Looking on the Volant PSV website, I've come across the following photographs, of the Diamond Cadet repair. Thought it may be of interest to someone.
Before: http://volantpvs.co.uk/show_image/1326210790/360.JPG?smart_resize_image=0
After: http://volantpvs.co.uk/show_image/1327075855/360.JPG?smart_resize_image=0
I was wondering why this bus had a recent repaint now I know, so thanks for pics, also does anybody know wats happened to 203,208 ( did these get repaired) and 217 ( havent seen for a while) also was there ever a bus with the fleet number 215.
I was looking at that last night but couldn't get the photos, thanks! Really they show what NXWM could do with their Wright Crusaders and how much smarter they could be!
There was never a 215 ...
208 was written off if im not mistaken?
Quote from: Ash on April 09, 2012, 11:12:07 PM
I was wondering why this bus had a recent repaint now I know, so thanks for pics, also does anybody know wats happened to 203,208 ( did these get repaired) and 217 ( havent seen for a while) also was there ever a bus with the fleet number 215.
Never a 215, 217 was in service on the 404 on Saturday
Quote from: Liberator9 on April 10, 2012, 08:33:06 AM
I was looking at that last night but couldn't get the photos, thanks! Really they show what NXWM could do with their Wright Crusaders and how much smarter they could be!
No it doesn't! - These are much newer and don't have a chassis with 15 years of rot on it
Oh of course, they have the rot.
Yeah I agree, even the 314** crusaders are nicer than NXWMs, they make a nice sound, and they're pretty fast
Quote from: Liberator9 on April 10, 2012, 08:33:06 AM
I was looking at that last night but couldn't get the photos, thanks! Really they show what NXWM could do with their Wright Crusaders and how much smarter they could be!
Most of them have been refurbed they could just need to be repainted into black diamond livery and they will look quite new.
Please ,please don't paint anything else into black diamond livery,it already looks like a fleet of hearses.
Can no one think of a bright,cheerful livery,that might encourage people to notice buses?
the way black diamond are going they will all be in arriva green soon
Quote from: richie on April 19, 2012, 10:55:58 AM
the way black diamond are going they will all be in arriva green soon
How do you mean the 'the way black diamond is going' because they have lost contracts doesn't automatically mean the business is not doing well perhaps they want to streamline operations and this also gives them a chance to withdraw older vehicles and decrease their average fleet age, unless you know more information?
I agree, they do stil have some successful routes, do you know anymore? That would be quite interesting
Quote from: Ash on April 19, 2012, 06:25:21 PM
Quote from: richie on April 19, 2012, 10:55:58 AM
the way black diamond are going they will all be in arriva green soon
How do you mean the 'the way black diamond is going' because they have lost contracts doesn't automatically mean the business is not doing well perhaps they want to streamline operations and this also gives them a chance to withdraw older vehicles and decrease their average fleet age, unless you know more information?
Quote from: richie on April 19, 2012, 10:55:58 AM
the way black diamond are going they will all be in arriva green soon
Arriva Green? Blue surely.
Diamond are doing absolutely fine. Rotalas profits are up, there has been investment and rationalisation-remember the lastest losses of work-only 14 buses so hardly much anyway-will not really worry diamond as although arriva got the contracts, they probably make most money on commercial services such as the 56. Yes, I definitely think the diamond business needs to be rationalised-keep unique routes that only they run that are commercial, keep Black Country routes-good, solid performers, keep good competing services in birmingham eg. the 50/16 and scrap useless ones like the 37. Invest on commercial unique routes eg. 56 and signature routes to name just two of many examples and do a bit of tendered work IF AND ONLY IF it can bring in profits.
Shame routes like the 16,301 and 404E couldnt have newer buses on them as there 3 of the most used services for diamond and are seeing buses that are 10-15 years old being used on them especially now the mcv's have gone and even before them the plaxton centro's were used before they went south. But i suppose some of the buses may be getting on some have been refurbed and look quite new externally
It is a shame tho I suspect investment may be coming soon as such things cant have escaped the minds of rotala's management-oh wait-are they all focussed on Your Bus at the moment???!!!
Your bus is nothing to do with Rotala although some vehicles are loaned there some of the management left Rotala to start up your bus but there has been alot of investment in the wessex red brand recently with new wright gemini's and scania omnilinks aswell as new versa's for preston bus.
Your Bus may be nothing to do with Rotala but MANY people have left to it, including the guy responsible for brands at diamond.
And the majority shareholders in both companies come from the same family
Where did they go? I agree, these routes deserve MCVs and hybrids, whereas darts should be used on local routes such as the 446, 417, 410
Quote from: Ash on April 19, 2012, 08:17:37 PM
Shame routes like the 16,301 and 404E couldnt have newer buses on them as there 3 of the most used services for diamond and are seeing buses that are 10-15 years old being used on them especially now the mcv's have gone and even before them the plaxton centro's were used before they went south. But i suppose some of the buses may be getting on some have been refurbed and look quite new externally
All the MCV's got exported to New Zealand, if thats what you was asking and have not been replaced yet as the 16 and 404E still sees older darts.