Service Changes Jan 2025

[2206]

its just ridiculous to have Dorridge only served until 14:30

I'm sure the 188 A7/A8 will be serving it until the early evening at least. Assuming the last A7/A8 timetable has the same last journey times that's 9PM.
You sound like your moaning for the sake of it.

[wembley86]

So when are the rest of the 5th January going to be announced.

[Ash]

Diamond bus website updated with their changes including a new peak 50A Redditch to Birmingham service

[winston]

Diamond bus website updated with their changes including a new peak 50A Redditch to Birmingham service

I believe Redditch depot will be taking over full operation of the 50, I think there might be other changes to inc increased running time / Pvr / frequency increase. 

[wembley86]

Is there any update on the 45 Walsall to West Bromwich was up for tender.

[Stu]

Is there any update on the 45 Walsall to West Bromwich was up for tender.

I would assume that any tenders not listed on the service changes page have been retained by the current operator.

[Westy]

I know it's the 'legal' name for the company, but why have Diamond refered to 'West Midlands Travel' on their changes page, rather than 'National Express West Midlands', as thats been the public name for a few years now?

[j789]

I believe Redditch depot will be taking over full operation of the 50, I think there might be other changes to inc increased running time / Pvr / frequency increase.

Seems odd to introduce this new service now just as the £2 fare is being scrapped. Had it been done last year some people would definitely have used it compared to the train as there would be a sizeable saving using the bus over the train. However, if the fare is £3 single (or even a slightly cheaper return/day ticket) people won't change from a high frequency train onto a bus that will get stuck in traffic at the M42 J3 island, then all the way into Brum.

It's a good idea but I just can't see this lasting as the train frequency is just to high to compete.

[Stu]

Seems odd to introduce this new service now just as the £2 fare is being scrapped. Had it been done last year some people would definitely have used it compared to the train as there would be a sizeable saving using the bus over the train. However, if the fare is £3 single (or even a slightly cheaper return/day ticket) people won't change from a high frequency train onto a bus that will get stuck in traffic at the M42 J3 island, then all the way into Brum.

It's a good idea but I just can't see this lasting as the train frequency is just to high to compete.

The 50A is being provided with support from Worcestershire CC through BSIP funding. It's a peak time service, probably just a couple of journeys in the mornings and early evenings, not all day. I would imagine Diamond will slot it around 150 off-peak journeys, or buses will go onto the 50 to save a bit of dead-running.

https://www.diamondbuses.com/news/ww-service-enhancements-january-2025/

[Busmapper]

Not obvious why the 50A would be subject to BSIP funding when those journeys clearly just consist of placement journeys associated with Diamond's Redditch garage fully operating their 50 commercial service

[fleetline6477]

Are there ny more tender changes to be announced, for example the rumour that Bus Link had gained the 77, 77A, X15?

[frostjay974]

When in December do tfwm usually publish all the tender results?

[2206]

Not obvious why the 50A would be subject to BSIP funding when those journeys clearly just consist of placement journeys associated with Diamond's Redditch garage fully operating their 50 commercial service

I think it's the Kidderminster 3, 8 Redditch 12 subject to BSIP funding which are having enhancements.
Whenever I have seen the 3 out of Kidderminster it often has full loads on the B7RLEs so I think it will be well received.

It probably makes sense to run those journeys in service if they are going that way anyway.
https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-11/Bus%20service%20enhancements.pdf

[Stu]

Not obvious why the 50A would be subject to BSIP funding when those journeys clearly just consist of placement journeys associated with Diamond's Redditch garage fully operating their 50 commercial service

I'm just going by what it says on the Diamond website:

Diamond Bus are pleased to be working in partnership with Worcestershire County Council to bring a number of service enhancements to passengers in Redditch and Kidderminster in the New Year.

The improvements are being delivered as part of the regions Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which aims to further improve bus provision in the county.

[Stu]

Are there ny more tender changes to be announced, for example the rumour that Bus Link had gained the 77, 77A, X15?

The TfWM service changes page has not been updated since 22nd November, so as I posted earlier, any tendered services that are not listed there can be assumed to have been retained by the current operator.

'Rumours' are not the same as 'facts'.

When in December do tfwm usually publish all the tender results?

No idea to be honest, probably not until January though once the new contracts come into place. When they do, they will be listed here:
https://www.tfwm.org.uk/who-we-are/what-we-do/bus-services/bus-tenders/