West midlands bus franchising

[LD713821]

2.15 - they want to save costs on the following corridors:

50 Birmingham Maypole
X3/X4/X5 & 110 Birmingham Sutton Coldfield

[LD713821]

Commerical network doesn't look so bad now   
Lets just pray the WM isnt bankrupt soon like Birmingham

[GoldenSquid]

Commerical network doesn't look so bad now 
Lets just pray the WM isnt bankrupt soon like Birmingham

I still don't think franchising will work in this city, seeming as its been built on competition the whole time. I remember when NX did 15 buses, Diamond 6, TGB 6 all on the 50 route.

[cardew]

If the new WM Bus Network will only require 1177 vehicles, everyone best be prepared for large scale service cuts.

NX's fleet alone is currently circa 1420, Rotala circa 170 in WM + the other independents.

Having searched the document I found reference to 1177 on page 281 but the figures don't match the graph they are trying to explain, it looks like c.1,500 in 2029 falling to 1,177 by 2041.

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

2.15 - they want to save costs on the following corridors:

50 Birmingham Maypole
X3/X4/X5 & 110 Birmingham Sutton Coldfield

So that's reducing the Frequency, the 50 is the busiest but Route in Europe, 
So if they reduce that then what are gonna do with routes in the Black Country 

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

Having searched the document I found reference to 1177 on page 281 but the figures don't match the graph they are trying to explain, it looks like c.1,500 in 2029 falling to 1,177 by 2041.

1500 in 2029 is still Service Cuts, NX have 1420 Veichles might be less by then might be more, Diamond have over 100 that's at least 1500 odd plus independents or Diamond expanding say Diamond have 200 Buses by 2029 that's 1620 then all the independents have a total of say 200 veichles between them that's between depending 1750 and 1820 total veichles they are taking 230 or 320 veichles from that and the mayor seriously wants us to believe this is good get Andy Street back immediately, just Don't let him build anymore Trams 

[Mike K]

more summary for those who dont want to read a whole 600 page doc.

Phase 1 - Coventry, Walsall & Birmingham North
Procurement - Starting Q2 2026
Mobilisation - Starting Q1 2027

Phase 2 - Black Country Areas
Procurement - Starting Q2 2027
Mobilisation  - Starting Q1 2028

Phase 3 - South Birmingham & Solihull
Procurement -Starting Q2 2028
Mobilisation - Starting Q1 2029

Fleet and depot acquisition to start Q2 this year.
NX wolves,PB & Diamond tividale to be bought. new depot built in oldbury and new depot to replace BC or re-opening of the old Lea Hall depot.

Without wishing to read through the entire document, is there any mention of a new depot for the services covering south west Birmingham? A new depot in east Birmingham or the re-opening of Lea Hall would only cover part of the services BC operates. 

[cardew]

The consultation is live. I have had my say - the confirmation email went to my spam folder.

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/consultations/bus-reform/

[EK40]

Without wishing to read through the entire document, is there any mention of a new depot for the services covering south west Birmingham? A new depot in east Birmingham or the re-opening of Lea Hall would only cover part of the services BC operates.

it doesnt, the only depot its counting for south birmingham is YW. AG is for solihull and BC is for east. albeit it does say that the current YW is "not ideal" and they should consider a new site.

[Gareth]

it doesnt, the only depot its counting for south birmingham is YW. AG is for solihull and BC is for east. albeit it does say that the current YW is "not ideal" and they should consider a new site.

Is YW being 'not ideal' the reason why the electric chargers are in some kind of limbo or legal battle?

[Mike K]

Strange that a second BC replacement site isn't in the proposal. Bristol Road, Pershore Road, Harborne and Uni corridors would all require a new base, and a possible replacement for YW would need to be substantial to accommodate current routes plus the BC South West Birmingham routes. 

[cardew]

Strange that a second BC replacement site isn't in the proposal. Bristol Road, Pershore Road, Harborne and Uni corridors would all require a new base, and a possible replacement for YW would need to be substantial to accommodate current routes plus the BC South West Birmingham routes.

It does mention site(s) plural for BC

[Gareth]

Strange that a second BC replacement site isn't in the proposal. Bristol Road, Pershore Road, Harborne and Uni corridors would all require a new base, and a possible replacement for YW would need to be substantial to accommodate current routes plus the BC South West Birmingham routes.

It also says that an alternative site instead of AG should be explored and that the location of PN is 'suboptimal'. The mention of Lea Hall is just bonkers for all sorts of reasons.

The report is an interesting read. A lot of it will go over most people's heads, including my own. But all that I could understand I found interesting. There's very much an anti NX tone to some of it. I agreed with some things brought up, didn't agree with others. It's not an easy thing to say yes or no to. It's a vast, vast undertaking!

[ellspurs]

One of the posts on the last page says "new depot to be built in Oldbury". Now would that be a replacement for Diamond's Tividale, or West Bromwich, or possibly the western part of BC?

Once the HS2 building work has died down there's going to be a plethora of space available in East Birmingham/North Solihull to plop a depot down.

[cardew]

. There's very much an anti NX tone to some of it. 

Especially section 3.51 on page 227. 2030 never struck me as realistic in the first place.