WEDNESFIELD B6

[Bob]

I thought the B6s were supposed to go to Wednesfield but now 16 have moved to Stafford, and a few Darts have been withdrawn. Is the Stafford allocation a permanent thing? Because theyll all have to be replaced presumably if they are to move to Wednesfield. Personally i think most routes at Stafford would be fine with MPDs.....

[nx4737]

I thought the B6s were supposed to go to Wednesfield but now 16 have moved to Stafford, and a few Darts have been withdrawn. Is the Stafford allocation a permanent thing? Because theyll all have to be replaced presumably if they are to move to Wednesfield. Personally i think most routes at Stafford would be fine with MPDs.....

Keep up... they moved to Stafford because the OFT/CC decided to poke there nose into the Midland takeover...

[Bob]

yes i know, but thats hardly likely to be a barrier

[jarh_9394]

Well it is, and until clearance is passed mass vehicle moves of this scale will not occur.

[Bob]

Yes i know this what i mean is they would have to be replaced at Stafford or the plan abandoned & alternative buses sent to Wednesfield

[staffsdave]

These are a permanent transfer. We experienced some serious reliability problems with the DENNIS SLF/MPDs Mid-October with 10 Breakdowns in ONE DAY!

[Bob]

So what will happen to the remaining MPDs/Darts? Also I wonder what will now go to Midland? Hopefully every bloody Dart at Cannock! God awful buses

[andy]

These are a permanent transfer. We experienced some serious reliability problems with the DENNIS SLF/MPDs Mid-October with 10 Breakdowns in ONE DAY!

Well if you still have them all in May I predict that will be the next time you have 10 breakdowns in one day, get ready for the 'ding ding ding ding' !!

[Bob]

Could it be something to do with poor maintenance? that 10 breakdowns? ive seen darts blowin tons of black smoke out in stafford before now

[Ashley]

Prefer Arrivas B6's to the darts

[Bob]

Arriva cant think much of its Stafford operation, 10 breakdowns etc in one day you would think would signal an embarassment for them, and maybe investment was desperately needed, but what do Arriva do? Replace the ( slightly more knackered crap fleet) of Darts with 13 yr old knackered B6s! Does Stafford make a loss?

[Ashley]

I don't think it does, their town services see some use, don't think it's standing room only, but 10 breakdowns in a day, its worse than the Spectras at Wolves when we first had them. First South Yorkshire are withdrawing their S reg darts if they breakdown now

[Bob]

The town services get mainly full of pensioners, maybe the 8 or 9 turn a slight profit

[Ashley]

The best description would be that a fair bit of Arriva Midlands thrives from conscessionary travel and apart from that doesn't bring in many pennies caused by lack of investment and for some, offputting fares

[Bob]

Yea Stafford definately suffers from a lack of investment. Cannocks done ok to a point, eg the VDL's 61 plate for the 60 And the 57 plates for the Staffords( but even these are looking a bit tired now, and surely must be coming up for a repaint?), but the Walsall & Wolverhampton and Pye Green/ 31/2/3 services are run by a mish mash of nails. Plus they havent a clue how to put branded buses on the correct routes!