Topics

Hi Tony,

Not a bug or error as such, but I was wondering if it was now time / if there was any mileage in merging the above two fleetlists together to form one complete Diamond & Flights Hallmark fleetlist or even re-name it Rotala Group?

You could keep the same allocations i.e. Tividale, Long Acre, Kidderminster & Redditch for Diamond & Birmingham, Heathrow & Wessex for Flights Hallmark as at present listed under the respective limited company etc I think it may simplify it and it possibly even save you a bit of time in the long run? as you would only need to change allocations & not move individual vehicles between the two files.

As an example: 20572 is withdrawn in the Flights Hallmark section (as last with Wessex) but photographed in service at Tividale mid October but isn't even showing on the Diamond October fleet changes

20652 is withdrawn if the Flights Hallmark section (as last with Wessex) but will need moving across to Diamond fleetlist as has now moved to KR 

Similarly with the frequency of transfer/exchanges that take place between Wessex & Diamond

What do you or anyone else think?

Does anyone know who who the outfit is?

They have acquired 3 ex Stagecoach Darts SLF/ALX200's from Ensign during October

Darts S929PDD / R935FOO / R823HCD : Discount Travel Solutions, Smethwick, W Mids.

A few pictures from Coach & Bus live if anyone is interested

http://www.flickr.com/photos/km_edinburgh/sets/72157636125684604/

Wrightbus have dropped the Borismaster rear end off the show B5LH/Wright Eclipse Gemini, undecided about the smaller upper deck windows, I wonder if Wrightbus have improved the capacity of the B5LH, as there is an extra window at the rear top deck which is blanked off on earlier examples. No pictures of ADL's restyled E400's yet.....

Few more here....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcbp/sets/72157636119544555/

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/three-seriously-hurt-as-boris-bus-on-wrong-route-causes-pileup-on-first-day-of-service-8834134.html

Although not a West Midlands operator, it may be of interest to some to see the first glimpses of the new fleet of 22 x ADL E400's for First East England's Excel X1, they definitely have a wow factor about them, full marks to First Group!

http://fecx1news.blogspot.co.uk/

It appears Potteries (Newcastle) are set to benefit from the 5 x 07 plate B7TL/Wright Gemini (37156-60) made redundant at Kings Lynn, whilst surprisingly all of the 58 plate B9/Geminis are staying at First East England and are to be split between Lowestoft (X2) & Yarmouth

For non members a post has appeared on the WMBus Yahoo group suggesting that Rotala Plc have agreed to acquire Hansons and the transaction is due to take place at the end of October, don't know whether there is any truth in it?

If true it would certainly boost Rotala's presence in the Dudley/Merry Hill & Stourbridge areas, re-instates the Diamond 004, no doubt would result in consolidation/a frequency reduction on the 226 though, the 318 links in well with the KR & RH operation and all boosts the number of Centro tenders,

All in all, a good fit!

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/local/dundee-bus-driver-sacked-for-gesture-to-spotter-1.129244

Originally Posted by centrebus employee statement
Centrebus Holdings Ltd is a jointly owned company with shareholding split
between Centrebus Ltd (60%) & Arriva plc (40%). Centrebus Holdings owns
the operations at Hinckley, operated under the Centrebus Holdings
O-license, & the operations in Yorkshire (Waterloo, Honley, Elland & Leeds)
operating under the Huddersfield Bus Company, Teamdeck & White Rose Bus Co
O-licenses.

Agreement has been reached for Arriva plc to purchase the shareholding in
Centrebus Holdings owned by Centrebus, thereby taking over 100% control of
all 5 depots & the 4 companies & O-licenses owned by Centrebus Holdings as
going concerns. Hinckley depot is expected to return to the direct control
of Arriva Midlands and all routes, licenses & vehicles based at Hinckley
will transfer as such. The Yorkshire operations are expected to remain as
a separate stand-alone business, managed and operated separately from
Arriva Yorkshire under a different name and probably under a different
livery.

This deal will not affect any other Centrebus business and has no bearing
on the 100% owned Centrebus Ltd operations (Leicester, Grantham, Melton,
Corby, Luton & Stevenage) or the High Peak Buses 50/50 joint venture with
Wellglade.

Have any of the above Mercs actually made it in to the training fleet yet?

All seems to have gone very quiet.....

