Red Diamond Redditch

[tank90]

Whilst on the facebook in my new feed I had a note from Diamond saying
"From Saturday 24 November 2012 there will be some changes to the 70 service in Redditch.

An hourly 70A service will be introduced to serve the new childrens play centre, Imagination Street in Astwood Bank." this is at the Astwood Lane Astwood Bank Business Park just off Astwood Lane.

Now looking at a map and at the time table and knowing the roads this is going to be one enteraining ride for mums/dads as Astwood Lane does get 1 narrow 2 tight 3 tight bend at the bottom of a hill and 4 is steep ish.

Now if any one with a noddel was putting buses on the 70A they would look at either the lovely Volvos and or new/well cared for solos with the volvos in the afternoon/evening to handel the larger loads to and from Astwood Bank. But whats the betting an old on the blink Dart is given it and it conks out going up Astwood Lane.

Im now waiting for Worcestershire County Council to have the bright idea of the 70A going to Feckenham as its already going about half way there.

[Ash]

I was on the 70 (31416) branded dart on the 4H today the interior looked quite smart even if it still has all the adverts and posters for the 70 service. There are a number of steepish hills on the 4H/4M and as the service sees very regulary the oldish darts I have been quite impressed how quickly they have got up these hills even after stopping at bus stops half way with quite full loads not bad in some cases of 15 year old buses.

[jc]

I would wait and see what it interworks with first and if Redditch gain any buses from Tividale, It only takes 1 more bus so may well be interworked with something like the 51.

Looking at the new timetable there would be a 20ish minute sit around in Redditch for the 70 and about 10ish for the 70A.

[tank90]

unlikely to be inter worked with the 51 as its every 15 mins covers it self. unless the 51 is going to get a new time table too.

[jc]

Just because the 51 is more frequent doesn't mean it can't be interworked, at one point the 51, 57, 58 and 70 all interworked!

[Ash]

How many darts are still being used at red diamond and whats the fleet looking like in terms of numbers and PVR these days.

[tank90]

I know First had/have some bizzare interworkings but Diamonds are less so from what i ve seen. the 51 interworks it self and the 60/63 then the 50 and 64 interwork. which only leaves the 61 which doesnt and then the 57 and 58 which interwork any way and the 70 which ive not scene inter work even with the current every 40mins.

As for Darts it depends on what needs a repair. there are a few from what ive seen working in redditch and Droitwich. and one the only displays the route number on the front in the middle. confused will be.

[sonic84]

Can anyone think of any examples of some of the crazy First interworking which has gone on.

These are quite old, but I seem to remember when first used to run the 192 Kidderminster - Birmingham route, it used to interwork with the 143 Birmingham - Redditch via Bromsgrove. 

I can remember buying one of those Rover day tickets in Halesowen, asking the driver if I could use it to Redditch.  Once I got as far as Birmingham, I was planning on getting the much quicker 146... but the driver said... "you can stay on here!"

I believe the X33 when it ran Kidderminster - Redditch used to interwork with the 247 running Redditch - Bromsgrove.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the 303 Worcester - Kidderminster interworks with the 292 Kidderminster - Ludlow.


I can actually see the 70A being extended to Feckenham at some point. Does anyone know what level of service they currently get?

[BN]

Can anyone think of any examples of some of the crazy First interworking which has gone on.

These are quite old, but I seem to remember when first used to run the 192 Kidderminster - Birmingham route, it used to interwork with the 143 Birmingham - Redditch via Bromsgrove. 

I can remember buying one of those Rover day tickets in Halesowen, asking the driver if I could use it to Redditch.  Once I got as far as Birmingham, I was planning on getting the much quicker 146... but the driver said... "you can stay on here!"

I believe the X33 when it ran Kidderminster - Redditch used to interwork with the 247 running Redditch -
Bromsgrove.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the 303 Worcester - Kidderminster interworks with the 292 Kidderminster - Ludlow.


I can actually see the 70A being extended to Feckenham at some point. Does anyone know what level of service they currently get?

I was there in 2002 and it used to be 192birmingham to kidderminster then straight onto a 292 to Ludlow. Turn round and straight back to Brum

It used to be X33 redditch to kidderminster then 303 to worcester turn round and back to kidder 303 then over to redditch

[jc]

a few years ago after Evesham shut, there was a kidderminster duty that would do 303 (Kidderminster to Worcester) then 551 (Worcester to Evesham) then 247 (Evesham to Redditch) and then X3 (Redditch to Kidderminster) ... Madness!

Darts at Redditch were; 503-5, two of 545-8, 533, 524 and 525. Think there may be more, can never remember the exact amount.

70 has been B7RLE's all week ...

[Ash]

30525 has been working from Tividale the last couple of weeks but is just showing the route number on the front display well it has when its been on the 4 service not saw it on anything else.

[jc]

Please, Please, Keep it!

[Ash]

The redditch darts being used at Tividale are 20501-2/5/7/20537( seen on the 30 in West Bromwich today)/30516 and 30524 has been sold. So not many left at Redditch looking at recent fleet lists.

[jc]

30524 may have been sold ... however was on the 64 yesterday. 20547 was on the 51 if i remembered right.

Local papers today have suggested Diamond are reviewing there network here for further growth, 57 and 58 are to run later in the run up to Christmas.

[Ash]

30524 may have been sold ... however was on the 64 yesterday. 20547 was on the 51 if i remembered right.

Local papers today have suggested Diamond are reviewing there network here for further growth, 57 and 58 are to run later in the run up to Christmas.

Its the same with the darts (red diamond livery) at tividale they have been sold but still used on the regular diamond services. If they were to leave the fleet not sure they have enough buses to cover for them well at least full size single deckers.