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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.

Unless its because the bus is doing a Schools run between those times?

That's to sensible and common sense for that to happen with a gov. Dept.

More like HM Gov would love to do it but as it requires a contract, and lots of fees by capitalist scummy IT companies like Fujitsu... and end up with something like Horizon...

Not sure if anyone has noticed, but for anyone who is interested 40725 the converted electric streetdeck is out on rail replacement today from Birmingham new street to coleshill parkway.

I'm surprised that hasn't been put into the same livery as the electric MANs

If I remember correctly, one of the former PN 61xx E400MMCs did a trial run around the route a few years ago but I don't think a DD has over operated on the route in service.

Not NX, but VIP apparently ran a decker on the Halesowen to QE bit when it was the 99, looking on past posts on here

They've done that for years it goes back to them doing a board on the 140/241.

I'm sure they also used to do at one stage, like WN, a board on the 246. I know WN used tridents on one specific journey which did a 256>246>126E>Depot but I'm sure i remember seeing a WB Metro on a 246 that had come into Stourbridge about 15 years ago and then went off NIS at the same time the WN trip had departed

Clear Channel operate the contract to advertise on TfWM bus shelters (and paid TfWM to do so) - so presumably the advertiser went through them initially.

Clear Channel... oh, so Bauer's newest toy... that tracks

Wonder if some backhanders have been past about regarding the stagecoach routes 😒 as it seems a bit unfair that one company can keep routes yet another is at Risk of losing all there's

Unless they're waiting to see if Warks takes advantage of the forthcoming powers

Diamond to gain more tenders in April
WM Bus On Demand to expand to the rest of the WM area
Banga loses its tendered work and then sells to Rotala
Dudley Bus Station to be delayed opening until 2026

My wish - Franchising to be given the nod

I have to agree.  Stagecoach Midlands' HQ is in Northampton, and this is just the latest of many mistakes made in recent years.  I know Solihull is a long way from Northampton, and even from Rugby garage, but ...

I thought socials were done from Stockport

It seems quite a few people are waiting round aimlessly at bus stops and bus stations this evening with the early shutdown. With a number of services finishing around 18:00 and the more major services finishing early at around 23:00.
A number of people on the 49 stand at West Brom Bus Station and an elderly lady with a shopping trolley waiting on the 48 stand who when I told her, told me "But that's the only bus I can get home".
Makes you wonder why these people don't check the time of the last bus before they travel
To be honest at a bus station like that you could at least do with a note on the affected stands or get the bus station guard to tell people as your probably going to get the same thing  with the early shutdown on New Year's Day.

If only there was a medium or three which people often viewed or listened to where TfWM or the ops could advertise on... like ITV, social media or... erm... Hits Radio?

I could also sense NX who probably have quite a strong legal term could take legal action if he tries to buy depots and targets them for his plans considering he has basically Slated them. He certainly is living in Fantasy land if he also thinks clever people who aren't old, gullible or don't care will fall for his lies, much like his party people will See through his lies and cracks. There will be issues and eventually I think this whole plan will fall apart, the Tories will get re elected at mayoral level, sell the broken franchise back of to the likes of Rotala, NX and whoever replaces the Independents and we will once again get normality

The thing is that Stagecoach and Rotala both tried legal action in Manchester for franchising there, and Justice Julian Knowles stated in his decision that he was not "persuaded the impugned decisions were either unlawful or irrational", so NXWM don't really have a leg to stand on. Anyway, its the way things are going, with Merseyside, SYPTE and WYPTE also going down that route, taking advantage of the Bus Services Act 2017.

[Jan Change]

Jan Change:
87A being withdrawn, all services to be ran as 87

Feb Change:
NXC51 being withdrawn, Stagecoach will run a 51 service on Sundays between Uni Hosp & Arena Tesco
67 & 74A being merged together for 674
77/77A/X15 also being ran by Stevensons

Stevensons?

As reported by CBW

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/zaCqktsRdDSeVzYM/

BREAKING NEWS

FirstBus set to return to London with latest deal


FirstGroup has this morning announced that it is to acquire RATP Dev Transit London.


The acquisition will see the Group re-enter the London bus market in a strong position and will further grow and diversify the Group's revenue. RATP London is one of the principal bus operators in the capital, with a c.12% market share, comprising:


· 10 depots across Central and West London (four owned and six leased);

· a fleet of c.1,000 buses of which a third are fully electric;

· c.3,700 employees over 80% of whom are drivers

· c.90 Transport for London route contracts


Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer said: "This is a significant acquisition for the Group that will diversify our portfolio and materially grow our earnings in the medium term. It allows us to enter the London bus market at scale and will also bolster our credentials as we participate in future franchising opportunities across the UK.


"We look forward to continuing to build on our relationship with TfL and welcoming RATP London's employees into the Group, to continue the transformation of the business and to capitalise on the growth potential in the London market."


The acquisition builds on the Groups return to London after its recent purchase of Anderson Travel.

Still says the 145 is changing on the WM changes page @Simon Dunn

[Service 22, 22A (Droitwich - Worcester)]

Sorry but where does that mention the 355 timetable or route, just a change of number. The item you show here is why so many of our customers are disturbed, they think the 355 is coming off its existing route and timetable but as far as we have been told it is not. There are also about 30/40 kids go to Droitwich High on the 355 but we cannot tell them if that is still operating. I strongly suspect it is but they need telling. In First's defense we have been operating a 61 plate E200 on there for several months although it is euro6

This is what it says:

Service 22, 22A (Droitwich - Worcester)We're pleased to launch our new 22 22A service from Droitwich to Worcester which is replacing current service 355. We'll be running at new times and running an extra journey each way through to Worcester.

This is the new timetable - https://www.firstbus.co.uk/sites/default/files/public/node_images/22%2022A_Web%20OL.pdf