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West Midlands Buses in Discussion => National Express West Midlands => Topic started by: hartshill busman 724210 on September 25, 2012, 05:07:16 PM

Title: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: hartshill busman 724210 on September 25, 2012, 05:07:16 PM
Won with a Package deal.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: winston on September 25, 2012, 05:11:07 PM
Quote from: hartshill busman on September 25, 2012, 05:07:16 PM
Won with a Package deal.

Any idea which routes that includes? Surprised that they went down that route given what happened with Arriva's recent attempt at bidding for a package of routes 
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Tomjusttom on September 25, 2012, 05:16:08 PM
If I had a list of personal nightmare scenarios, this would be #1 on the list. One is a bunch of muppets who can't do anything right, and the other is a bunch of muppets who can't do anything right unless someone else does it for them (and even then they try hard to negate that help)...Anything but that.

Please! :-)

N.B.: Apologies in advance to Kermit and friends if they are offended by my use of the term "muppets".
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: andy on September 25, 2012, 05:58:57 PM
With respect, this was the rumour that started last time re Arriva, and they ended up with nothing.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Ash on September 25, 2012, 06:10:38 PM
At the moment prior to the sandwell review diamond already operate the 419,478 and 644 out of West Bromwich
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: hartshill busman 724210 on September 25, 2012, 06:36:50 PM
Arriva Did win everything until the package unfolded.Short of something similar happening .........................
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: PM on September 25, 2012, 07:00:30 PM
Well done rotala-anyone got a link yet or is this insider information that isnt official yet?? They can utilise some of the buses that have come off other routes recently then
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Ash on September 25, 2012, 07:11:19 PM
Quote from: Peter123 on September 25, 2012, 07:00:30 PM
Well done rotala-anyone got a link yet or is this insider information that isnt official yet?? They can utilise some of the buses that have come off other routes recently then

I would have thought if it is evening tenders it has won the buses will come off the 401/2/404E and 410 service like they do at the moment be interesting to see what diamond will do with it's current 402 service wonder if it will be extended to Dudley.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: PM on September 25, 2012, 07:13:00 PM
It will be interesting to see what rotala do with their current sandwell buses full stop-will they follow nxwm's lead in extending routes etc or surrender. Probably the former.....
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Ash on September 25, 2012, 07:21:00 PM
Quote from: Peter123 on September 25, 2012, 07:13:00 PM
It will be interesting to see what rotala do with their current sandwell buses full stop-will they follow nxwm's lead in extending routes etc or surrender. Probably the former.....

Yeah i think it will be interesting with the 404 and 417 service im guessing they will operate a 4E service Walsall to West Bromwich but then will they operate a 4H service extending certain journeys from West Brom to Halesowen or operate a total seperate service which would be the same as the exsiting 417 and renumber it the 17 for example.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: sonic84 on September 26, 2012, 08:34:48 PM
It would be a shame for the 417 to not last in some form.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Tony on September 26, 2012, 08:52:41 PM
Quote from: sonic84 on September 26, 2012, 08:34:48 PM
It would be a shame for the 417 to not last in some form.

I believe Rotala are finishing the 417 and running 4M instead
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: sonic84 on September 26, 2012, 09:05:46 PM
Thanks for that Tony.  I wonder whether another operator will step in to cover the Halesowen - Hayley Green section of the 417
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: winston on September 26, 2012, 09:57:42 PM
Quote from: Tony on September 26, 2012, 08:52:41 PM
Quote from: sonic84 on September 26, 2012, 08:34:48 PM
It would be a shame for the 417 to not last in some form.

I believe Rotala are finishing the 417 and running 4M instead

So are NXWM not running the 4M?, or will they be in competition with one another
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: John on September 26, 2012, 10:01:24 PM
Quote from: Winston on September 26, 2012, 09:57:42 PM
So are NXWM not running the 4M?, or will they be in competition with one another

Yes they are as well as Diamond.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: winston on September 26, 2012, 10:03:51 PM
Quote from: John-s-91 on September 26, 2012, 10:01:24 PM
Quote from: Winston on September 26, 2012, 09:57:42 PM
So are NXWM not running the 4M?, or will they be in competition with one another

Yes they are as well as Diamond.

Thanks for that, I would have though that Diamond would be better to retain the Halesowen - Hayley Green loop still though, the number of buses serving Hasbury Estate has dropped drastically since the Dudley review
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: sonic84 on September 26, 2012, 10:21:29 PM
I agree.  ;D  I would be sorry to see another service be cut from the Hayley Green loop.

Although it didn't technically loop  Hayley Green, I always thought it was a brilliant idea when the 636 was extended to Hayley Green just before the Dudley network review came into play. It appeared to carry decent loadings, but I got the impression it was always a temporary measure while the Halesowen bus station was being redeveloped.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Ash on September 26, 2012, 10:37:50 PM
I wonder if diamonds 4H will go from Walsall to Halesowen or start from West Bromwich and then through to Halesowen.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Tony on September 27, 2012, 07:07:05 AM
Quote from: Ash on September 26, 2012, 10:37:50 PM
I wonder if diamonds 4H will go from Walsall to Halesowen or start from West Bromwich and then through to Halesowen.

