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Hi Simon

Hope its OK to ask this question. I see from your comments re Electric buses for Burton that " this commitment means that we have also invested in new infrastructure at our Burton depot to support the operation of electric buses moving forward."

Successful bid delivers more green buses - Staffordshire County Council Newsroom

Does that mean Burton will have an electric substation or equivalent that allows for future electric buses to arrive without the need for further work on the local grid. i.e that Burton would have the potential to go full (or more) electric without any further grid upgrades? I ask in the assumption that any further upgrades to the power supply could add extra delay and expense whenever it was to happen.

Looks like Chiltern are (almost) repeating what they did for the Birmingham final on the Aston Villa semi final day.  Matters more to me this time as I'm attending the match. My mates have already decided it's the car for them to London outskirts.  I'm still favouring the train though.

Noted the broken down bus whilst in Bewdley Town Centre this afternoon. Think it was 32337. Looking at Bus Times, very impressive that a replacement went on to cover its service super quick.  Mechanic was pouring something into it last time I passed it. 

https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/vertutrophy

If they are doing what is suggested (at least hinted at) dedicating all available rolling stock to run longer units between Warwick Parkway and London, it could be argued to be the best use of very limited resources.  (Trains can be rammed after a Wembley match as it is). Especially with free parking at Warwick Parkway, Leamington and Banbury. 

Trains should be able to cross tracks pretty easy near Warwick Parkway so no need to run empty for long distances. 

A pain for so many other people though.  Be good if for people like Gareth if ticket acceptance on Avanti on Sunday was allowed due to the lack of a service but that's asking too much I guess.  Re the timings, the suggestion is fans will be setting of and returning at different times.

Not sure you can compare small towns like Leamington and Northampton (which have always been dumping grounds anyway) to the bus operation serving the second biggest City in the country.

There aren't many (if any?) large PTE areas with buses over 20 years old running round, make of that what you will.

Perhaps not but many of the large operators have really old fleet members hanging around.  Go Ahead in Plymouth, Swindon and Colchester, I could go on. First Kernow and Essex etc.  Stagecoach and Transdev etc all have plenty of older buses in service too.
NX probably no worse than any of them but it is an operation concentrated in one area, a PTE area.  

Metrobus seem to be able to get their Hydrogen buses out regularly. It appears they are in daily use as a diesel or electric bus would be.

https://bustimes.org/operators/metrobus/vehicles

Are they taking all the available fuel from Tyseley or are they sourcing from elsewhere?  They also seem to be ordering more... albeit not many compared to Electric purchases. NX seem to take a different view.

https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-agrees-1200-zero-emission-bus-deal-with-wrightbus/

Obviously something different for Go Ahead compared to NX and Arriva/Stagecoach in Merseyside.  I doubt it's simply a willingness to take a more proactive approach. Or just as likely, I'm missing something obvious. 

Really interesting set of changes in April. As per the latest info on the Diamond website.  The 1 in intriguing showing a big gap in the morning peak.

https://www.diamondbuses.com/media/5836/1-timetable-200425.pdf

Every 30 minutes except when a "9-5 worker" needs it.  Arrivals into Kidderminster 07:47 and then 09:07.  Is this because there is an alternative service in that slot, an error or just simply because the priority is elsewhere - I.e. schools and not standard office/retail workers.

In the evening a gap from 14:45 to 16:00 from Kidderminster.  For those working in the bus sector these gaps probably makes perfect sense, from an office/ retail workers perspective, it makes the car an inevitable option. But maybe they are not the target market. 

While staying in Fairbourne last week, I had the opportunity to take a ride on the G21 bus service to Tywyn and back.
https://bustimes.org/services/g21-dolgellau-machynllaeth-via-fairbourne-aberdyfi#map

It didn't disappoint either! Some breathtaking scenery between Fairbourne and Llangelynnin with the sea on one side and mountains on the other, and then plenty of rolling countryside on the way into Tywyn.

A highly recommended bus route if only to see a mid-sized Enviro200 MMC being put through its paces, as well as an 'unusual' u-turn the bus has to make to turn around at Llanegryn!

All the routes around there were impressive for scenery.  The G21 has very good scenery throughout, after using a it a number of times you get a bit complacent so I think I liked the T3 from Dolgellau (Dol) to Bala more (the T routes use new Evoras).  T2 section from Dol to Aberystwyth also excellent and the buses are really challenged between Dol and Machynlleth up & down the A487  

Lloyds coaches cover all those routes and have an excellent fleet if seats a bit tight for a 6'3 person.  The G24 up the valley from Tywyn also scenically excellent, especially when you get to a see a steam train running to the one side of the road.  

Good buses, good scenery and the Tap On Tap Off worked pretty well, with me hitting both daily and then weekly caps 

What did you think about needing to change trains Stu?  For me, I like it if it guarantees 4 carriages throughout the journey as opposed to splitting two 158s to provide 2 car services.  But I can imagine my parents wouldn't like needing to change, especially with luggage.

I'm off to Tywyn tomorrow, buying my tickets yesterday from Sandwell and Dudley costing just £30.40 return which given the late purchase of the outbound is excellent.

Never understood the flexible tickets. Currently to Tywyn, £50.90 from Wolverhampton, £71.10 from Birmingham. So I always look to buy from closer to Wolverhampton.

My train to Sandwell and Dudley from HDM semi flexible is £32.40, same price from HDM to Leamington Spa. So effectively, Leamington to Sandwell is free.

So 100% agree with your comments Stu but in my case, definitely best to split ticket. 

Thanks for clarification Simon.  There is no way from the article you can tell financial support is offered as you say, it makes it look like it is fully commercial and bustimes hints that as well.

PD0001374/467 – bustimes.org

I guess there are multiple ways financial support can be offered which isn't considered a subsidy. Maybe as a bigger package?  Realise this might be commercially/contractually sensitive and nothing can be added to what is already provided. Just interesting to hear and very informative so thanks again.

Whilst the 292 is the service I am most interested in, I note on the Diamond website, the timetable page for BEWD is showing no service, either on the timetable page or the PDF of the timetable. Is that an error, the Service Changes pages reckons it is still operating.  Checked on iPad and Windows laptop.  I assume if BEWD isn't running, the 292 is following its standard route?

WW BEWD | Diamond Bus
Diamond - Timetable

Thanks Roy. All of that is as I thought should be the case. I knew it was the 1st weekday of a new month but still was surprised to see the schedule as I didn't expect a 197 in passenger service to my parents yet. 

Looking at RTT, 197044 did its 1st journey's as per what was stated yesterday. It then swapped with 158838 at Chester with 197044 heading to Holyhead. 158838 bringing in 1D10 from Crewe (06:69-07:20). 1D10 is scheduled to arrive and depart Chester to Holyhead at 07:20 but arrived on time, not surprisingly departed at 07:24. 158838 took over the 1J93 to Shrewsbury.

I note there is a 197 scheduled for Tywyn tomorrow. Not that common is it?  2J11 to Pwllheli at 1325 and 17:27 return to 2G65 Machynlleth. Unit 197044

It's a route that often has newer buses on it as well so a real shame it doesn't work out, can't blame the quality of the buses or service frequency etc for this withdrawal.