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Cross country hit hard with staff shortages at the moment. Believe it's to do with working conditions and walk outs

Does anyone know if a decker is meant to be on the X50? Been a decker on it for the last couple of months but this week has reverted back to b7rle operation. Anyone familiar with Worcester operations able to help out?

Any idea if the 2 deckers should be on the 247 this week? @Simon Dunn

What's the range on these vehicles? How long can they do in service?

6780 wasn't tracking on the x8 today.

I'm guessing there's an issue with the trains as the X21 and X22 are getting absolutely battered. Just seen an X22 just leave passengers at Uni North Gate and an X21 arrive at Uni Station towards City already full with a massive queue waiting not long after that. Not seen that many people at the Uni Station stop in quite some time.

My 63 from uni was absolutely rammed at 3:00. Covid infestation on board

Johnson's have a new MMC 71 plate I believe. On the 150B according to bus times

32308 on 4H with no working destination blinds.

Currently on 6780 on X8 not tracking. Unsure if mentioned before.

This Wednesday I believe

That's good to hear. Thanks for the info

Yeah it's been on diversion for a few weeks

I believe these roadworks should have finished a week ago at least. Not sure when they will actually be finished

You are talking complete rubbish. ' Expensive' Train fares are set by the Government nothing to do with a monopoly. And how can they be a monopoly anyway. If I want to go to London I have choice of 3 operators all offering cheap fares.

I was more referring to cross country fares, which as you said the other day were ludicrous prices. Take Birmingham to Nottingham for example. You chose an example of the biggest city and second biggest city in the UK, of course there's going to be a little more choice!!

No, he was not involved

Brilliant 😂

What consequences are you referring to? There's several towns across the UK where one operator has 100% of the services.

Limited competition is never a good thing. Take the 94 route for example. Customers would have to rely on solely nx. It would be unlikely that they would increase frequencies and instead are more likely to reduce frequency as they know they have the monopoly of the route. Look how expensive train fares are because they essentially are run as monopoly as well. There would have to be some tough regulations to stop these bus companies making supernormal profits by over charging for fares. Then there's the question about tenders. Would these monopoly operators run tendered routes as well as commercial routes for the whole of the West Midlands. I very much are pro-competition and believe that there are better ways of solving issues like this than putting everything under one umbrella. Look at Johnson's successful business for example, why should those operators who are able to make a success of things be forced out the market?

You simply can't compare the likes of those guys running plain blue buses on the 11C with a quality independent  operator like Johnson's.

As a question for you @Tony doesn't Birmingham have one of the lowest fares in the countries for bus fares? How does this compare with places in the country where there is a monopoly operator?

I presume you are aware of the consequences that a monopoly brings? Believe me it would not be good at all for the consumer if we had a one company run everything policy. More government support should have been offered to the bus industry, but I also think some operators have been slow to adapt to the changes required of them.