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VIP have a decker out on the S1 today; T804 RFG

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62291103@N08/8716004510/in/photostream

2123 at AG on the 71

30923 on the 82

Picture to follow

Quite intersting to hear the passengers reactions to the bus 'this is a posh bus' although they usually have mercs with leather seats!

30923 on the 82

I thought the 71 was from tividale as there was a black diamond dart on it the other night

I'm sure its ran from Long Acre, one of the drivers I know sometimes drives it and he's based at Long Acre.

The enviro200, (30929, KX07 OOW) seems to be at Long Acre - Out on the 71 this evening.   

2168 at Heysham Docks with a NXC logo above the offside drivers window, I assume it has been applied there to allow for branding? But its a coloured version rather than white

http://malsfotofile.smugmug.com/HeyshamDocks/National-Express/28049117_Z6mq8w#!i=2456209358&k=46gz4Vb

Also the position of the fleet number on the front is different

I would like to see Silverline and Johnsons get them.  Central buses would be good but I think it would be better to have a more local depot working the routes in case buses break down etc.  It'll be interesting if the S2 and S3 interwork again; at the moment one bus every hour changes from an S2 to an S3 at Dorridge, meaning that trips can be made to Knowle, via Bentley Heath. If the new system goes ahead, I'll be interested to see how this works. Be a shame actually to see Rotala go, some of the drivers have been excellent although the Optares have been a right nuisance in terms of reliability.

According to the proposed list the S3 and S4 will inter work in Dorridge and the 82 and 88 will inter work in Solihull

Central Buses' S3 may cause problems due to it being different to the proposed 'new' S3. The 82/S2 seem to be pretty much then same, apart from the S2 terminating in Solihull Station

[tendered]

What's actually happening to the S2 and S3 services? I heard on the radio that Network West Midlands are running on them which I find hard to believe. I'm hoping the Optares go; not the most reliable buses ever built.

The tender is up for renewal this summer. Whoever it is that wins, it won't be 'network west midlands' ;-)

Centro put out a questionnaire about the services and are looking at making some changes in June. Central Buses have registered the 82 and the S2/3 Solihull - Dorridge/Hockley Heath, which may be commercial - The NWM facebook confirmed the 82 was a commercial registration

Nope again. As per my earlier reply to your same statement on another thread, the 82 is tendered.

The 82 is tendered at the moment and may still be some tendered journeys in June. However on the NWM facebook the wrote: 
"I can confirm that the contract to operate Service 82 is due for renewal in June. All operators have been invited to submit a bid under our competitive tendering process and these have all been received. We are aware that Central Buses have registered a number of journeys on this route to operate commercially (without asking for any subsidy). However, we are still negotiating with all operators who have submitted a bid and further details will be available next month, once these discussions have been completed"

Thanks; can see the changes here , look some interesting new routes being developed. I assume Central buses are the red Central buses?

Yes, but looking at those changes Central Buses route are going to confuse the passengers with 2 S3s and 2 S2s

Also with some of the signature services being lost by rotala later this year it will release some of the newer solo's, versa's and citaro's to be used hopefully going to Tividale.

What's actually happening to the S2 and S3 services? I heard on the radio that Network West Midlands are running on them which I find hard to believe. I'm hoping the Optares go; not the most reliable buses ever built.

Centro put out a questionnaire about the services and are looking at making some changes in June. Central Buses have registered the 82 and the S2/3 Solihull - Dorridge/Hockley Heath, which may be commercial - The NWM facebook confirmed the 82 was a commercial registration

sorry abit of topic here but 3 new branded 97's were in service today photos later

I saw 5 - 4455/7/8 and another 2

Any photo of the dart & is it in fleet livery

Here it is still in Paragon livery
http://wmbusphotos.com/OtherWMops/Yardley/P902CTO.html

They have another i think - P903 CTO

I am fairly certain P903 CTO was scrapped when it left Trent in 2010. P908 CTO has also been scrapped, not sure which others of this batch are available

I could be wrong, I only got a quick look going past on the bus. Im sure there were 2 darts there though in a similar livery

Any photo of the dart & is it in fleet livery

Here it is still in Paragon livery
http://wmbusphotos.com/OtherWMops/Yardley/P902CTO.html

They have another i think - P903 CTO