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Because we are a nation of snobs, we dont want to stand when we can sit down  :o
Which makes it chaos for bus companies as some routes would be cheaper with 1 bendi than a midi and full single because a dd cant get under any low bridges.

ok so why have a single every 10 mins when you can have a bendy every 30 mins & cram aload of standing passengers on  :o

Probably a more profitable venture, than buying the Kidderminster and Redditch operations off First!  ::)

Now what gives you that idea  ;D 8) 8)

[using FTR type vehicles]

I'm surprised Coventry's bendibuses haven't been moved to Birmingham with Centros keenness to develop the metro with Bus Rapid Transit routes using FTR type vehicles. 

dont know why,Firsts FTR were a failure & the latest "hyperlink" (using same buses) is going the same way

I wonder what has caused the 146 to become a shadow of its former self.

At one point First were operating it every 20 minutes between Redditch and Birmingham, and it had a healthy peak and evening service too.

Over the years it just seems to have dwindled to a gesture really.  I'm sure it can't be too long before its gone all together.

The Train?

Rotala are also advertising 10 x presidents for sale in this week's route one magazine and preston only have ablout 6 suggesting that rotala are selling some ex yourbus presidents.

im surprised rotala arnt keeping them for ex-firstbus work

I dont think the Potteries have received any new buses since 2006, and even the latest purchases are crappy 06/07 plate Solos and 2003 darts transferred in. Pretty poor isnt it

There are quite a few First subsidiaries in the same boat....... which is why the Group is in such a mess that coupled with high fares

Yes, very noticable was Stagecoach's plan to get Wigan sorted out was to put in a large batch of new vehicles and reduce fares! Seems Mr Souter's team reckon the same thing

It appears to be First Group that are the only ones not to have cottoned on across the board yet, everyone else can see it.....

First have had increased passenger numbers in Sheffield with the introduction of newer cascaded double deckers from Leeds and by slashing fares.... haven't seen any reports following the Oldham fare reductions if it has had any positive effect on passenger numbers etc

to be fare,most places in oldham havent got a choice of bus operater so it probs wont effect passenger numbers that much

Maybe scania can offer some omnilinks going cheap to provide work for their plant in Poland where loads of employees are being made redundant. Its possible tho it could be enviro400s or mcv bodied b7rles but I for one cant wait to find out

Just can't see NXWM buying MCV, MCV are not typically a supplier of bigger group orders.

Wasnt the whole point of MCV Teaming up with Volvo was so it had a better change of getting big group orders,Could be the new streetlite MAX,same seats as an eclipse but cheaper to run/purchase

I Like That Theyve kept coventry as its own identity against the rest of west midlands.Would it make any difference if they did,because theres already tickets usable for both brands plus i carnt see it affecting fares.Only difference would be it might make things easier to transfer

Staff going over to Ballymena next tuesday to PDI WN's Volvo B5LH. 9 to come.

Will they be in that new Green livery any ideas?

Im guessing there in the same livery as previous hybrids

[A]

confirmed to me last Saturday by a high up person at centro is that the 97 will run every 30 minutes to the airport and linking with the 966 will operate every 15 minutes chelmsley wood to airport. The nec and airport are also going to help fund the service for 3 years and it will also be running 24 hours a day (at last).
The idea is to give a transport link to the airport for people to travel for jobs.

I personally think its fantastic and so very glad we are going to have 24 hour bus route again and apparently other routes to the airport are being looked at going 24 hour

I don't suppose they told you when this would be officially announced then?

Presumably there will be 'fill-in' 97E journeys to Chelmsley Wood only, to maintain the current frequency, and that 97A journeys would be unaffected?

(actually would it not make sense to renumber the journeys to the airport as 97A?  ::))

or A97 For trips to Aiport,97 To Helmswood Dr,97A To Bluebell Dr & 97E For Short Trips

The raised up seat toward the back whats that all about? i liked sound they made tho propa beefy lol

if you mean the single seat higher than the rest,its something to do with the exhaust

And with regards to frequency, it says in that document the current frequencies of the buses that go there don't encourage bus travel to the airport, and a more frequent link is needed. So making it every 20 or 30 minutes would surely defeat the object of extending it in the first place, as it won't be a frequent link.

This is the one thing that has always intrigued me, most major city airports I can think of have regular bus services to various nearby places, and what what ive seen at least in Manchester and Liverpool those bus services are very well used. And yet Birmingham airport only has a handful of not very frequent routes, even more surprising to me considering the NEC is there aswell. Was the 58 ever a frequent route all the way to the airport?

well around here,Leeds Bradford Airport isnt very well connected when you think about it,Theres 2 buses an hour to bradford (via different routes) Every 30 Mins To Leeds,Every 60 Mins To Harrogate,Every 30 Mins To Otley & Menston.

Anyway,ive done a timetable for the 97 if they did every 8 Mins to Chelmsley Wood then 20 onto the airport but it does give Helmswood Dr a 17/15/8/20 Frequency but maybe if its profitable enough add extra Helmswood Dr - Pine Sq Shorts using 1 extra bus

I would keep the 8 minute frequency between B'Ham & C'Wood then every 20 minutes to the airport, because with service 966 that would make an every 10 minute frequency to an From Birmingham Airport  :D

but isnt the 966 Every 30 Mins not 20?

also to get 8 mins with 20 min extention - do something arriva shires does & mess around with the layover times at chelmsley wood to give a 20 min service to airport

I'd have to agree. Look at it from the company's point of view - why fork out loads of money putting brand new buses in areas where they regularly do get vandalised. I used to moan about the run down Tridents on the 14, until I actually thought about it and realised why send a brand new sparkly double decker down Alum Rock Road?  :P

Surely it doesn't take much to put a vehicle through the washer.

if the weathers too cold,some washers freezes over,meaning if a bus uses the water,it freezes up,bus carnt go out,they have to use other buses (IE older memebers of the fleet not normally out/smaller buses) then people have a good moan about that

plus a bus can get filthy within a hour so have you got any proof they havent been washed for weeks?

I'd have thought it probably gets to Coleshill Heath Road like it already does at the moment, and instead of going left to the terminus it would go right straight down to the Airport following the 966. Seems the most logical option. But will it take the 97 route through Helmswood Drive or the 97A route through Bluebell Drive?

And with regards to frequency, it says in that document the current frequencies of the buses that go there don't encourage bus travel to the airport, and a more frequent link is needed. So making it every 20 or 30 minutes would surely defeat the object of extending it in the first place, as it won't be a frequent link.

I Would call 20 mins frequent & alongside 966 it would make a 10/15 Min Headway from Chelmsley Wood