Diamond Bus - Discussion

[the trainbasher]

According to Derbyshire CC, Diamond are to take over the 9/9A in Derby from Littles

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/transport-roads/public-transport/news-notices/bus-service-changes/forthcoming-changes-to-bus-services.aspx

[Steveminor]

The PVR at Redditch has reduced, there is little point keeping too many buses at a depot that does not require them, therefore the sensible option is to redeploy them to other depots.

[Westy]

Is there a missing driver on the Walsall 31 / 32 rota today?

[Tony]

[font="Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]September fleet changes now listed here.
[color=var(--blue-link)]http://wmbusphotos.com/Fleetchanges/Rotala.html[/url][/font][/size][/color]
[font="Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Details of the acquired StreetLites are in the fleetlist here
[color=var(--blue-link)]http://wmbusphotos.com/Rotala/fleetlist.html[/url][/font][/size][/color]

[hlliwmai]

September fleet changes now listed here.
[color=var(--blue-link)]http://wmbusphotos.com/Fleetchanges/Rotala.html[/url][/font][/size][/color]
Details of the acquired StreetLites are in the fleetlist here
[color=var(--blue-link)]http://wmbusphotos.com/Rotala/fleetlist.html[/url][/font][/size][/color]

@Tony, 

You have missed 30967 (YJ57 XVT) off the latest update it transferred from Redditch to Tividale in August unless @Simon Dunn forgot to include it.

[2206]

With NX 94 and 95 buses bunching around this time of day

Diamond seem to be experiencing massive delays on the 94 route. There was a streetlite and pulsar following each other along the 94 route into the City Centre this afternoon. Oddly the driver of the pulsar and streetlite swapped buses when they got to Foley Road as well.
On Friday there were 3 Diamond buses running together, 2 streetlites and 1 versa.

The tracking suggests the streetlite was 30 or so minutes down.
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/38166?date=2022-10-03#journeys/317469882
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/196446?date=2022-10-03#journeys/317470355

[hlliwmai]

This isn't good reading sounds like a lot of Diamond services are possibly for the chop!.... https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/bus-school-routes-face-axe-25236917

Those listed:

* 22 Tipton Circular
* 25 Ward End - Erdington
* 26A Wolverhampton - Stowlawn (Evenings/Sunday daytime) 
* 30 West Bromwich - Stone Cross
* 34 Birmingham - Kings Heath
* 35A Walsall - Leighswood
* 36 Walsall Circular (Sundays/Weekday Evenings)
* 54 Hamstead - Perry Barr
* 61 Perry Barr - West Brom 
* 65 Woods Estate - Darlaston
* 66 West Brom - Stone Cross
* 68A/C Perry Barr Circular
* 69 Brandwood Park - Solihull
* 71 Sutton - Chelmsley Wood (Sundays only)
* 74A Dudley - West Brom 
* 78 Sutton - Queslett Island 
* 89 Queslett Asda - Erdington
* 89 Solihull - Coventry 
* 93 Smiths Wood - Small Heath
* 226 Dudley - Merry Hill (Evening & Sunday daytime) 
* 229 Dudley - Bilston (Evening & Sunday daytime) 
* 250 / 251 Stourbridge - Merry Hill Circular
* 298 / 299 Stourbridge Circular
* 424 Perry Barr - Queslett Asda
* 600 Erdington Circular 

All of these are on the list rumoured to be cut or certain journeys withdrawn.

 

[Westy]

I would've said re the Walsall 36, merge it somehow into the 39, as that route already operates daytime anyway.

[metrocity]

This isn't good reading sounds like a lot of Diamond services are possibly for the chop!.... https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/bus-school-routes-face-axe-25236917

Those listed:

* 22 Tipton Circular
* 25 Ward End - Erdington
* 26A Wolverhampton - Stowlawn (Evenings/Sunday daytime)
* 30 West Bromwich - Stone Cross
* 34 Birmingham - Kings Heath
* 35A Walsall - Leighswood
* 36 Walsall Circular (Sundays/Weekday Evenings)
* 54 Hamstead - Perry Barr
* 61 Perry Barr - West Brom
* 65 Woods Estate - Darlaston
* 66 West Brom - Stone Cross
* 68A/C Perry Barr Circular
* 69 Brandwood Park - Solihull
* 71 Sutton - Chelmsley Wood (Sundays only)
* 74A Dudley - West Brom
* 78 Sutton - Queslett Island
* 89 Queslett Asda - Erdington
* 89 Solihull - Coventry
* 93 Smiths Wood - Small Heath
* 226 Dudley - Merry Hill (Evening & Sunday daytime)
* 229 Dudley - Bilston (Evening & Sunday daytime)
* 250 / 251 Stourbridge - Merry Hill Circular
* 298 / 299 Stourbridge Circular
* 424 Perry Barr - Queslett Asda
* 600 Erdington Circular

All of these are on the list rumoured to be cut or certain journeys withdrawn.

 

Tenders were issued for a number of these routes yesterday 

[hlliwmai]

Tenders were issued for a number of these routes yesterday

So basically that means anyone could register on those routes? 

[Tony]

So basically that means anyone could register on those routes?

Anyone can just register on any route, but I would doubt any operator is looking at commercially registering on a route that even TfWM think is marginal as to whether to put it out to tender or not

[hlliwmai]

Anyone can just register on any route, but I would doubt any operator is looking at commercially registering on a route that even TfWM think is marginal as to whether to put it out to tender or not

@Tony, yes I agree personally I think the routes that have been mentioned on that list will go because as you say if TfWM don't think they are sustainable then what's the point in companies operating them

[Westy]

It's a shame about that 35a, especially after all the effort in setting it up, including donations from Dick Worrall's wallet!

Looks like the only bus Barns Lane will see are the Aston Manor ones, which aren't available for non museum travel!

[2206]

Looks like the only bus Barns Lane will see are the Aston Manor ones, which aren't available for non museum travel!

Seems to be served by a Walsall school service open to public use as well.
https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/services-timetables/159-walsall-garage-st-francis-of-assisi-school

If its not one of the NX school services are at threat of axe.

[monkeyjoe]

I read somewhere the 94 is getting the chop too in Jan 23.