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Minimum vehicle requirements would be part of the ep & would not be an issue for any reputable operator.
Yes there used to be a selection of operators that did not add any real value to the network but there were a lot that did & that's what we need a more even market share of operators that are willing to add real value to the network, something that with current arrangements is hard to see happening.

Birmingham Coach Pete's Travel Serverse Travel Hansons Zaks coaches. All had their own routes that added to the network. Yes there was overlap but it gave passengers the choice

This highlights the problem of having 1 or an extremely dominant operator. The heyday of the west Midlands was when you had a much larger selection of operators who between them had quite a large market share.

3 operators operating Birmingham International - Business Park on that at present it seems all with their own different tickets/passes NXWM as X12, Diamond and Claribels. Not sure how it benefits passengers, having to wait for a specific operator.

The Sutton trips that claribels run are tendered services I imagine, as they were ran by Diamond/Central Buses before.

Pre covid the X12 was not there & with passenger numbers both Claribels and Diamond buses would run with full loads so yes that benefitted the passengers as they had little time to wait for the next bus. Since 98% had network passes with the other 2% single fares then ticketing was not a problem with both operators making profit. That's really where we need to be across the network

Would the 75 002 530 etc exist if there were only one operator. There are a whole host of services that could exist & be commercially viable if you remove some of the barriers around ticketing for example. Over the course of deregulation some of the so called "smaller" operators have come up with some very inventive routes which has added to the network. That has been lost recently due to the market dominance of one operator & the dominance of their own ticketing products. If these issues can be resolved then I see no reason why we can't go back to that era.

Operators & LTAs need to rebuild their networks & with the wealth of knowledge via the many different operators we have in the west Midlands is it not better to do it together

I don't totally get from a passenger's point of view how your proposals would benefit/address such items as services outside of core periods (such as evenings and early mornings, which key workers rely on), changing to zero emissions, and providing a full service coverage without increase in LA subsidy - I can see how changes may benefit some smaller companies but would that benefit the service provided across the board?

You forget that a number of routes currently operating with nxwm on evenings & sundays have previously been operated by other operators on a commercial basis.

X70 previously 590 was opened by servers travel in the evenings until twm put on a competing service.

Service 71 actually had 2 other operators competing on a sunday ampm & diamond & then later sunny travel until nxwm added a competing service.

The barrier to entry on evenings & sundays is lower passenger levels & competition would only dilute passenger numbers further.
Remove this barrier & reform nbus & ticketing  & I can see no reason why other operators would not operate evening & sundays if it were commercially viable.

Indeed with lower operating costs you may find more operators other than nxwm operating a variety of services at any time of day or night

I meant all operators should have an equal say in how e.p & network move forward & how QAs are formed  At present one operator has such a dominant position that their needs and requirements are put first potentially to the detriment of others.

Take the failure of the current partnership routes

Having only one commercial operator would break CMA rules cant just do that in a commercialised economy as ours. Lots of smaller operators do bring value to the network I.e I.e Claribels & diamond 75 services banga 530 service diamond 002 service.


I am not averse to franchising the network as any potential profit risks for operators would be underwritten by the franchise agreements. This could lead to a whole wealth of opportunities for different cohorts of society. Cant see tfwm having the funding to do this.

The best way is via the e.p however the LTAs & operators have to work in "partnership" to do this & must treat ALL operators equally.

Diamond saver tickets are now cheaper

It is maybe worth pointing out that as we are both bus alliance members myself and Simon have spoken on this subject at great length. I am aware of the reasons for his decision to withdraw from the partnership routes and fully agree with those reasons. In fact it's hard to see how any other operator would join a partnership route with the current arrangements.
The National bus strategy calls for LTAs & operators to work together on BSIP proposals however they must be reasonable proposals for both the LTA & operators.
Simon has set out his position I do not see anything in his proposals to reform current QA arrangements which are unreasonable.

Very strange would have thought ticket agreements like this would be good for passengers on routes

It has to make business sense for the operators as well.

One thing to note on the route number is the recharge factor.
Tfwm add a charge for changing the flags if the service numbers change & on a route like the 11A/C this charge would be quite considerable. Since it's only temporary it makes financial sense to NOT change the number

It has @Tony went a week last Wednesday

Theres an overlap.
See it this way 11n 2 sections
Section 1. Bus leaves Acocks green as an 11A running through Yardley Fox & goose Erdington to Perry Barr. It then turns around & does the 11C back to Acocks green.
Meanwhile Another 11A does section 2
It leaves Erdington through Perry barr harborne cotteridge & kings heath to Acocks green. It the turns round & does the 11C back to Erdington.
This gives a terminus point & more important layover recovery time for the buses which should improve reliability

Despite (at the time).Claribels having much older vehicles a lot of passengers chose Claribels because they were much quicker than travel West Midlands & @Bob with all the works going on around the Walsall Rd Perry barr great barr etc the X51 has the potential to lose reliability.
It's going to be interesting