Vehicle Transfers

[don]

It would only be a short-term measure; I would imagine that the next big order of double-decks (sometime next year?) would see the Presidents finally get withdrawn.

On the other hand, the Presidents, having been refurbed and repainted, still are mostly in very good condition, I don't have a problem with them being used on the 11.

But surely not a good image to portray for a flagship route?

[Nathan4775]

The 451 branded Presidents are 4044, 4047, 4049, 4054, 4055,  4083, 4087 and 4114.

Havent some lost the 451 branding & left with the stripes as i saw one on the 74 or are they seperate buses

[don]

It would only be a short-term measure; I would imagine that the next big order of double-decks (sometime next year?) would see the Presidents finally get withdrawn.

On the other hand, the Presidents, having been refurbed and repainted, still are mostly in very good condition, I don't have a problem with them being used on the 11.

The 11 would make a very nice flagship hybrid operation - imagine the publicity - but the next hybrids are going to Wolverhampton and appear set to replace the Spectras.

You guys thinking about replacement of the Presidents, remember there's over 150 Mercs which are mostly older, not to mention the B10Ls and B6LEs remaining. My guess (and it is only a guess) is that almost all of the current deliveries are being used, through complicated cascades in the case of WB and WL, to replace the B6LEs and B10Ls - and to deal with the Birmingham emission zone - hence WB needing Geminis etc etc.

Large scale replacement of Mercs will surely need another order of buses - and only the earliest of them are coming up to 15 yrs old.
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[Stu]

I too would love to see the 11 upgraded to hybrid operation, however as you'd need to purchase between 40-45 buses to fully convert it, that would be a very expensive order, considering how much more expensive hybrid buses are.

[don]

If there are ongoing Govt grants available, and a joint scheme with Birmingham City Council could be developed? It's basically twice the size of the Wolverhampton one coming up.

However I think all things are likely to focus on the City Centre with the emission zone and extension of trams.

[D10]

The 451 branded Presidents are 4044, 4047, 4049, 4054, 4055,  4083, 4087 and 4114.

Havent some lost the 451 branding & left with the stripes as i saw one on the 74 or are they seperate buses

I don't think they all had the 451 branding put on after repainting and refurbing. Some were left unbranded in case they needed to be used on other routes at WB.

[Nathan4775]

The 451 branded Presidents are 4044, 4047, 4049, 4054, 4055,  4083, 4087 and 4114.

Havent some lost the 451 branding & left with the stripes as i saw one on the 74 or are they seperate buses

I don't think they all had the 451 branding put on after repainting and refurbing. Some were left unbranded in case they needed to be used on other routes at WB.

mainly 74/75

[Ash]

I havent seen any debranded 451 presidents the ones with the stripes that were left unbranded are rarely on the 451 and mostly always seen on the 74/5 or 127/8

[Ash]

It would be interesting to see what WB would get in terms of single deckers to replace the mercs and b6le they have as the mercs are the newest single deckers they have (apart from the alx200 darts), my guess would be some older omnilinks as they have had them before when they used to operate the 404. With the 89 using older mercs and needing to be replaced with the Birmingham emmission ruling coming in I would expect gemini's to be used as the PVR is only 4 and I couldnt a new type of vehicle being introduced to the garage for just 4 buses.

[Gareth]

Personally I dont think the Outer Circle will ever get any kind of flagship or hybrid status. Imagine all the publicity and money spent for a route that runs in convoys of 3 or 4 at times. Not a good advert. The 11 has always had older buses. 25 year old Birmingham Standards, continued by open platform ex Municipal stock, then the first generation 2 man fleetlines. Even in recent years, it was still 100% Metrobus.

Thats not to say the outer circle doesnt deserve new stock and a better travelling experience for the public, it just seems there are other routes that will always take priority.

[Liberator9]

Being rather un eco friendly, couldn't NXWM just buy ordinary double decker buses to supplement 20 or so hybrids.

[PM]

I think they should do just this-maybe extra long wheelbase volvo b9tl/geminis like Lothian have as these are really smart looking buses and should be solidly built and reliable. These would help capacity problems on some routes.

[MW]

I think they should do just this-maybe extra long wheelbase volvo b9tl/geminis like Lothian have as these are really smart looking buses and should be solidly built and reliable. These would help capacity problems on some routes.

But would they be able to cope with the tight turns on the Outer Circle? A little re-routing could easily fix the problem however.

[PM]

I didnt initially propose them for the outer circle as this is what i thought but for many routes they would be fine...

[MW]

Originally, I think there was 13 Presidents for the 451, and 12(?) for the 1. Not all were branded. I also recall 4033 refurbished and in the same New Travel West Midlands livery, but at Birmingham Central. It then moved to Acocks Green, after repaint.