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20mph is optimistic in limp mode, last bus I nursed back to the garage in limp mode managed 11mph at most.

10mph was the figure I had in mind. 

yea im talking about the struggling bus stage 1 and 2 limp basically where a max of 35% power reduction

what tony n winston n stu was on about is stage 3 limp where the bus cant pass 20mph which is indeed a hazard to the road

There's only one limp mode, I've already explained what that is. 

put in the most polite way possible- i dont see why

limp mode exists to reduce the strain on the bus so it keeps moving, it can still move and collect passengers but of course with a problem that can be fixed another time.

buses move till they break. they get fixed then they move till they break

Take note of what people reply to you that know what they're talking about then.

Buses in Limp mode don't stay out in service.

Buses in Limp mode are a hazard to other road users, Limp mode is to prevent serious damage being done to the vehicle. Buses driven in Limp mode are out of service, often driven with hazard lights on in an attempt to get the vehicle back to depot without requiring a tow truck at a crawl.

@Mega Kickdown - there was already another thread in existence covering exactly the same topic only 4 threads down from yours on the same page, we don't need another! 
Please check in future before creating new threads, Winston. 

You could have booked at the cinema, that would have saved you a few quid

Not when I get discounted tickets online 😉

Not flown abroad for ages. Flew to Dublin in 2019. No booking fees were charged
Never used eBay
Don't use Flixbus due to the fees. At least with NE you don't pay fees if you have an NE account
Have asked NE why they've suddenly started charging fees on Coachcards. No answer yet. What a surprise(not)
Never use Trainline either.  B'ham Rep are another organisation who I refuse to support

I even paid a booking fee for each seat that I booked in the Showcase Cinema that I booked online recently, they're the norm.

Simon Dunn has mentioned elsewhere here that he was approached by the WMCA with a view to acquiring the Tividale site, but told them that he had no interest in doing so.

It will probably mean that TfWM will have to make him an offer he can't refuse, which results in the WMCA paying over the odds, meaning the franchising set-up costs end up being more than was originally projected.

Tividale isn't just an operational base, it's also Rotala Group HQ, plus they own the large site opposite the main depot too.

Tfwm want tividale as well didnt you know that either
And new oldbury depot to replace West Brom
Didn't you know that either it's in the document

Just because TfWM want Tividale, doesn't mean they're going to get it, its owners aren't interested in selling.

Thought you would have known that.... 🤦

Thought wrong then day ya 😂

Really, so if Rotala win the Dudley area franchise they'll move in to Pensnett depot when they have their own depot in Tividale. I think not...🤣

Based on NX's success rate from their Manchester franchise bids, it doesn't bode well....🤐

The Franchising document states that WMCA would look to acquire or transfer the lease for Pensnett (page 390) . But it does add that the location is possibly suboptimal

WMCA will not be able to acquire PN garage only transfer the lease, LCP Properties control Pensnett Trading Estate.

The majority of PN's routes can all easily be operated from elsewhere. The PVR has shrunk over the past years or two with more & more Dudley area work moving to Diamond. 

Can you imagine the anoraks......

"Arr cor see no Rowtmosters up Pensnett!"

Pensnett Garage is finished under franchising, thought WMCA want a new Dudley garage on corner of Peartree Lane. 

It would make commercial sense if the leasing for the vehicles (most if not all the NXWM EVs are leased from Zenobe) and charging equipment, combined with the running costs are less than the equivalent for diesel buses though - along with relative reliability of vehicles also. @Tony has mentioned previously the improvement they experienced with the Coventry fleet. Presumably the leases might be capable to be taken on by TfWM if franchising starts.

My guess is that once the funding is agreed through TfWM/WMCA to support commercial services referred to in earlier posts, NXWM will continue with its fleet replacement. Presumably once the chargers at YW are turned on, NXWM starts paying for the electricity (fuel!) - looks like an accounting thing, to start at the beginning of a financial quarter?

As for the franchising report, I recall it was stated NXWM was expected to have around 600 zero emission vehicles in service by 2027 - it also gave a date well into the 2030s for full EV operation - so it would appear it's the franchising arrangement suggested by TfWM that allows for an extended period for full zero emission operation. In fact the other operators have virtually none in the region currently operating!!

There's no much point taking on any more electrics for operating savings either, with the build time from date or order & the time it takes to get them in service, they wouldn't get much pay back from them, so a pointless exercise. 

The franchising document stated that the 2030 target had been "diluted" and then pointed the finger at NX!

Neither NX or any other bus company would invest on scale in new EV's when Franchising is being planned. 

The Mayor / TfWM should have left the AQPS arrangement in place. 

My other fear is job losses - if franchising is meant to sort the wheat from the chafe on viable and socially necessary bus routes, surely, and sadly, there will be job losses from all quarters, including bus drivers.

Not all bus operators will win work, especially if outsider operators like Metroline (who incidentally, are monitoring West Midlands franchising VERY closely) win routes like they have in Manchester.

There will be, even the franchising document predicts the WM bus market total Pvr will shrink further even under franchising. 

A genuine question as I have no idea what the answer will be. Does the WM Mayor use local bus services either for business or personal use?

Andy Street has traveled on the bus a numerous times, doubt the Richard Parker even knows what to do when you board a bus...