Messages

We had a 64 plate batch of Midi Streetlites then 65 plate full size, along with a few StreetDecks. It's good to hear later vehicles were better but I'm guessing these 13 plate ones still have some of the flaws mentioned. Hopefully they have had adaptations made to them though so they are better than they were.

The seats on the First spec Streetlites of that era (https://flic.kr/p/RYGvHq) are the same as Diamonds standard specification on new vehicles, so they shouldn't be any different to Streetlites that Diamond's passengers are already accustomed to, other than having a pink grab handles inside.

I can't see there being any modifications though. At most, maybe First have remapped the Gearbox to behave in a more smooth manner (as certain Arriva ops have done).

After about 6 months of usage the rattles started, they were sluggish pulling off from junctions (like Streetdecks), poor turning circles for the size of the bus, even the MIDI version, and passengers often complained about the seats being cramped and very uncomfortable (obviously other operators may have chosen better seating on their vehicles but the First ones weren't great), the vibrations when stopped with the handbrake on and poor heating.

I know the engineers like them as they were fairly easy to maintain and had decent fuel economy but I can't see these vehicles really improving the passenger experience over what Diamond already operate.

E200s are far better.

I disagree with E200s being far better from a drivers point of view.

Bar the gearbox, I find early Streetlites better than E200s to drive. The cab is slightly bigger on Streetlites legroom wise and at higher speed, when you eventually get there, are far more stable compared to every single E200 I've driven. E200s have always had rubbish steering.

ERZ2028 / GN14LPL when performing as they should were better to drive than the ex Central Buses E200s when they first arrived at Diamond IMO. 

The MMCs though are in a different league when coupled with the Allison gearbox.

Passenger point of view wise; yes I agree that E200s rattle less. It was usually the Emergency Exit rattling on Streetlites that was an issue.

I'm not sure which generation of Streetlite Midi you drove, but the Micro Hybrid versions from around 2015 did have a slightly better turning circle.

I hope these buses have had some improvements made to them since they were new - they were awful to drive and I feel very sorry for passengers having to use them if they haven't had adaptations made.

Centros, B7s and Darts are far superior but obviously not Eiro 6 sadly.

What were the issues with these vehicles when new; from both a passenger and drivers point of view?

Are these the same batch of vehicles that appear to be travelling long distances around the country to places like Lincoln / Oxford etc doing Rail Replacement work and working for Guru Travel?

Maintenance seems well enough to be able to cope with these distances on a regular basis...

As I was saying, NX Group shareprice still continuing its decent to new multiyear lows, now 94p (£577 million Mkcap)

Topped up at 96.05p, a few hours earlier!

Typically inept response! Like to tell me what all these commercially run routes by smaller companies are? GO AHEAD ...

And before you start quoting Banga routes and similar, READ what I wrote - I said they 'mostly operate contracted services' which they do.

I will wait for your long list of West Midlands commercial routes run by companies other than those I mentioned (NXWM/Rotala/Stagecoach/Arriva).

?????????????

All WMCA contracted services are on a net subsidy basis - in other words, the operator keeps all revenue regardless if it's NX, Rotala, Kevs or LandFlight.

So what you posted is nonsense, which I know is standard from you but some members of the forum who aren't as informed might mistake your usual propaganda as factual. I'll quote below:

these smaller companies mostly operate contracted services for Centro where the company doesn't keep the money so it doesn't matter what you mention for them.

If you take out NXWM, Rotala, Stagecoach and Arriva from the West Mids operating territory then there are very few commercially operated services by other companies - these smaller companies mostly operate contracted services for Centro where the company doesn't keep the money so it doesn't matter what you mention for them.

Also, clearly the companies involved will have costed this out to make it worthwhile for them otherwise they wouldn't be doing this in the first place.

Wrong. As usual.

The Group name change hasn't done anything for the shareprice, now at a new 3 year low circa 98p (£601 million Mkcap).

Good time to top up. No?

Interesting route. Looks like the old 24/28A/93 is coming back.

There's also a version that from Heartlands proceeds to Yardley Swan instead of Small Heath ASDA.

Does this 25 have anything to do with the Hodge Hill to Erdington 25?
Or just a confusing number duplication?

Yes. The route appears to be extended and rerouted in some sections. Route description below, although there's a few different variants proposed so may be changed depending on bids/cost etc.

'From ASDA Small Heath (stop TBD): Heybarnes Road, Hob Moor Road, Yardley Green Road, Belchers Lane, Bordesley Green East, Stuarts Road, Albert Road, Frederick Road, Victoria Road, Station Road, Stetchford Lane, Bromford Lane, Brockhurst Road, Madison Avenue, Ventnor Avenue, Bromford Road, Collingbourne Avenue, Chipperfield Road, Bromford Drive, Bromford Road,  Bromford Lane, Fort Parkway, Fort Shopping Centre Internal Roads, Fort Parkway, Tangmere Drive, Yatesbury Avenue, Manby Road, Park Lane, Farnborough Road to Tangmere Drive (Farnborough Road Bus Stop).'

That's probably the funniest thing I've read this week. I take it you've never actually used any of Stagecoach's services in Birmingham?

Funnily enough a chunk of tenders have gone out today, including Diamond's 002/45/96, a new 25 service between Small Heath & Castle Vale & Landflight's A7/A8/A10, amongst other smaller services around the Black Country & Coventry. 

All to commence in October.

Will we see Stagecoach grab a larger share of the local tender market..?

As I said, get signed off on as many routes as you can. You can even mention to your DTO the routes you know. I did that at AG and was told just to spend a trip on each route rather than full days. They will only justify spending the expense of having you route training for a certain amount of days so get signed off on as much as you can.

It doesn't matter about rotas etc as there'll always be days where certain other drivers only know certain routes which will give the company flexibility to move you around as and when. There'll also be a greater variety of overtime opportunities for you, even if you spend the majority of time on one or two services.

Hi, I've just applied to work for BC garage, as a new driver do you get to choose what routes you'd prefer to do? Or is that chosen for you.

Before you start driving on your own, get signed off on as many routes as possible. When I was at AG, I was usually on the 11 but was signed off on all other routes bar the 71/72/966 at the time. It meant I drove a variety of services.

New ADL E200MMC's currently on order in TfGM Bee Network Livery for the 7 small franchises are as follows:

25 x 9.7m (27 Seaters) - numbered 20600-20624
35 x 11.8m (37 Seaters) - numbered 30650-30684

These are due for delivery during Jan 2024

Are these dual door?

Speaking of route withdrawals, the old rumour about the 73 seems to have been reignited. NX drivers seem convinced that it's getting binned.