Predictions for 2024

[2206]

I'd predict Kidderminsters B7RLE fleet is withdrawn. The 3 Kidderminster - Stourport is upgraded with Steetlites from the North West cascaded in, as this seems to be Kidderminsters busiest route.

A large number of Omnilink single deckers will be withdrawn.
2/3 8A/8C upgaded to electric double deck operation from single deck.

Some more minor services cut and key services will have frequency increases.

X5 to Tamworth maybe.

[Gareth]

Hydrogens on the 51 continue to be a rare sight.

[hlliwmai]

Another prediction I've just thought of 

LandFlight end up collapsing exactly the same as DeCourcey did and effectively cease trading and all services transfer to Diamond. 

Johnsons take on the coach division of the business. 

All the buses are sold on. 

[winston]

With the already confirmed disposal of North America, I predict the Cosmen family to take over Alsa part of Mobico.
Leaving NX UK the only business left in the group. NX bus will be taken over by TfWM and the coach arms to be bought by private firms.

Mobico are only putting North American school bus up for sale, they will still have North American transit & shuttle. That's assuming they get a decent offer for school bus. 

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

I heard houses are going to be built on the old kings cinema and indoor market,  Superdrug is moving to New Square and I heard Iceland is moving to the high street.

That's where I went to West Brom on Friday Superdrug, Iceland might move to where Poundland was Queen Square/High Street how about the other shops. New Square is honestly the best part of West Brom Kings Square felt busier than Queen Square although Queen Square was busy at 3PM when I was heading back to the bus station. Besides Poundland there is a Holland and Barrett and other than that it looked empty almost like I shouldn't go there. The busiest part was the Esclators to New Square which I assume is where the Christmas lights and decorations are. If they demolish Kings Square I'd imagine a lot of West Brom High Street on that side would be moved and rebuild sort of like when they demolished the Shopping Centre in Walsall to build Primark a lot of the shops moved to the new units built the other side of Primark heading twoards Asda.

Actual bus related prediction unlikely but due to congestion around the M5 J1 worse when West Brom play at home WB run a 74E Matchday shuttle to The Hawthorns. Other Predictions Sprint will be delayed/Scrapped when or if the New Mayor takes over. BCC Will sell the Hydrogens to NX in a bid for more cash. The Walsall to Wolverhampton line will be further delayed although Willenhall might open for tests at the end of 2024 with the whole line maybe by the end of 2025. The new Mayor will realise it is pointless taking the Tram everywhere when it like Buses and Cars has to sit in congestion on street sections and that it's construction causes delays. The Metro itself will have another suspension and eventually all the CAF Trams are scrapped with WN and WB joining forces to run the 74 and 79 maybe with 79 temporarily extended to Birmingham. New Trams are then ordered. The Section to Brierley Hill/Dudley will be scrapped and instead Bus lanes will be built, Cross City bus network like Sprint will fail due to increasing congestion from the outgoing mayors Metro obsession. And HS2 to Birmingham will be scrapped by a Labour government who now deem it pointless and will instead use some of the sections to upgrade the WCML or for new routes.

[Celestial Toymaker]

my predictions
Hydrogen Buses to finally get the heave ho, due to lack of availability
Electrics continue to dominate, following on from CV, WA, WN & PB go all electric,
AG continue to get the left overs, and WB get nothing, a NEW Livery is launched AGAIN, Grey is now out, Andy Street says Blue is the new colour to match his beloved Trams,       AG continues to just run a patchwork of cast of colours

11A/ 11C gets a further change, it is decided they should serve all Hospitals, on the route, now calling at Q.E. service frequency becomes every 10 - 15 minutes, Solihull Hospital via 7 Star Road, (right) onto Loade Lane, Right onto Warwick Road for AG & back to normal line of route, now known as "The Hospital Bus"
Handsworth is no longer served, services on this section now run from NEW City Hospital (drop back) then onto Birmingham for The Childrens Hospital

No.1 "Moseley" is taken off parts are added to other routes & garages
due to Rail Strikes, 999 service makes a welcome return now known as X999 connecting Solihull with NEC / Airport etc.

New Mini Bus service to run Solihull Hospital to Dorridge Station, making use of Ambulances cascaded by further NHS cuts, 10 minute service known as 181 operates via Bentley Heath & Widney Manor to Solihull, Then Warwick Road, Station Road Knowle (and reverse) AG scheduled to close and merge with YW

37 service (Warwick Road) becomes 37C Birmingham to AG & Return

Sprint Bus fails to get off the ground


as its fantasy might aswell let imagination run riot

[Stu]

Regarding Sprint, I wouldn't be surprised if the plans to buy and use articulated buses get quietly shelved, and the whole scheme gets dropped, with the Walsall to Bham Airport/Solihull just becoming the first 'cross-city' bus service instead, using new electric double-decks or the existing hydrogens. 

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

Regarding Sprint, I wouldn't be surprised if the plans to buy and use articulated buses get quietly shelved, and the whole scheme gets dropped, with the Walsall to Bham Airport/Solihull just becoming the first 'cross-city' bus service instead, using new electric double-decks or the existing hydrogens. 

Or the Cross City network slowly gets scrapped and services are timed to connect with each other and timed to be more frequent and faster. With the Mayor's obessesion with Trams everything will get congested

[spacecowboy150]

Diamond buys all the independents

[B61 ANDREW]

Diamond buys all the independents

Then one of the "big boys" buy Diamond ??  ??

[spacecowboy150]

Then one of the "big boys" buy Diamond ??  ??

well, Go-Ahead tried that a few years back, If any company it will be NXWM 

[B61 ANDREW]

I might go back and check the 'predictions' for 2023 . 

[Tony]

well, Go-Ahead tried that a few years back, If any company it will be NXWM

A bit out there. Rotala bought Diamond from Go Ahead.

[spacecowboy150]

A bit out there. Rotala bought Diamond from Go Ahead.

my bad then, still shows that even a big company cant properly compete against NXWM. 

TBH I look at places like Newcastle and think that it must be pretty interesting with 3 big operators in a 3-way 'bus war'

[Tony]

my bad then, still shows that even a big company cant properly compete against NXWM.

TBH I look at places like Newcastle and think that it must be pretty interesting with 3 big operators in a 3-way 'bus war'

They're not in a bus war though, they all do their own thing