Diamond Bus - Discussion

[Kiewii]

The W-JAT's are ALX300 bodied B10BLE's iirc

Yep thats correct Nathan

[John]

I saw a blue ALX200 going through Oldbury this afternoon with a trade plate in the back window, I think it was a W*** JNF.

I wonder if that could be one of W903JNF or W904JNF? Simon, confirmed all the W--JNF's would be returned to service

In terms of the JNF's, 901 was at Tividale a while back in blue from its work at Wessex, 902 is in Redditch in service, 903 was still in Connect livery at LAC being prepped for service last I saw of it, 904 not seen-though think that one was the one needing most work, and then 905/6 are both in service. So could be 1/3/4 which seems strange as not long back these were deemed beyond economical repair. I guess they do have ramps but some need a lot of work doing to them and they have been VOR a long while now...

906 is still in Red Diamond livery.

Hardly seems worth repainting/reinstating them as they're already 14 years old

DDA though and an improvement for somewhere like Kidderminster. With a bit of paint and the seats in good nick (as they already are) I reckon most passengers would hardly notice. They will no doubt be cheap to run and reliable not to mention able to use the many spare parts available at LAC and Tividale for darts. They are also a cheap way to increase capacity at a less-profitable depot. Rotala must intend to keep them a few years yet though if they intend to re-instate them...

Thanks for that update Matt-looks as if Kidderminster could be all dart, as Simon hinted.

Fantastic news!,

LAC can have (30638, YJ06 YPU) and (30639, YJ06YPV) back they're both currently still in Kidderminster albeit with YPU being VOR but yes I'm all for getting shut of the Optares

The YJ06 solos were sluggish and whiny. Good riddance I say and bring me a Dart any day! Especially as W905 JNF goes very well, let's hope its siblings are just as good. What's wrong with an ALX 200 Diamond Dart!? I think the older Style rear lights on Plaxton Pointer 2s such as those on the V HEC darts look very old fashioned.

YJ06 YPV has not been in Kidderminster for around about three weeks or more, likewise YG02 DJZ. I suspected they had moved to the Black Country. Just by chance and well done to Rotala for improving capacity but the average fleet age at Kidderminster has once again increased! Now in the range S to 54 plate... We are being spoilt with 56/57 plate Enviro 200s from Whittle! To be honest in Kidderminster any buses are better than step entrances or MPDs so bring on the Darts! If they do the job who cares about age.

Tell me if this is a coincidence or not: EYMS transfers W409 JAT to Whittle summer 2013, Diamond transfer W905 JNF to Kidderminster around the same time.
Now EYMS transfer four Wxxx JAT reg ALX 200s to Whittle, just as Diamond transfer look likely to transfer three Wxxx JNF ALX 200s to Kidderminster!
Weird or what?

There is a 'YJ06' Solo at Long Acre, have seen it out on a few of their routes. New repaint as well, so could be 'YJ06 YPV'

[StourportSam]

I saw a blue ALX200 going through Oldbury this afternoon with a trade plate in the back window, I think it was a W*** JNF.

I wonder if that could be one of W903JNF or W904JNF? Simon, confirmed all the W--JNF's would be returned to service

In terms of the JNF's, 901 was at Tividale a while back in blue from its work at Wessex, 902 is in Redditch in service, 903 was still in Connect livery at LAC being prepped for service last I saw of it, 904 not seen-though think that one was the one needing most work, and then 905/6 are both in service. So could be 1/3/4 which seems strange as not long back these were deemed beyond economical repair. I guess they do have ramps but some need a lot of work doing to them and they have been VOR a long while now...

906 is still in Red Diamond livery.

Hardly seems worth repainting/reinstating them as they're already 14 years old

DDA though and an improvement for somewhere like Kidderminster. With a bit of paint and the seats in good nick (as they already are) I reckon most passengers would hardly notice. They will no doubt be cheap to run and reliable not to mention able to use the many spare parts available at LAC and Tividale for darts. They are also a cheap way to increase capacity at a less-profitable depot. Rotala must intend to keep them a few years yet though if they intend to re-instate them...

Thanks for that update Matt-looks as if Kidderminster could be all dart, as Simon hinted.

Fantastic news!,

LAC can have (30638, YJ06 YPU) and (30639, YJ06YPV) back they're both currently still in Kidderminster albeit with YPU being VOR but yes I'm all for getting shut of the Optares

The YJ06 solos were sluggish and whiny. Good riddance I say and bring me a Dart any day! Especially as W905 JNF goes very well, let's hope its siblings are just as good. What's wrong with an ALX 200 Diamond Dart!? I think the older Style rear lights on Plaxton Pointer 2s such as those on the V HEC darts look very old fashioned.

YJ06 YPV has not been in Kidderminster for around about three weeks or more, likewise YG02 DJZ. I suspected they had moved to the Black Country. Just by chance and well done to Rotala for improving capacity but the average fleet age at Kidderminster has once again increased! Now in the range S to 54 plate... We are being spoilt with 56/57 plate Enviro 200s from Whittle! To be honest in Kidderminster any buses are better than step entrances or MPDs so bring on the Darts! If they do the job who cares about age.

Tell me if this is a coincidence or not: EYMS transfers W409 JAT to Whittle summer 2013, Diamond transfer W905 JNF to Kidderminster around the same time.
Now EYMS transfer four Wxxx JAT reg ALX 200s to Whittle, just as Diamond transfer look likely to transfer three Wxxx JNF ALX 200s to Kidderminster!
Weird or what?

the four Wxxx JAT  reg are volos  not darts  these are some vehicles that used to be in the finglands fleet and as eyms have got new buses coming these will be spare  buses up  there .

I didn't say they were darts, I know they are Volvos, and I know their provenance, thanks.

