would assume when the new emissions come in BD will withdraw as it not having a high passenger usage and it hardly helps having confusing 37Es going to Olton.
It can't be that confusing if the bus has a big LED that clearly states "Olton Station 37E" on the front! ::)
Well we never looked at it, we just assumed as it was a purple 37 branded bus. I did say to my Dad that I thought it may be a 37E but it didn't matter anyway!
Quote from: Stu on May 26, 2012, 08:27:22 PM
It can't be that confusing if the bus has a big LED that clearly states "Olton Station 37E" on the front! ::)
Exactly what I was going to say. I've been at stops where other people notice that it's a Olton short journey so why can't you?