Service Changes Jan 2025

[EK40]

https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2024/W34/829227559

current list of routes and services up for tender come jan 2025, to be awarded in october.

[Jack]

Never realised the 44 was tendered.

[MW]

They only went out yesterday. 

Notable differences in Solihull area are

A12 to do a loop from Sharmans Cross to Acocks Green as normal and then down to Robin Hood Island, Stratford Road, Solihull Road and back at Sharmans Cross to head into Solihull. Renumbered 630A/C. Why? I don't know.

A15 to mirror existing A12 between Solihull and Olton, and then to Lyndon and Acocks Green. Renumbered 615. Don't ask about the 615A being proposed.

Alternatively, an S66 from Acocks Green to Solihull and then to Birmingham Airport is being proposed. I don't see that happening.

The biggest mindf*** is what's being proposed for the A4/A5 or should I say 665A/C doing different lines of routes between Dickens Heath and Wythall. 

I think we'll see these services split between Diamond and LandFlight. 

Also the 601 / 602 (current A1/A2) are out to tender.

[Steve3229vp]

They only went out yesterday.

Notable differences in Solihull area are

A12 to do a loop from Sharmans Cross to Acocks Green as normal and then down to Robin Hood Island, Stratford Road, Solihull Road and back at Sharmans Cross to head into Solihull. Renumbered 630A/C. Why? I don't know.

A15 to mirror existing A12 between Solihull and Olton, and then to Lyndon and Acocks Green. Renumbered 615. Don't ask about the 615A being proposed.

Alternatively, an S66 from Acocks Green to Solihull and then to Birmingham Airport is being proposed. I don't see that happening.

The biggest mindf*** is what's being proposed for the A4/A5 or should I say 665A/C doing different lines of routes between Dickens Heath and Wythall.

I think we'll see these services split between Diamond and LandFlight.

Also the 601 / 602 (current A1/A2) are out tso tender.

The use of 6xx series of numbers again will send 1 or 2 on some of the buses related pages in Facebook into a frenzy !

[EK40]

The use of 6xx series of numbers again will send 1 or 2 on some of the buses related pages in Facebook into a frenzy !

noticed that there has been a lot of three digit route numbers this tender round thought we were keeping to more simple numbers for simplicity, but guess not.

with the:
214/215/224/231
601/602/615/630AC/637/665AC/675/676/677

with some previously double digit routes possibly also going triple,
14/14A -> 214/215
77/77A/X15 -> 675/676/677

[Steve3229vp]

noticed that there has been a lot of three digit route numbers this tender round thought we were keeping to more simple numbers for simplicity, but guess not.

with the:
214/215/224/231
601/602/615/630AC/637/665AC/675/676/677

with some previously double digit routes possibly also going triple,
14/14A -> 214/215
77/77A/X15 -> 675/676/677

Why renumber the X15 ?

[Stu]

https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2024/W34/829227559

current list of routes and services up for tender come jan 2025, to be awarded in october.

This is interesting, I don't recall TfWM advertising contract tenders this way before.

Unless the intention is to try and attract new operators from outside the area?

[GoldenSquid]

Alternatively, an S66 from Acocks Green to Solihull and then to Birmingham Airport is being proposed. I don't see that happening.

S66 going to the airport could be a way to kill off the X12? now that the 97A serves the airport. 

[ellspurs]

S66 going to the airport could be a way to kill off the X12? now that the 97A serves the airport.

Or it'd be a service that allows people from the other side of Solihull a direct link to the airport, same as the x12 is doing to North Solihull and the 97a is now for east Birmingham. 

[MW]

Or it'd be a service that allows people from the other side of Solihull a direct link to the airport, same as the x12 is doing to North Solihull and the 97a is now for east Birmingham.

It's a combination of the A15/A1/A2 and then onto the Airport, so not replacing the X12.

[ellspurs]

That does make more sense, but would the buses fit up the roads the a1/a2 go up in Damsonwood?

[MW]

That does make more sense, but would the buses fit up the roads the a1/a2 go up in Damsonwood?

Well, the A1 / A2 have been operated by 12m vehicles in their previous guises, so yes.

[BBS]

They only went out yesterday.

Notable differences in Solihull area are

A12 to do a loop from Sharmans Cross to Acocks Green as normal and then down to Robin Hood Island, Stratford Road, Solihull Road and back at Sharmans Cross to head into Solihull. Renumbered 630A/C. Why? I don't know.

A15 to mirror existing A12 between Solihull and Olton, and then to Lyndon and Acocks Green. Renumbered 615. Don't ask about the 615A being proposed.

Alternatively, an S66 from Acocks Green to Solihull and then to Birmingham Airport is being proposed. I don't see that happening.

The biggest mindf*** is what's being proposed for the A4/A5 or should I say 665A/C doing different lines of routes between Dickens Heath and Wythall.

I think we'll see these services split between Diamond and LandFlight.

Also the 601 / 602 (current A1/A2) are out to tender.

Don't forget stagecoach, they currently have a dominance in this area too

[Ingleboro261F]

Would it be viable for stagecoach to take over some of these services?

[Stu]

Would it be viable for stagecoach to take over some of these services?

I'm not sure if you understand how the tendering process works.

The contracts will be awarded on basis of lowest cost or 'best value'.

Operators will make bids depending on how much subsidy they would require to provide a service.

It is up to Stagecoach whether they think its viable and choose to bid or not.