Diamond Bus - Discussion

[Trident 4609]

Theres a picture of an E400 (Think it was one at YW but used at WA without logos as they were in process of delivery from WA to YW) on the 305

[John]

Theres a picture of an E400 (Think it was one at YW but used at WA without logos as they were in process of delivery from WA to YW) on the 305

This one Nathan? 4739, 2nd from bottom picture
http://www.wmbusphotos.com/NXWM/4700-4879/4739.html

[Trident 4609]

Theres a picture of an E400 (Think it was one at YW but used at WA without logos as they were in process of delivery from WA to YW) on the 305

This one Nathan? 4739, 2nd from bottom picture
http://www.wmbusphotos.com/NXWM/4700-4879/4739.html

Yes thats the one. Thanks John :)

[PM]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/john-s-91/5540528404/
There is the a photo of a b6le on the 305 a couple of years back the competing service to diamonds 401E

Cheers Ash-wasnt aware of this service so thanks for that. The b6 does seem quite empty-maybe giving it a different service number was one of the reasons it didnt take off. It must be a good moneyspinner the 401e as its such a quick turnaround and Ive seen it arrive in bradford place with a good full load admittedly on an MPD but still

[PM]

Theres a picture of an E400 (Think it was one at YW but used at WA without logos as they were in process of delivery from WA to YW) on the 305

Thats a very interesting working though Ive never been on the 401e-I wondered if the reason diamond didnt use bigger buses was because it was a narrow route or something but this working dispels that myth-unless the travel 305 went a different route to the 401e. Maybe its because as we've said before, diamond have too many MPDs/solos and not enough longer darts

[PM]

I mentioned not so long ago about debranding the 226 swift darts as like mentioned they are being worked too hard. NXWM tried there own 305 service which took the same route as the 401E but metrobuses and b6le were mainly used it soon got withdrawn.

Its weird isnt it Ash how certainly we amongst others mentioned it and then it suddenly happened. Added to that one of the cadets with various bits of black diamond livery has had all the logos removed which I also suggested-get all the black/red/blue diamond logos off and put the smart new ones on

Didnt know about the 305-must be a bit before my time lol

Not weird at all Peter, Rotala read these message boards but don't participate...... other than on very odd occassions via Tony

Ha its a real pity as I think with most other companies we've got managers/drivers etc on here representing them. Whereas with diamond we've got no managers on here or even drivers

[Ash]

Theres a picture of an E400 (Think it was one at YW but used at WA without logos as they were in process of delivery from WA to YW) on the 305

Thats a very interesting working though Ive never been on the 401e-I wondered if the reason diamond didnt use bigger buses was because it was a narrow route or something but this working dispels that myth-unless the travel 305 went a different route to the 401e. Maybe its because as we've said before, diamond have too many MPDs/solos and not enough longer darts

Diamond use to use the centro's when new 801-820 and were even branded with the 404E with special return branding which was applied at the top of the front windscreen. Often when I used to see them go past they were fairly full but as they got branded for the 50 and 002 and some went to Wessex solo's 540-542 received the yew tree connection branding and with the solo's they limited the capacity. The tame bridge estate can easily cope with full size single deckers the roads are quite wide for an newly built estate. The 305 at the final stage of its existence followed the same route as the 401E when it was fully introduced it turned off at the Joseph leckie school and followed the same line as the 404 for a few stops and went on to the yew tree and tame bridge via greenside way and so made a loop.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwbphotos/8629015176/

The photo above shows 30809 on the 401E with the return branding clearly shown on the front window.

[winston]

Theres a picture of an E400 (Think it was one at YW but used at WA without logos as they were in process of delivery from WA to YW) on the 305

Thats a very interesting working though Ive never been on the 401e-I wondered if the reason diamond didnt use bigger buses was because it was a narrow route or something but this working dispels that myth-unless the travel 305 went a different route to the 401e. Maybe its because as we've said before, diamond have too many MPDs/solos and not enough longer darts

Diamond use to use the centro's when new 801-820 and were even branded with the 404E with special return branding which was applied at the top of the front windscreen. Often when I used to see them go past they were fairly full but as they got branded for the 50 and 002 and some went to Wessex solo's 540-542 received the yew tree connection branding and with the solo's they limited the capacity. The tame bridge estate can easily cope with full size single deckers the roads are quite wide for an newly built estate. The 305 at the final stage of its existence followed the same route as the 401E when it was fully introduced it turned off at the Joseph leckie school and followed the same line as the 404 for a few stops and went on to the yew tree and tame bridge via greenside way and so made a loop.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwbphotos/8629015176/

The photo above shows 30809 on the 401E with the return branding clearly shown on the front window.

That was all back in the days when Diamond/Rotala were showing signs of being a stronger force in the West Midlands and had a lot more fight & potential

[PM]

Theres a picture of an E400 (Think it was one at YW but used at WA without logos as they were in process of delivery from WA to YW) on the 305

Thats a very interesting working though Ive never been on the 401e-I wondered if the reason diamond didnt use bigger buses was because it was a narrow route or something but this working dispels that myth-unless the travel 305 went a different route to the 401e. Maybe its because as we've said before, diamond have too many MPDs/solos and not enough longer darts

Diamond use to use the centro's when new 801-820 and were even branded with the 404E with special return branding which was applied at the top of the front windscreen. Often when I used to see them go past they were fairly full but as they got branded for the 50 and 002 and some went to Wessex solo's 540-542 received the yew tree connection branding and with the solo's they limited the capacity. The tame bridge estate can easily cope with full size single deckers the roads are quite wide for an newly built estate. The 305 at the final stage of its existence followed the same route as the 401E when it was fully introduced it turned off at the Joseph leckie school and followed the same line as the 404 for a few stops and went on to the yew tree and tame bridge via greenside way and so made a loop.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwbphotos/8629015176/

The photo above shows 30809 on the 401E with the return branding clearly shown on the front window.

I do wish they would bring back this branding and promotion-it really wouldnt cost a fortune and would have a huge impact on the business-full size singles could probably go back on the 401e-if they had enough. Out of interest, is reliability why the KS03 solos were removed from 401e and 142 as these routes still have buses of similar capacity so cant be capacity problems

[Ash]

I don't think it was reliability problems the reason the solo's were removed i believe it was due to capacity problem both the 401E and 142 needed bigger buses although now the 401E is back to solo's and the mpd's. The 03 solos are unreliable and struggle to get up to any speed.

[PM]

Oh right assumed it wasnt as nothing bigger ever replaced them but they are horrid buses and should definitely be sold as a priority-even the solos at long acre and the 57 reg ones at tividale are nowhere near as bad. Theyre still awful but better than the KS03's

[Nathan4775]

Is there a reason 30454 (Branded 226) has been debranded

[Ash]

Maybe 30454 needed a few panels replacing so would look untidy with bits of the branding missing so could be the reason it all got removed.

[PM]

Maybe 30454 needed a few panels replacing so would look untidy with bits of the branding missing so could be the reason it all got removed.

Is the base red livery for the 226 the same as red diamond red? Just out of interest as two of the swift darts were in red diamond livery before and they look like that again now? Is it the same red diamond livery that had branding which has now been removed?

[hartshill busman 724210]

Talking 226 buses did i see MX55NWL);  ex Hansons bus yesterday in Yardley Wood Rd wearing its new blue livery? as its destined for redditch has any one seen it yet?