Diamond West Midlands - Kidderminster

[Matt.N0056]

Simon has already said that Kidder will only have ADL/Dennis buses! So I see the VDLs going to Redditch in exchange for longer darts, ie the 52 plates and W906 JNF and any other long dart we may have over here in the east. Or they are headed for Oban rd and Tividale and they are using Kidder as they did Long Acre.

But Rotala aren't buying ADL E200 buses either new or used which of course would be the most logical replacements for Darts. The VDL's have some similarities with Darts in that they Cummins engined etc The DAF/VDL SB120 is the closest to a Dart

Yes I know, but an E300 isn't to dissimilar to a dart either, I can't see the VDLs staying at Kidder after Simon said wht he did.

E300's in to KR would be the ideal choice, as KR's engineering team & ex First drivers will already be familiar with them. E300's are few & far between on the used market, so the only other option I could see, would be for Tividale to take ex Wessex VDL/Centro's, releasing B7RLE/Wright or B7RLE/Centro's to RH to allow current E300's to cascade to KR

are there not still some Volvo B7RLEs to come to the Midlands:

Around Mid/late April, we are going to re-deploy 5 x VDL Centros from Avonmouth to the Midlands, a further decker to Preston to allow the release of Preston deckers to operate school contracts in Blackpool and also the 07 plate Volvo B7RLE's which should have come up earlier.  We have not yet decided their exact location.

[tank90]

Simon has already said that Kidder will only have ADL/Dennis buses! So I see the VDLs going to Redditch in exchange for longer darts, ie the 52 plates and W906 JNF and any other long dart we may have over here in the east. Or they are headed for Oban rd and Tividale and they are using Kidder as they did Long Acre.

But Rotala aren't buying ADL E200 buses either new or used which of course would be the most logical replacements for Darts. The VDL's have some similarities with Darts in that they Cummins engined etc The DAF/VDL SB120 is the closest to a Dart

Yes I know, but an E300 isn't to dissimilar to a dart either, I can't see the VDLs staying at Kidder after Simon said wht he did.

E300's in to KR would be the ideal choice, as KR's engineering team & ex First drivers will already be familiar with them. E300's are few & far between on the used market, so the only other option I could see, would be for Tividale to take ex Wessex VDL/Centro's, releasing B7RLE/Wright or B7RLE/Centro's to RH to allow current E300's to cascade to KR

are there not still some Volvo B7RLEs to come to the Midlands:

Around Mid/late April, we are going to re-deploy 5 x VDL Centros from Avonmouth to the Midlands, a further decker to Preston to allow the release of Preston deckers to operate school contracts in Blackpool and also the 07 plate Volvo B7RLE's which should have come up earlier.  We have not yet decided their exact location.

Yes that is true, but "Exact Location is still not yet decided which to me means well we will look at RH and see if they are needed, no right ORd maybe, LAC maybe and TD yes we could use them here. Its safe to say KD wont see them but whether RH does is another matter, RH should so the Mans can go back to the 50 and 16 in Brum as they would be better there than smoking around Redditch all the time.

[PM]

Simon has already said that Kidder will only have ADL/Dennis buses! So I see the VDLs going to Redditch in exchange for longer darts, ie the 52 plates and W906 JNF and any other long dart we may have over here in the east. Or they are headed for Oban rd and Tividale and they are using Kidder as they did Long Acre.

But Rotala aren't buying ADL E200 buses either new or used which of course would be the most logical replacements for Darts. The VDL's have some similarities with Darts in that they Cummins engined etc The DAF/VDL SB120 is the closest to a Dart

Yes I know, but an E300 isn't to dissimilar to a dart either, I can't see the VDLs staying at Kidder after Simon said wht he did.

E300's in to KR would be the ideal choice, as KR's engineering team & ex First drivers will already be familiar with them. E300's are few & far between on the used market, so the only other option I could see, would be for Tividale to take ex Wessex VDL/Centro's, releasing B7RLE/Wright or B7RLE/Centro's to RH to allow current E300's to cascade to KR

are there not still some Volvo B7RLEs to come to the Midlands:

Around Mid/late April, we are going to re-deploy 5 x VDL Centros from Avonmouth to the Midlands, a further decker to Preston to allow the release of Preston deckers to operate school contracts in Blackpool and also the 07 plate Volvo B7RLE's which should have come up earlier.  We have not yet decided their exact location.

Yes that is true, but "Exact Location is still not yet decided which to me means well we will look at RH and see if they are needed, no right ORd maybe, LAC maybe and TD yes we could use them here. Its safe to say KD wont see them but whether RH does is another matter, RH should so the Mans can go back to the 50 and 16 in Brum as they would be better there than smoking around Redditch all the time.

Not a fan of the MAN's then tank90??!!

[tank90]

Simon has already said that Kidder will only have ADL/Dennis buses! So I see the VDLs going to Redditch in exchange for longer darts, ie the 52 plates and W906 JNF and any other long dart we may have over here in the east. Or they are headed for Oban rd and Tividale and they are using Kidder as they did Long Acre.

But Rotala aren't buying ADL E200 buses either new or used which of course would be the most logical replacements for Darts. The VDL's have some similarities with Darts in that they Cummins engined etc The DAF/VDL SB120 is the closest to a Dart

Yes I know, but an E300 isn't to dissimilar to a dart either, I can't see the VDLs staying at Kidder after Simon said wht he did.

