Messages

6877 (23/24) on the 63 today

At least one of the bus stop flags outside of the QE has been evidently secured to the shelter with the wrong edge, no wonder the flags are in this state if the contractors can't perform such a simple task!

4567 seems to have a non-functional front display

Car collided into the back off 5513 at the stop just before the Bristol Road splits into Aston Webb Boulevard, 5513 seems to have only suffered minor damage to its right tail light

Will diamond/banga/Travel Express and other smaller companies have to adhere to the WMB livery

I'm pretty sure all operators will be repainting their fleets to fit the WMB livery. Diamond have already repainted 32307 & 32308, WCT have already repainted SJ70HVX to name a few. Not sure about 'special' services such as the Green Bus however.

Is it Andy Streets dream to have one livery for all like London?

Looks like it is, very similar to London actually in regards to the red and grey colour scheme. https://www.tfwm.org.uk/news/a-brand-for-the-west-midlands-tfwm-reveals-new-public-transport-identity/

16 branded (32318) on the 002 this afternoon

X2 branded - X22

6904 (50) - 18

1933 on the 76 this morning

5514 was being towed by a repair vehicle near the Sainsbury's Northfield petrol station.

5514 was being towed down the Bristol road towards the city centre this afternoon aswell

4448 on the X22 this morning

https://www.diamondbuses.com/west-midlands/bus-services/202/

Does the route map not function properly for anyone else?

6877 (23/24) - X22

I had a look and found the catchment area map.

The routes might be altered./Areas they run to changed.
Ward End, Erdington, Stechford, Yardley, Sutton, Walmley, Bordesley Green etc look to all come under Aston catchment area. So would think 843, 844 and 842 will be able to remain unchanged.
https://www.schoolsofkingedwardvi.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ALLBOYS.jpg

I'm surprised they haven't introduced any services for Bishop Vesey/Sutton Coldfield Girls since they're essentially going to be the only grammars left in Birmingham without a catchment, so there's most likely going to be an influx of students coming from areas just outside of the Birmingham. I presume there's already good enough transport links with it being located just outside the town centre and train station.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the Green Bus now that the catchment admissions system has been introduced for King Edwards schools, since nearly half their services run too and from these schools. I presume they'll start focusing more on public bus services or their bus hire.