Messages

2141 on the 73 and 2142 on the 72 today.

MW, It was not me taking photos in Solihull yesterday. I made my observations on Sunny waiting for the 73 to go back home. A Sunny bus arrived at the stop 12 minutes before the booked time and was still there when my 73 arrived. Previous Sunny's had left early.

NA52AXN is now a regular on the 71E. It carries the fleet number 08 but I couldn't see any sign of the legal ownership. They are still hogging the stops in Solihull.

When will they ever learn? Passengers in this country do not like having to stand up. An article in this months Buses is about the return of double deckers to Swansea. An article in the technical press about BRT-Glider in Belfast claims the bendies will carry 105 passengers, which is more than a double decker, but in reality how many more will they carry than a 70-80 seat decker. I suggest people willl wait for the next one rather than stand up. The successful bendie operations in this country were the Red Arrow services in London and the various student services still operating. I have travelled on very heavily loaded bendies in Oslo and Stockholm so they do work effectively there. I also think that our crowded roads are against the operation of bendies here, whereas in some of the other cities of the world there are wide boulevards giving the opportunities for bus lanes, without having torestrict other traffic severely. I do, however like the bendies and still hope to get over to Coventry again before they finally go.

The latest fleetlist on the Green Bus website makes interesting reading. Where have all the ex NXWM Volvos gone?

Is there going to be a last running day for the bendies? I would like to take a last ride on them.

Discount NA52AXN was on the 71E this afternoon.

2127 is on the 73 today.

I haven't seen Sunny 107 in use since Solihull went euro3 at the end of November.

I think 22nd July will be an interesting date. Solihull will then require buses to be euro4. Sunny, Social and RKT may have problems and Diamond will have to be careful what they use on the 30. AG and YW will need to have updated some of their old vehicles or have some replacements although NXWM always seem to have things planned well ahead.
If they are to have more new vehicles will they have the so far untried new technology.

It may be necessary to clear Pensnett of withdrawn vehicles if they need to set up charging points for the electric buses for the 120.

I read on facebook that Chris had died. I called at his flat this afternoon and his neighbours confirmed the news. I have got no information of what happened or funeral arrangements. I have been contacting Chris regularly over the last few years by phone as he found it increasingly difficult to get out. Chris has been a bus enthusiast for most of his life, I gather from conversations with him.    R.I.P Chris.

If the new hybrid is new technology will one be converted first to iron out any problems? I would not think 38 prototypes would be a good idea. Mercedes have just introduced something similar on the Citaro.

5517 on the 889.

2234 on the 73 and 2238 on the 58.