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Digbeth is getting the metro, 1795 has cameras looking at the condition of the road I believe.

Ok. When will that be finished then?

Returned to Brum for the first time in 3 years (by the way, what's going on in Digbeth? Looks virtually unrecognisable now?) And I noticed that 1795 has a weird camera thingy on the rear. Anyone know what it is?

I suppose they've had more time to plan with Claribels than with Igo.

True.. igo going into administration was a big shock to me

Just seen the changes to the routes. It seems like pretty much all their routes have been joined up (or nerfed even) with existing services with the exception of the 94,S16 and 600. Kind of weird considering when igo went bust their routes were just passed around with other operators. Will miss Claribels though and does make Birmingham a slightly more smaller pool now with operators.

Luxury on 150 https://flic.kr/p/2n4ezgp

That's a first for me. A coach on a bus service

what's the difference i still don't know

Voith MMCs have a "thrash" sound when moving off and has a different sound when setting down.
For a better example, go on the 50 platinums and then switch to the 11A/C MMCs. You'll notice dome thing different.

A long overdue question for me but what E400 MMCs are Voith and which ones are ZF?

Wonder what the worst route from Birmingham Garages PB/BC/AG/YW is for unreliability?
I was on 7022 on 8A from Sparkbrook this afternoon, there were 2 other omnilinks in front one with full standing load 7023, 7028, 7022. And also passed 3 Omnilinks together on 8C on Ash Road in Alum Rock area, the front one 1810 with a full standing load.
I guess 8 must be bad with lots of inner city trafffic. As lots of traffic on Ash Road and Golden Hillock Road in Small Heath for instance.

Also 1811 was on the 94 in Ward End.

Whenever I went to college m, I'd take the 17 (Tile Cross-Birmingham). So unreliable and always full. It's a shame it can't be made double decked because of the low bridges in Tile Cross. If they were enough double deckers, I would swap the 17 and 72 between Garretts Green and Tile Cross and convert the 72 back to single decks.

Why would there be when it is a NRM route?

I remember reading something that there was a possibility that the 148 could get electrics when it got retendered. Probably was just some stupid rumour.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Route             Current Operator           New Operator          PVR          Vehicles
148(24hr)       London United               London United         17         Existing New Routemaster
415                 Abellio London                Abellio London          9          Existing New Routemaster
432                London General            Arriva London South  12         Existing Hybrid Double Deck
549           Stagecoach East London    Sullivan Buses            1         Existing Diesel Single Decker
U5               Abellio West London      Abellio West London    11       New Electric Double Deck *

All diesel and hybrid vehicles detailed above will meet Euro VI emissions standards.

* Certain journeys will be operated by Euro VI hybrid double decks.

The above contracts will commence on the following dates:

2nd October 2021: Route 148.
5th March 2022: Route 415.
12th March 2022: Route 549.
19th March 2022: Route U5.
2nd April 2022: Route 432.

Looks like there isn't going to be any electrics for the 148.

Regarding single deckers I think the problem is the route which they was originally intended for then later converted to double deck. Some examples

AG 72 E200 in 2015 converted to Double deck June 2017

BC 21xx for 98 29 X64 then cascaded to Walsall/Wolverhampton

PB 16 65 934 in 2007/2008 later converted back to Double Deck.

YW 6 Scania in 2010 double deck by 2019.

The 6 should never have been single deck in my opinion considering how packed it was the second most frequent service on the Stratford Road corridor.
The 72 (I'm pretty sure) got a PVR upgrade in the latest East Birmingham consultation which allowed it to get double decked although it was a bit saddening to see that either the 71 or the 72 couldn't use the MMC's that were brought especially for them

Some of you may prefer not to watch this video on facebook

Link doesn't work.

A quad bike tipped over on the Washwood Heath Road in Ward End earlier this afternoon. By the Foley Road bus stop (towards City Centre).

I got on 4908 on the 55 at the 28 'The Ward End' bus stop on the Alum Rock Road and it went down the Alum Rock Road, right onto Sladefield Road and left back onto the Washwood Heath Road. There was also a 55 coming up the Alum Rock Road in the other direction towards Fox & Goose.

They seem to be using Bromford Lane and Drews Lane now. Traffic is non moving. Also large queue of passengers on the stand in the City Centre, so the Ward End 55/94 and 11 are probably disrupted this afternoon.

I think quite a serious accident. As heard someone lifted the head up and could see the skull. And air ambulance landing nearby.

There was also 3 NXWM buses stuck behind the police tape, including 4809 & 4911.

Hope the person will be ok. And starts wearing a helmet after this

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/news/final-weld-completed-on-westside-metro-extension/
Final weld put into the extension. Well on track to opening this year. Will be interesting to see how the tram and traffic will be at the underpass

I see that Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester is railroading ahead with his Bus Franchising.

I sincerely, hope that this doesn't means the end of Diamond in the Manchester area.

Why would it?