After the takeover

[arrifirststage]

Am I right in thinking that although First will have no presence in Redditch they will still run the 292 and the 303 in Kidderminster?
Are there any odd workings by Worcester garage on the 294/295 or any other odds and ends eg Bark Hill shorts on the 292?

[Cedric]

Am I right in thinking that although First will have no presence in Redditch they will still run the 292 and the 303 in Kidderminster?
Are there any odd workings by Worcester garage on the 294/295 or any other odds and ends eg Bark Hill shorts on the 292?

no they will not be running on anything in Kidderminster or from  Kidderminster 2 links to first site  you will see the information, 

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/worcestershire_herefordshire/travel_news/news_initiatives/?item=9581&conf=0

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/worcestershire_herefordshire/journey_planning/timetables/index.php?operator=14&page=1&redirect=no

know I have already post these links could not remember in which thread to tell  other poster  to look in to see

[arrifirststage]

Thanks for the links.........but I am still unsure where it says the 292/303 will be transferring to Diamond,although you are probably correct.
Conversely then Diamond buses will have a larger presence in Worcester with these routes.
I agree that First are not the best in the world,but I have even less faith in Diamond of any colour if their West Midland operations are any benchmark,pity Redditch never went to Stagecoach and Kidderminster to Whittle (though with any luck the latter could still happen).

[Cedric]

Thanks for the links.........but I am still unsure where it says the 292/303 will be transferring to Diamond,although you are probably correct.
Conversely then Diamond buses will have a larger presence in Worcester with these routes.
I agree that First are not the best in the world,but I have even less faith in Diamond of any colour if their West Midland operations are any benchmark,pity Redditch never went to Stagecoach and Kidderminster to Whittle (though with any luck the latter could still happen).

I have just taken  it  that first  will not be running  on the 292/303 /294/295 as yesterday when first  altered there site the times of routes in  Kidderminster  and Redditch  where changed    to show that they where only  up to the 2nd march . before they showed  until futher notice ,

[busfan2847]

Thanks for the links.........but I am still unsure where it says the 292/303 will be transferring to Diamond,although you are probably correct.
Conversely then Diamond buses will have a larger presence in Worcester with these routes.
I agree that First are not the best in the world,but I have even less faith in Diamond of any colour if their West Midland operations are any benchmark,pity Redditch never went to Stagecoach and Kidderminster to Whittle (though with any luck the latter could still happen).

Looking at the Worcestershire CC site ( http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/bus/timetables.aspx ) the following First routes are transferring to Diamond.

KR - 2,3,4,5,7,10,292,294,295,302,303,831,X3; RH - 26,51,55/A,56/A,57,58,142,143,145,146,247,S72,S75,S93

[111 Roughley]

There are a lot of questions as to how Diamond will operate after the takeover now they've secured dominance in Redditch but perhaps that ought to be on a Rotala thread. With regard to First though, I would guess that Diamond and First will operate an unofficial non-aggression pact. First still have some interest in Bromsgrove with the 144, a service that I sentimentally hope continues- this stems from many days out to The Malverns on the top deck in the 1960s. From early 2015 of course there will be 3 trains an hour to Bromsgrove, which though the station's in the wrong place, will have some effect.

[Cedric]

Thanks for the links.........but I am still unsure where it says the 292/303 will be transferring to Diamond,although you are probably correct.
Conversely then Diamond buses will have a larger presence in Worcester with these routes.
I agree that First are not the best in the world,but I have even less faith in Diamond of any colour if their West Midland operations are any benchmark,pity Redditch never went to Stagecoach and Kidderminster to Whittle (though with any luck the latter could still happen).

Looking at the Worcestershire CC site ( http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/bus/timetables.aspx ) the following First routes are transferring to Diamond.

KR - 2,3,4,5,7,10,292,294,295,302,303,831,X3; RH - 26,51,55/A,56/A,57,58,142,143,145,146,247,S72,S75,S93

diamond   will not be running on the 7 as it is a whittles  diamond  only shown on that timetable  there is the 4a  which  the main  is the 4    extend to the 7 terminus .   it does not run along the 7 route at all

[tank90]

There are a lot of questions as to how Diamond will operate after the takeover now they've secured dominance in Redditch but perhaps that ought to be on a Rotala thread. With regard to First though, I would guess that Diamond and First will operate an unofficial non-aggression pact. First still have some interest in Bromsgrove with the 144, a service that I sentimentally hope continues- this stems from many days out to The Malverns on the top deck in the 1960s. From early 2015 of course there will be 3 trains an hour to Bromsgrove, which though the station's in the wrong place, will have some effect.

Diamond Are operating Redditch and Kidderminster Depots as they are for now just with there own buses. The S93 will remain dd and First Redditch Child Fare will still apply. Diamond arent looking to change anything to much just in case it all hits the fan and is forced to go back the to how it was. Also as July sees alot of changes for September ie School services Diamond arent going to rock many boats to soon.

[Kevin]

I'd be intrigued to see what they do with the 143/145 routes.
They used to do the 145 when it was cotteridge - bromsgrove, then First took it back to run it longbridge - bromsgrove and occasionally on to redditch.

