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30833 on the 401E today with blinds showing 'YewTree 401e'

The point did cross my mind. The 4 obvious is a big key important route for both operators. 58 plate omnilinks are getting a little old for such a key route I think. Another route I think the same about is the 997. 57 plates on that very old considering the geminos was just 3 years old when they was replaced

Normal passengers won't know or indeed look at the age of a vehicle. As long as the buses are in good condition (which the Omnilinks are) there's no need to replace them. Other vehicles need to be replaced first. The introduction of the route branding has extended the life of those vehicles on the route too..

This has been.. as usual handled very poorly. Only a few staff were on hand this morning to direct people who had no clue...

Wow! Yet another change...

It's about time though - I think they've actually got it right this time around. Good news about the 401E/45 sharing a stand again, never understood why they were split.

Ok, kind of in line with this thread and the GTA thread....
Beyond me, who would own up to pretending the various paths in their local park/estate are actually bus routes whenever you're walking through. I've pretty much spent most of me childhood creating (in my head) an entire network of routes around Perry Barr and Great Barr

Ever drawn up timetables and running boards for them? :)

I used to do that in primary school. I even got everybody else to join in! I might go into Walsall later and see if I can recreate it ;)

It's still a damn sight cheaper than purchasing them outright. I don't know how much they're making but I assume they feel they will be able to at least cover the costs otherwise they wouldn't take such a risk.

If you think logically it is likely that the vehicles are leased. The Streetlites appear to be at least, coming from Mistral (I know Mistral sell the Streetlite too).

They seem to be disappearing from the 45 with O405N's and B6LE's becoming more frequent again. I knew it was too good to last.

I heard a bus driver mention today that the 45 will return to Walsall. So, I assume this means less vehicles will be required at West Bromwich but also that the 45 will lose it's Enviro's.

apparantly it's not going now. just driver talk and nothing official yet........

the only routes definatly out of WB are the 53 and 289.

Well the driver in question was WA telling a WB driver who didn't seem to know. I just thought I'd mention it even though it's just a rumour. I'd quite like WB to keep the 405, they've done a good job since taking it over. I'll still never understand why it swapped with the 404 though.

I heard a bus driver mention today that the 45 will return to Walsall. So, I assume this means less vehicles will be required at West Bromwich but also that the 45 will lose it's Enviro's.

I noted one Enviro 200 on the 45, yesterday with at least three on it today. I had the pleasure of catching 820 for my morning commute today and I have to say I was very impressed, although anything is better than those B6's!

I do hope they're permanent on the 405 but we'll see, sometimes the extra-capacity of the O405N's are required.