The W-JAT's are ALX300 bodied B10BLE's iirc

I realised that once I had posted but didn't have chance to correct it!
Still they are the same year and body style, that was what I was referring to.
ALX 200s and ALX 300s look very similar in size.

Double posts merged, Winston

[StourportSam]

Maybe I should rephrase my original comment: It just seemed an amusing coincidence that last year EYMS and Diamond each transferred a lone Alexander bodied W registration bus to Kidderminster around the same time and now at the same time again EYMS is transferring four, and Rotala three, W registration Alexander bodied buses to Kidderminster.

Hopefully that's watertight!!

[Cedric]

I saw a blue ALX200 going through Oldbury this afternoon with a trade plate in the back window, I think it was a W*** JNF.

I wonder if that could be one of W903JNF or W904JNF? Simon, confirmed all the W--JNF's would be returned to service

In terms of the JNF's, 901 was at Tividale a while back in blue from its work at Wessex, 902 is in Redditch in service, 903 was still in Connect livery at LAC being prepped for service last I saw of it, 904 not seen-though think that one was the one needing most work, and then 905/6 are both in service. So could be 1/3/4 which seems strange as not long back these were deemed beyond economical repair. I guess they do have ramps but some need a lot of work doing to them and they have been VOR a long while now...

906 is still in Red Diamond livery.

Hardly seems worth repainting/reinstating them as they're already 14 years old

DDA though and an improvement for somewhere like Kidderminster. With a bit of paint and the seats in good nick (as they already are) I reckon most passengers would hardly notice. They will no doubt be cheap to run and reliable not to mention able to use the many spare parts available at LAC and Tividale for darts. They are also a cheap way to increase capacity at a less-profitable depot. Rotala must intend to keep them a few years yet though if they intend to re-instate them...

Thanks for that update Matt-looks as if Kidderminster could be all dart, as Simon hinted.

Fantastic news!,

LAC can have (30638, YJ06 YPU) and (30639, YJ06YPV) back they're both currently still in Kidderminster albeit with YPU being VOR but yes I'm all for getting shut of the Optares

The YJ06 solos were sluggish and whiny. Good riddance I say and bring me a Dart any day! Especially as W905 JNF goes very well, let's hope its siblings are just as good. What's wrong with an ALX 200 Diamond Dart!? I think the older Style rear lights on Plaxton Pointer 2s such as those on the V HEC darts look very old fashioned.

YJ06 YPV has not been in Kidderminster for around about three weeks or more, likewise YG02 DJZ. I suspected they had moved to the Black Country. Just by chance and well done to Rotala for improving capacity but the average fleet age at Kidderminster has once again increased! Now in the range S to 54 plate... We are being spoilt with 56/57 plate Enviro 200s from Whittle! To be honest in Kidderminster any buses are better than step entrances or MPDs so bring on the Darts! If they do the job who cares about age.

Tell me if this is a coincidence or not: EYMS transfers W409 JAT to Whittle summer 2013, Diamond transfer W905 JNF to Kidderminster around the same time.
Now EYMS transfer four Wxxx JAT reg ALX 200s to Whittle, just as Diamond transfer look likely to transfer three Wxxx JNF ALX 200s to Kidderminster!
Weird or what?

the four Wxxx JAT  reg are volos  not darts  these are some vehicles that used to be in the finglands fleet and as eyms have got new buses coming these will be spare  buses up  there .

I didn't say they were darts, I know they are Volvos, and I know their provenance, thanks.

Sam
I  mistook AXL200X  with   ADL200S.   

[tank90]

Maybe I should rephrase my original comment: It just seemed an amusing coincidence that last year EYMS and Diamond each transferred a lone Alexander bodied W registration bus to Kidderminster around the same time and now at the same time again EYMS is transferring four, and Rotala three, W registration Alexander bodied buses to Kidderminster.

Hopefully that's watertight!!

I knew what you meant the first time, some people can be a bit picky sometimes. And yes it does seem ironic that two different companies are moving buses in to an area with a similar reg and body that ARE NOT new buses, by that I mean not 60 plate or younger.

[Solo1]

Here is that solo at lac https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanjack/13495724413/

[Solo1]

Yet again diamond 4 changing wonder what the change is


PD0001374/153 - DIAMOND BUS COMPANY LTD, HALLBRIDGE WAY, TIPTON ROAD, TIVIDALE, WARLEY, B69 3HW
Variation Accepted: Operating between West Bromwich, Bus Station and Walsall, Bradford Place given service number 4/4H/4M effective from 19-May-2014. To amend Timetable.

[StourportSam]

Here is that solo at lac https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanjack/13495724413/

Thanks for the link.

[Ben]

Mercedes Citaro being recovered in Allesley Village. (82) Not sure of of Rotala fleet numbers, I'll try and work out which vehicle it is though :)


EDIT: I believe it was 30019

[PM]

Mercedes Citaro being recovered in Allesley Village. (82) Not sure of of Rotala fleet numbers, I'll try and work out which vehicle it is though :)


EDIT: I believe it was 30019

The reliability of these supposedly "really-reliable" citaro's seems to be suffering lately...

[vinh1000]

Mercedes Citaro being recovered in Allesley Village. (82) Not sure of of Rotala fleet numbers, I'll try and work out which vehicle it is though :)


EDIT: I believe it was 30019

It is as posted in B/down went past it

[bwsau cymru]

need to be kept to a good standard if they are going to be reliable...

[PM]

need to be kept to a good standard if they are going to be reliable...

Seeing as an operator acquiring ex diamond buses has spoken of their good condition and high standard of engineering and maintenance, I doubt this is the problem

[PM]

Unsure if it has been reported but 20366 is now repainted in Diamond blue with logos at Redditch.