[Tony]

Diamond have sold 6 Lances they are receiving off First this weekend, 5 for scrap and 246 for preservation, so don't expect to see any of them in service next week. Anyone needing to see/ride on/photograph them should get to Kidderminster in the next 3 days! 255 is the only one showing as surviving.
The KR fleet next week should be
Solos 20841   MX09HJG; 20844   MX58KZG; 15000   MX08MYT; 20026   MX08MZG
Darts 30930   VX54MUC; 30931   VX54MUO; 30932   VX54MUP; 31501   R220MSA
31510   R475CAH; 31500   R610YCR; 31507   R455CCV; 31505   P405MLA
31506   P406MLA; 31504   P404MLA; 31502   P402MLA; 31503   P403MLA
31508   N341EUY (Still showing on Rotala fleet, but I have been told from the first end this is being replaced by (P401 MLA)
Lance 31516   M255MRW

[Tony]

Redditch's fleet is showing as:
20201   KX03JBU; 20304   KX03HZJ; 20503   T71JBA; 20504   V266BNV;
20533   X372CUY; 20537   Y37SVV; 20546   T468HNH; 20573   W573JVV
20608   KU52YJY; 30013   Y3NBB; 30111   AE10CSF; 30428   S405JUA
30516   W906JNF; 30701   MW52PZP; 30802   KX08HMZ; 30803   BU08DBO
30804   KX57OVV; 30805   KX08HMY; 30831   MX08PZH; 30850   BU08DAO
30851   BU08DBX; 30852   BU08DBV; 30854   WX58FSE; 30855   WX58FRZ
30856   WX58FSD; 30857   BU08DHO;  30858   BU08DHP; 30859   WX58FSC
30860   WX58FRR; 30861   MX07OYT; 30862   BU08MTE; 30933   VX54MSU
30934   VX54MSY; 30935   VX54MTE;
40610   V857HBY; 40611   V860HBY; 40612   V862HBY; 40613   V877HBY
40614   T881KLF; 40615   V882HBY; 40616   T884KLF; 40617   T885KLF
40618   V886HBY; 40619   V894HLH;
42563   N963SOS; 42564   K123URP; 42565   K126URP

Both lists have been cut and pasted form a list sent to me by Rotala so don't blame me for any typos

[winston]

Redditch's fleet is showing as:
20201   KX03JBU; 20304   KX03HZJ; 20503   T71JBA; 20504   V266BNV;
20533   X372CUY; 20537   Y37SVV; 20546   T468HNH; 20573   W573JVV
20608   KU52YJY; 30013   Y3NBB; 30111   AE10CSF; 30428   S405JUA
30516   W906JNF; 30701   MW52PZP; 30802   KX08HMZ; 30803   BU08DBO
30804   KX57OVV; 30805   KX08HMY; 30831   MX08PZH; 30850   BU08DAO
30851   BU08DBX; 30852   BU08DBV; 30854   WX58FSE; 30855   WX58FRZ
30856   WX58FSD; 30857   BU08DHO;  30858   BU08DHP; 30859   WX58FSC
30860   WX58FRR; 30861   MX07OYT; 30862   BU08MTE; 30933   VX54MSU
30934   VX54MSY; 30935   VX54MTE;
40610   V857HBY; 40611   V860HBY; 40612   V862HBY; 40613   V877HBY
40614   T881KLF; 40615   V882HBY; 40616   T884KLF; 40617   T885KLF
40618   V886HBY; 40619   V894HLH;
42563   N963SOS; 42564   K123URP; 42565   K126URP

Both lists have been cut and pasted form a list sent to me by Rotala so don't blame me for any typos

Have Rotala given any indication if they are intending to retain the Church Road depot?

[Ash]

30516 returning to red diamond after a couple of years at Tividale then. Also 30801 seems to be stopping at Long Acre. 

[PM]

Diamond have sold 6 Lances they are receiving off First this weekend, 5 for scrap and 246 for preservation, so don't expect to see any of them in service next week. Anyone needing to see/ride on/photograph them should get to Kidderminster in the next 3 days! 255 is the only one showing as surviving.
The KR fleet next week should be
Solos 20841   MX09HJG; 20844   MX58KZG; 15000   MX08MYT; 20026   MX08MZG
Darts 30930   VX54MUC; 30931   VX54MUO; 30932   VX54MUP; 31501   R220MSA
31510   R475CAH; 31500   R610YCR; 31507   R455CCV; 31505   P405MLA
31506   P406MLA; 31504   P404MLA; 31502   P402MLA; 31503   P403MLA
31508   N341EUY (Still showing on Rotala fleet, but I have been told from the first end this is being replaced by (P401 MLA)
Lance 31516   M255MRW

Glad to see an ex mrw lance entering preservation!! Great news

[PM]

30516 returning to red diamond after a couple of years at Tividale then. Also 30801 seems to be stopping at Long Acre.

Haven't seen 30801 since it was first out a couple of weeks ago. Don't know where it has been-seriously this bus must have such a low mileage