Evergreen Coaches

[Lukeee]

Those AMPM darts did take a surprising amount of time to shift and I do have tremendous respect for Mel Kang-he was an award winning businessman who set up a good quality operation. Before I say any more about Thandi, can anyone confirm whether or not they ran dash bodied darts on the bristol road under the licence golden line. If they did, I have plenty to say about that company

The Thandi family has been associated with many operating names over the years, including Goldenline!
ST Buses, AK Travel, A-Line Buses, City Way Travel, Midland Bus Co, Finesse Coaches, Gold Bus, Goldenline Buses, A2B Buses, J Line, Lynx Solutions, Corporate Express, Coach Express and Evergreen Coaches.

Always thought Midland Bus Co was seperate to Thandi (assuming this is the same company that runs the blue darts in Bradford Place).

[Steveminor]

Peter its all very good saying you have respect for Mel Kang, however you didn't have to work with him constantly having to clear up his mess. I mean what kind of lawyer when running a business would enter into a contract without signing or even reading it.
Not slander as its the truth.

[PM]

Peter its all very good saying you have respect for Mel Kang, however you didn't have to work with him constantly having to clear up his mess. I mean what kind of lawyer when running a business would enter into a contract without signing or even reading it.
Not slander as its the truth.

Fair enough i dont have rxperience of working with him like you bit you must take your hat off to someone having a go and setting up.their own business

[busfan2847]

The Thandi family has been associated with many operating names over the years, including Goldenline!
ST Buses, AK Travel, A-Line Buses, City Way Travel, Midland Bus Co, Finesse Coaches, Gold Bus, Goldenline Buses, A2B Buses, J Line, Lynx Solutions, Corporate Express, Coach Express and Evergreen Coaches.

Always thought Midland Bus Co was seperate to Thandi (assuming this is the same company that runs the blue darts in Bradford Place).

Midland Bus Co vehicles were all from City Way Limited, which was a Thandi company and who introduced the light blue livery. As Tony said at the time Midland strted "Same buses, same drivers, same address". Midland Bus also had the same directors at Taj Coaches (another short lived Thandi company). Almost certainly related to Thandi!

[andy]

Peter its all very good saying you have respect for Mel Kang, however you didn't have to work with him constantly having to clear up his mess. I mean what kind of lawyer when running a business would enter into a contract without signing or even reading it.
Not slander as its the truth.

Truth or not, it's unprofessional and lacks class to badmouth someone by name on a forum when they aren't available to defend themselves.

[busfan2847]

The Thandi family has been associated with many operating names over the years, including Goldenline!
ST Buses, AK Travel, A-Line Buses, City Way Travel, Midland Bus Co, Finesse Coaches, Gold Bus, Goldenline Buses, A2B Buses, J Line, Lynx Solutions, Corporate Express, Coach Express and Evergreen Coaches.

Always thought Midland Bus Co was seperate to Thandi (assuming this is the same company that runs the blue darts in Bradford Place).

Midland Bus Co vehicles were all from City Way Limited, which was a Thandi company and who introduced the light blue livery. As Tony said at the time Midland strted "Same buses, same drivers, same address". Midland Bus also had the same directors at Taj Coaches (another short lived Thandi company). Almost certainly related to Thandi!

Add MBC1, Transol & Rest & Ride to the Thandi bus companies in the West Midlands.

[Steveminor]

Oh but he is a member of the forum I just can't remember his screen name.
Peter I have full respect for his father as he was the one who set up AMPM & risked & lost his money. But how can you respect someone who squanders their parents money.

Back on subject I think it is completely wrong that a company can keep changing its identity to
A, escape from the clutches of the TC
B, attract new business by fooling people into thinking they are using someone who is not to they first appear to be.
In the case of the later ok so on Bowens website it doess say they are part of Evergreen Coaches, but why not come clean and say "part of Thandi Coaches"

[nitromatt1]

The four services to Hagley operated by Evergreen will keep the same route numbers (HC1-4) as when operated by TGB, and will retain the same lines of route and corresponding timetables.

All four services will be operated by 85-seat double decker buses (not coaches), and will be available to the general public.

[Lukeee]

Wonder where the deckers will come from

[Tony]

Wonder where the deckers will come from

The ex Lothian Olympians they already own are 81 seaters with dual door. If the centre door was removed they would be 85 seaters

[nitromatt1]

Wonder where the deckers will come from

The ex Lothian Olympians they already own are 81 seaters with dual door. If the centre door was removed they would be 85 seaters

The addition of 4 extra seats is important, as there must be a certain number of spare seats available on each route (i.e. seats surplus to the number of registered pass holders) in order for Centro to allow it to operate as a public service, and therefore to be eligible for subsidy

[nitromatt1]

On Hagley services this morning

SUI 6581 (Spectra)
SUI 6584 (Spectra)
RUI 2058 (Alexander-bodied Olympian)
IIG 6391 (Alexander-bodied Olympian - branded for South Wolverhampton Academy)

Just to confirm the Spectras have ZF gearboxes and sound fantastic.

One thing that struck me is that SUI 6584 is originally a K-reg Spectra, making it 21 years old. I was under the impression that, as of September 2013, operators cannot use vehicles over 20 years old on school services. This was the main reason why TGB withdrew their Metrobuses.

[Tony]

On Hagley services this morning

SUI 6581 (Spectra)
SUI 6584 (Spectra)
RUI 2058 (Alexander-bodied Olympian)
IIG 6391 (Alexander-bodied Olympian - branded for South Wolverhampton Academy)

Just to confirm the Spectras have ZF gearboxes and sound fantastic.

One thing that struck me is that SUI 6584 is originally a K-reg Spectra, making it 21 years old. I was under the impression that, as of September 2013, operators cannot use vehicles over 20 years old on school services. This was the main reason why TGB withdrew their Metrobuses.

So not all 85 seaters either?

[gac_uk]

On Hagley services this morning

SUI 6581 (Spectra)
SUI 6584 (Spectra)
RUI 2058 (Alexander-bodied Olympian)
IIG 6391 (Alexander-bodied Olympian - branded for South Wolverhampton Academy)

Just to confirm the Spectras have ZF gearboxes and sound fantastic.

One thing that struck me is that SUI 6584 is originally a K-reg Spectra, making it 21 years old. I was under the impression that, as of September 2013, operators cannot use vehicles over 20 years old on school services. This was the main reason why TGB withdrew their Metrobuses.

So not all 85 seaters either?

There is no restriction (other than contractual) on the age of a vehicle used on school services. The DDA deadline for operating deckers on registered local routes is 1st January 2017

[nitromatt1]

This afternoon

SUI 6581
SUI 6582 (branded for South Wolverhampton Academy)
SUI 6584
R831 MFR (East Lancs Olympian, still in previous operator's livery)