Announced this morning NXWM & Centro have extending their quality partnership agreement for another 2 years and committed to the following:

- Merry Hill bus station
- Revamp of Dudley Bus Station
- Introducing smart cards
- 300 new buses including 15 x Hybrids (NXC were bidding for Hybrid funding) - 25 of new bus order will be delivered by the end of this year (May be part of orders that we are already aware of)
- 10 new routes

More info at:
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/07/03/bus-services-to-get-80m-boost-with-new-vehicles-and-merry-hill-station/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23159053

Now that's how I remember them on the 19S along Quinton Expressway, happy days  ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PjjPufgF0I&list=FLsDyLkOVF6YXuzp6fFYafNw&feature=mh_lolz

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/06/19/bus-journeys-drop-by-4-million-in-12-months-in-west-midlands/

PD0001111/6 - WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD T/A TRAVEL WEST MIDLANDS, 51 BORDESLEY GREEN, BIRMINGHAM, B9 4BZ

Variation Accepted: Operating between Court Lane and City Centre, Upper Bull Street given service number 7 effective from 21-Jul-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

PD0001111/8 - WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD T/A TRAVEL WEST MIDLANDS, 51 BORDESLEY GREEN, BIRMINGHAM, B9 4BZ

Variation Accepted: Operating between Birmingham, City Centre, Upper Bull Street and Pheasey Church given service number 46 effective from 21-Jul-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

PD0001111/24 - WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD T/A TRAVEL WEST MIDLANDS, 51 BORDESLEY GREEN, BIRMINGHAM, B9 4BZ

Variation Accepted: Operating between Birmingham, City Centre, Colmore Row and Kitwell, Herlech Close given service number 22 effective from 21-Jul-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

PD0001111/105 - WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD T/A TRAVEL WEST MIDLANDS, 51 BORDESLEY GREEN, BIRMINGHAM, B9 4BZ

    Variation Accepted: Operating between Birmingham , Colmore Row and Wolverhampton, Bus Station given service number 126 effective from 20-Jul-2013. To amend Route.

PD0001111/120 - WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD T/A TRAVEL WEST MIDLANDS, 51 BORDESLEY GREEN, BIRMINGHAM, B9 4BZ

    Variation Accepted: Operating between Birmingham, City Centre, New Street and Dudley, Bus Station given service number 87/82 effective from 20-Jul-2013. To amend Route.

PD0001111/132 - WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD T/A TRAVEL WEST MIDLANDS, 51 BORDESLEY GREEN, BIRMINGHAM, B9 4BZ

    Variation Accepted: Operating between Birmingham, Corporation Street and Birmingham, Blackheath Market given service number 88/89 effective from 20-Jul-2013. To amend Route.

PD0001111/700 - WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD T/A TRAVEL WEST MIDLANDS, 51 BORDESLEY GREEN, BIRMINGHAM, B9 4BZ
        Registration Accepted
        Starting Point: Chemsley Wood Interchange
        Finish Point: Chelmsley Wood, Conway Road
        Via:
        Service Number: 100
        Service Type: Limited Stop
        Effective Date: 25-JUL-2013
        Other Details: Daily.

The Kings Ferry will be expanding outside of its traditional Kent operating area with the award of a contract from North Somerset council to provide two new commuter coach services in Bristol & South Gloucestershire from the Autumn requiring 4 coaches

http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/media/allnews.aspx?newsyear=2013&newsitem=895

NXC will not be getting any new Hyrbids in 2014 unless they buy them outright,

The majority of the funding has again gone to London (94 buses - 2 bids) & Manchester (51 buses - 3 bids)

Tony,

Is 1520 a typo? as 1520 is still in service unless withdrawn during May. Should it be 1522 instead?

Big clear out this month.....

Off Topic, but may be of interest to some planning on holidaying in Cornwall,

Western Greyhound has suffered a massive fire at its Summercourt Depot near Newquay and has lost up to 37 buses (a third of its fleet), it appears to be most of its double decker fleet plus some/all of Truro Park & Ride Merc Citaro's plus new various Solo's including some Solo SR's

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Massive-Western-Greyhound-depot-Summercourt-near/story-18970433-detail/story.html#axzz2TAIdxQmX

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-22506806

http://wallys-wanderings.smugmug.com/Buses/NX-West-Midlands-Enviro-E400s/29332481_4MtKDk#!i=2502324000&k=9mck763

Tony,

It think the B12B trainer LK53KWF is/was numbered CO44 not CO77,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidthedogsdad/4704003491/

I've got CO77 as LK53KXA which is now with Linburg ex NX Op's

Also the photo link for FJ13EBL shows a photo of FJ13EBK

I wonder if any other bus company / or parties will put in a complaint/comment to the Oft about the situation in RH?

KR wont be an issue with competition from Whittle's

Any investigation or restrictions imposed could potentially cause Diamond problems,

RNS Number : 6718C
Office of Fair Trading
18 April 2013

Invitation to Comment

Completed acquisition by The Diamond Bus Company Limited of the bus business of FirstGroup plc in Redditch and Kidderminster

The Office of Fair Trading is considering whether this agreement has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

Affected sector: bus services

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest issues to:

Carlos Martínez Rico           
Office of Fair Trading
Fleetbank House
2-6 Salisbury Square
London EC4Y 8JX
Email: carlos.martinez@oft.gsi.gov.uk   
Fax: 020 7211 8916

to arrive by 2 May 2013.