Service Changes Jan 2025

[j789]

Mr Parker is disappointed that he can't make more money out of the Tender processes (there was an article on Birmingham Mail saying this but I cannot find it). He wants more companies involved in the Tender process to push up the prices of the tenders so they get more money.

And of course the West Midlands has such a great history of attracting high quality, smaller companies into the area ...... NOT!

Cheaper tenders mean reduced quality, likely clapped out Darts or E200s running round putting new passengers off trying the bus.

If Mr Parker really cared about our buses, he'd be constantly on at the Labour government to support operators with new vehicle grants so that all local tenders were operated by new (or at the very least nearly new) vehicles. Stipulating 'Euro 6' does equate to quality either, emissions may be lower yet the bus itself can still look unattractive.

[Ingleboro261F]

Realistically what operators would join the west midlands market? I'm pretty sure new companies like first wouldn't as they've tried already.

[Straightlines]

And of course the West Midlands has such a great history of attracting high quality, smaller companies into the area ...... NOT!

Cheaper tenders mean reduced quality, likely clapped out Darts or E200s running round putting new passengers off trying the bus.

If Mr Parker really cared about our buses, he'd be constantly on at the Labour government to support operators with new vehicle grants so that all local tenders were operated by new (or at the very least nearly new) vehicles. Stipulating 'Euro 6' does equate to quality either, emissions may be lower yet the bus itself can still look unattractive.

I'm so glad the operators with their "likely clapped out Darts or E200s" have gone, it has left the operators with their clapped out Omnilinks, Geminis and Tridents to use instead!

[Ingleboro261F]

I'm so glad the operators with their "likely clapped out Darts or E200s" have gone, it has left the operators with their clapped out Omnilinks, Geminis and Tridents to use instead!

Not all omnilinks, Geminis and tridents are 'clapped out', they are just seeing their age

[j789]

I'm so glad the operators with their "likely clapped out Darts or E200s" have gone, it has left the operators with their clapped out Omnilinks, Geminis and Tridents to use instead!

Massive difference - one of those operators has maintained their older vehicles to very high engineering standards for their 20+ year life, the cow boys on the other hand clearly spend a fortune on maintaining their vehicles - Not!

The only good thing about franchising will be that those crappy little companies that offer nothing to attract new passengers won't be allowed to operate anymore.

[Straightlines]

Massive difference - one of those operators has maintained their older vehicles to very high engineering standards for their 20+ year life, the cow boys on the other hand clearly spend a fortune on maintaining their vehicles - Not!

The only good thing about franchising will be that those crappy little companies that offer nothing to attract new passengers won't be allowed to operate anymore.

Ah of course. Anyone that isn't a PLC must be a "cowboy" with substandard vehicles, got it!

I think the vast majority of operators that ran Centro / TfWM tenders weren't cowboys, often filling gaps where the almighty PLCs had abandoned for more profitable main road corridors.

So your argument is fundamentally flawed. 

[j789]

Ah of course. Anyone that isn't a PLC must be a "cowboy" with substandard vehicles, got it!

I think the vast majority of operators that ran Centro / TfWM tenders weren't cowboys, often filling gaps where the almighty PLCs had abandoned for more profitable main road corridors.

So your argument is fundamentally flawed.

First off, don't put words into my mouth - I did not say EVERY small company were cowboys! However, I've enough experience in this industry driving in the West Mids for the past three decades to have witnessed many cowboy companies. 1990s they had clapped out Leyland Nationals, 2000s it was lynx, step entrance Darts etc, 2010 it was Darts now the 2020s it's E200s. Its clearly not every company operating those vehicle types - Ludlows back in the day were a great, innovative company - but the common theme of the cowboys is how badly their vehicles are turned out.

Anyone who has actually worked for one of the larger companies in the West Midlands area would say the same thing. This area has had far too many chancer companies who offer nothing to the public. It's funny how companies operating significant numbers of vehicles in the area rarely get called before the traffic commissioner yet many of those companies running only a few buses have seemed too. I wonder why!

[Straightlines]

However, I've enough experience in this industry driving

My little interest in anything you had to say finished, about here.

[j789]

My little interest in anything you had to say finished, about here.

Well that's a shame as you clearly are clueless comparing NX to these sort of companies. I'm even thinking your dislike of any alternative viewpoints on such companies is suggesting you are/were involved in such a transport enterprise. Maybe I'm wrong but it's intriguing nonetheless 🧐.

[MW]

Well that's a shame as you clearly are clueless comparing NX to these sort of companies. I'm even thinking your dislike of any alternative viewpoints on such companies is suggesting you are/were involved in such a transport enterprise. Maybe I'm wrong but it's intriguing nonetheless 🧐.

He's not clueless. Unfortunately you're the clueless one in this debate, as usual. 

How many times have LandFlight or Kevs been called to PI compared to Diamond? Compare the fleet volume now buddy! Far smaller bus fleet. Nonsense as always from j789.

[j789]

He's not clueless. Unfortunately you're the clueless one in this debate, as usual.

How many times have LandFlight or Kevs been called to PI compared to Diamond? Compare the fleet volume now buddy! Far smaller bus fleet. Nonsense as always from j789.

Argh not heard much from you recently, which company is it your at these days??? 

And also talking about clueless if you bothered to read anything above you would see I was talking about Straightlines views on National Express (see the big capital N and X I used 🤦). I didn't even mention Diamond so no clue why your are bringing that company up now.

And further was Landflight or Kevs or any such company named as a cowboy - NO! Because they actually use new vehicles, follow timetables and maintain buses to good standards. However, as usual, you don't seem to understand that criticising certain small companies for shoddy practises doesn't mean I am saying it about every small company.

How hard is it that really to understand? Geez 🤯

[MW]

Argh not heard much from you recently, which company is it your at these days??? 

And also talking about clueless if you bothered to read anything above you would see I was talking about Straightlines views on National Express (see the big capital N and X I used 🤦). I didn't even mention Diamond so no clue why your are bringing that company up now.

And further was Landflight or Kevs or any such company named as a cowboy - NO! Because they actually use new vehicles, follow timetables and maintain buses to good standards. However, as usual, you don't seem to understand that criticising certain small companies for shoddy practises doesn't mean I am saying it about every small company.

How hard is it that really to understand? Geez 🤯

Who are the cowboy operators currently operating TfWM work?

[Rachvince53]

Who are the cowboy operators currently operating TfWM work?

He may have been thinking of Travel Express (Lets Go) whose e200s certainly aren't the best maintained in my opinion. They were operating the 63/64/65 & 303 tenders until June .

[j789]

Who are the cowboy operators currently operating TfWM work?

I thought you were an experienced driver - you should know that contracted work was never the bread and butter of these sort of cowboys.

No, running a couple of minutes in front of a rival company's bus on commercial services was more their mindset - dangerous driving manoeuvres to ensure they get to the stop first. Fortunately many of these companies have long gone to the wall. One particular area is still not free of them though and TfWM weren't blind to that either!

[j789]

He may have been thinking of Travel Express (Lets Go) whose e200s certainly aren't the best maintained in my opinion. They were operating the 63/64/65 & 303 tenders until June .

There were far worse companies than them in the 1980 and 1990s to be fair to them.