As far as I know Diamond are not going to do a 4H
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Nathan4775 on September 27, 2012, 09:43:25 AM
Will Diamonds 404 soon to be '4' stay the same (West Bromwich - Walsall) or will there be an extension ?. Then if there is an extention does that mean the 404 and ?? will no longer interwork at Walsall
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: winston on September 27, 2012, 09:55:45 AM
Quote from: Tony on September 27, 2012, 07:07:05 AM
Quote from: Ash on September 26, 2012, 10:37:50 PM
I wonder if diamonds 4H will go from Walsall to Halesowen or start from West Bromwich and then through to Halesowen.

As far as I know Diamond are not going to do a 4H

If Diamond are pulling off the 417/4H altogether, I'm surprised NXWM haven't registered their 4H to continue past Halesowen & around the Hayley Green loop, there are enough people that use it from Halesowen. The only other NXWM route covering that area now but serving different roads is the 244, while Diamond still have the 142
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Nathan4775 on September 27, 2012, 10:57:27 AM
Quote from: Winston on September 27, 2012, 09:55:45 AM
Quote from: Tony on September 27, 2012, 07:07:05 AM
Quote from: Ash on September 26, 2012, 10:37:50 PM
I wonder if diamonds 4H will go from Walsall to Halesowen or start from West Bromwich and then through to Halesowen.

As far as I know Diamond are not going to do a 4H

If Diamond are pulling off the 417/4H altogether, I'm surprised NXWM haven't registered their 4H to continue past Halesowen & around the Hayley Green loop, there are enough people that use it from Halesowen. The only other NXWM route covering that area now but serving different roads is the 244, while Diamond still have the 142

I thought Arriva operated 142 now ? or is that Evening Journeys
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: winston on September 27, 2012, 11:06:27 AM
Quote from: NathanJC on September 27, 2012, 10:57:27 AM
Quote from: Winston on September 27, 2012, 09:55:45 AM
Quote from: Tony on September 27, 2012, 07:07:05 AM
Quote from: Ash on September 26, 2012, 10:37:50 PM
I wonder if diamonds 4H will go from Walsall to Halesowen or start from West Bromwich and then through to Halesowen.

As far as I know Diamond are not going to do a 4H

If Diamond are pulling off the 417/4H altogether, I'm surprised NXWM haven't registered their 4H to continue past Halesowen & around the Hayley Green loop, there are enough people that use it from Halesowen. The only other NXWM route covering that area now but serving different roads is the 244, while Diamond still have the 142

I thought Arriva operated 142 now ? or is that Evening Journeys

142 Mon - Sat daytime is Black Diamond (commercially)
142 Mon - Sat Eves & Sunday is Arriva (tendered)
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Ash on September 27, 2012, 05:49:36 PM
The 417 these days doesnt seem that busy im suprised its's still commercially viable to run the service and it definitely doesnt need the centro's the solo's would have enough capacity.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: winston on October 23, 2012, 10:11:34 PM
Quote from: hartshill busman on September 25, 2012, 05:07:16 PM
Won with a Package deal.

The link  to the information on the Outcome of Tenders Oct 2012 is now available on Centro's website

http://www.centro.org.uk/bus/services.aspx
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: PM on October 24, 2012, 09:08:35 AM
Cheers for posting the link Winston, they really have won loads. Hansons have won something and Arriva havent won anything-hooray ;D
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: winston on October 24, 2012, 10:12:58 AM
Quote from: Peter123 on October 24, 2012, 09:08:35 AM
Cheers for posting the link Winston, they really have won loads. Hansons have won something and Arriva havent won anything-hooray ;D

It seems Rotala have still got a bit of fight left in them..... they did take a bit of a risk bidding for a package of routes bearing in mind what happened with Arriva's package bid thanks to Hansons
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Tony on October 24, 2012, 03:25:18 PM
Diamond are getting £6724 per year for operating the 530 route, the highest bid was £38001. Either someone wanted to make a good profit or Diamond are doing it very cheaply!
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: winston on October 24, 2012, 03:55:56 PM
Quote from: Tony on October 24, 2012, 03:25:18 PM
Diamond are getting 6724 per year for operating the 530 route, the highest bid was 38001. Either someone wanted to make a good profit or Diamond are doing it very cheaply!

If you looks at routes 26A, 54, 19, 33A, 75, 64, 23 & 24 all which Diamond have won there is a massive range between highest & lowest tender bids. They must have offered a significant discount to the package price.
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: andyr on October 24, 2012, 06:39:50 PM
With such a big difference in prices there is little wonder th tat there is a general lack of investment at diamond. The same problems prevail in the coach industry with tour operators squeezing the operators for lower and lower prices. perhapes nx have the correct idea in seeming to be unwilling to get involved in this low price work?
Title: Re: Rotala win sweep up tenders for Sandwell.
Post by: Ash on October 24, 2012, 06:49:19 PM
It will be interesting see what vehicles get used on these tenders by diamond, for me the solo's would be better suited leaving the higher capacity buses for the commerical services. Other parts of the rotala bus group seem to get high investment especially down south with the new wessex red brand and preston bus has quite a modern fleet even if most of the buses were aquired upon takeover, shame some older citaro's couldnt be aquired like travel de courcey seem to be doing but suppose they come at quite a high cost for second hand vehicles.