VIP

[uniquicity]

I didn't see a reg unfortunately. Only got a side view of it from my office.

[nitromatt1]

I didn't see a reg unfortunately. Only got a side view of it from my office.

I'm not disbelieving what you say of course, but did you see it displaying 99 on the blinds, or just saw the bus going past? As the time you gave (10am) it doesn't fit with a VIP 99 working and would have to be either about 2 hours late or 1 hour early

[Liverpool Street]

I didn't see a reg unfortunately. Only got a side view of it from my office.

I'm not disbelieving what you say of course, but did you see it displaying 99 on the blinds, or just saw the bus going past? As the time you gave (10am) it doesn't fit with a VIP 99 working and would have to be either about 2 hours late or 1 hour early

I agree, I'm not calling you a liar but I'm positive you'll need a route change as those trees have some serious branches and the front windows will be in for a good banging.

[driver]

it was on the 99 saw it in halesowen about 10

[Kevin]

I'm not particularly worried about those trees on wheeleys road, personally wincing at the thought of a decker going round Welsh House Farm, it's nightmarish in a car sometimes

[Tony]

So you put a double deck on a tendered route with a low bridge on so you miss a big chunk out on Sunday?
Then try and pull a load of trees down with one the next day?
hmm sensible!

[Matt.N0056]

So you put a double deck on a tendered route with a low bridge on so you miss a big chunk out on Sunday?
Then try and pull a load of trees down with one the next day?
hmm sensible!

But they did seem to run an extra journey on Sunday! A bus left Sutton at 17:47 shortly followed by Diamond. The VIP bus did sit at the stop for a few minutes - probably to appear 'on time'!

[nitromatt1]

To be honest I don't understand the timetabling of the VIP 99, but looking at the one on NWM, the Trident would've gone out of service at 15:18 in Harts Green at Welsh House Farm Road. The service seems to take a break around peak time for some reason. Whether it would've come back on in the evening I have no idea, only saw one 99 this evening and it was that T51 KLD Dart.

[uniquicity]

it was on the 99 saw it in halesowen about 10

Hurrah! I'm not going mad then. I can't remember the exact time I saw it because I was working and didn't think to note it down.


To answer Tony, it did have 99 Birmingham on the side. It had a flip dot side blind.

[Liverpool Street]

I'm not particularly worried about those trees on wheeleys road, personally wincing at the thought of a decker going round Welsh House Farm, it's nightmarish in a car sometimes

Kevin, Welsh House Farm Road is nothing. A B7RLE goes round so a 10metre decker is no issues.

Saying that the trees around that estate aren't pruned really either!! Must've had a serious tree-bar on the top deck.

[Kevin]

I'm not particularly worried about those trees on wheeleys road, personally wincing at the thought of a decker going round Welsh House Farm, it's nightmarish in a car sometimes

Kevin, Welsh House Farm Road is nothing. A B7RLE goes round so a 10metre decker is no issues.

Saying that the trees around that estate aren't pruned really either!! Must've had a serious tree-bar on the top deck.

Was thinking more about the parking, makes passing any other vehicle a nightmare

[Liverpool Street]

I'm not particularly worried about those trees on wheeleys road, personally wincing at the thought of a decker going round Welsh House Farm, it's nightmarish in a car sometimes

Kevin, Welsh House Farm Road is nothing. A B7RLE goes round so a 10metre decker is no issues.

Saying that the trees around that estate aren't pruned really either!! Must've had a serious tree-bar on the top deck.

Was thinking more about the parking, makes passing any other vehicle a nightmare

Decker will fit through no problem. The only 'issue' would be the left/right turn out of Rilstone Avenue. There was usually a red hatchback parked right on the purpose-dropped curb. But nothing a decker can't handle.

In fact, the VIP deckers are shorter then NX E200's I believe.

[Kevin]

Hang on.... Just thought.....
Previous talk of VIP putting a decker on the 71? Thought they didn't run the 71 anymore?
Or am I just going spare, because I can't find their timetable on the NWM website, got Diamond, NX, Claribel and Sunny travel but not VIP

[Matt.N0056]

Hang on.... Just thought.....
Previous talk of VIP putting a decker on the 71?
Thought they didn't run the 71 anymore?

Explained earlier in the thread: I believe it was operated commercially (Sutton-Solihull), which was canceled, and they then must have won the emergency tender from Centro (Sutton-Chelmsley).

[Nathan4775]

Hang on.... Just thought.....
Previous talk of VIP putting a decker on the 71?
Thought they didn't run the 71 anymore?

Explained earlier in the thread: I believe it was operated commercially (Sutton-Solihull), which was canceled, and they then must have won the emergency tender from Centro (Sutton-Chelmsley).

So there is not a bus now From Solihull - Sutton or visa-versa