E300's in to KR would be the ideal choice, as KR's engineering team & ex First drivers will already be familiar with them. E300's are few & far between on the used market, so the only other option I could see, would be for Tividale to take ex Wessex VDL/Centro's, releasing B7RLE/Wright or B7RLE/Centro's to RH to allow current E300's to cascade to KR

are there not still some Volvo B7RLEs to come to the Midlands:

Around Mid/late April, we are going to re-deploy 5 x VDL Centros from Avonmouth to the Midlands, a further decker to Preston to allow the release of Preston deckers to operate school contracts in Blackpool and also the 07 plate Volvo B7RLE's which should have come up earlier.  We have not yet decided their exact location.

Yes that is true, but "Exact Location is still not yet decided which to me means well we will look at RH and see if they are needed, no right ORd maybe, LAC maybe and TD yes we could use them here. Its safe to say KD wont see them but whether RH does is another matter, RH should so the Mans can go back to the 50 and 16 in Brum as they would be better there than smoking around Redditch all the time.

Not a fan of the MAN's then tank90??!!

Not when they are churning out black smoke no, and also they are a tad crampt when youre sat down and you happen to be 6ft 1 with long legs when sat down. If im honest the only buses the Diamond have that I like as a passenager are the E300s and the B7s I wish we had more here but I cant see that happening any time soon as I dont think Rotala are going to buy the )4 plates back off of YourBus which would be great for here to push off the mans back to the 50 which is where they belong and the 09 plate one can go on the 16. Also they lack the power needed for some of the round a bouts we have in Redditch (could write a noval on them) which require you to put your foot to the floor or if your in an auto matic Kick down but no the Mans have a habit of not pulling off to quickly which on some round a bouts becomes worring to say the least.

As for the lampposts they can do what ever they like with them if I'm honest they to are under powered they are shocking the best routes for them would be 50 51 60 63 64 142/143 not the 55's and 56's this route needs a bus with some power to it.

Also on another thought I hope the Ex wessex Volvos do come to Redditch so our own ones can go away for heavy maintance or as in the rail industry would say an overhaul is needed as they have disconserting messages on the driver display. And at the same time a spray into blue (tho Red sits better on them).

[PM]

Simon has already said that Kidder will only have ADL/Dennis buses! So I see the VDLs going to Redditch in exchange for longer darts, ie the 52 plates and W906 JNF and any other long dart we may have over here in the east. Or they are headed for Oban rd and Tividale and they are using Kidder as they did Long Acre.

But Rotala aren't buying ADL E200 buses either new or used which of course would be the most logical replacements for Darts. The VDL's have some similarities with Darts in that they Cummins engined etc The DAF/VDL SB120 is the closest to a Dart

Yes I know, but an E300 isn't to dissimilar to a dart either, I can't see the VDLs staying at Kidder after Simon said wht he did.

E300's in to KR would be the ideal choice, as KR's engineering team & ex First drivers will already be familiar with them. E300's are few & far between on the used market, so the only other option I could see, would be for Tividale to take ex Wessex VDL/Centro's, releasing B7RLE/Wright or B7RLE/Centro's to RH to allow current E300's to cascade to KR

are there not still some Volvo B7RLEs to come to the Midlands:

Around Mid/late April, we are going to re-deploy 5 x VDL Centros from Avonmouth to the Midlands, a further decker to Preston to allow the release of Preston deckers to operate school contracts in Blackpool and also the 07 plate Volvo B7RLE's which should have come up earlier.  We have not yet decided their exact location.

Yes that is true, but "Exact Location is still not yet decided which to me means well we will look at RH and see if they are needed, no right ORd maybe, LAC maybe and TD yes we could use them here. Its safe to say KD wont see them but whether RH does is another matter, RH should so the Mans can go back to the 50 and 16 in Brum as they would be better there than smoking around Redditch all the time.

Not a fan of the MAN's then tank90??!!

Not when they are churning out black smoke no, and also they are a tad crampt when youre sat down and you happen to be 6ft 1 with long legs when sat down. If im honest the only buses the Diamond have that I like as a passenager are the E300s and the B7s I wish we had more here but I cant see that happening any time soon as I dont think Rotala are going to buy the )4 plates back off of YourBus which would be great for here to push off the mans back to the 50 which is where they belong and the 09 plate one can go on the 16. Also they lack the power needed for some of the round a bouts we have in Redditch (could write a noval on them) which require you to put your foot to the floor or if your in an auto matic Kick down but no the Mans have a habit of not pulling off to quickly which on some round a bouts becomes worring to say the least.

As for the lampposts they can do what ever they like with them if I'm honest they to are under powered they are shocking the best routes for them would be 50 51 60 63 64 142/143 not the 55's and 56's this route needs a bus with some power to it.

Also on another thought I hope the Ex wessex Volvos do come to Redditch so our own ones can go away for heavy maintance or as in the rail industry would say an overhaul is needed as they have disconserting messages on the driver display. And at the same time a spray into blue (tho Red sits better on them).

I agree all the red diamond eclipses need a deep clean and out of date notices removing, plus a repaint. Personally, the MAN centro's are some of my favourite buses, especially 30802, as they are always incredibly fast and powerful. Streetlites are loud as they sound underpowered, as you say. It would be nice to see some bigger buses like the MAN's back on the 50/16 especially with GRS coming off so some extra capacity could be useful to compete with NX.

[iamwilljh92]

I haven't seen (unless anyone else has) LG02 FFC for a few days which makes me wonder if it has gone back to Birmingham nor have I seen W904 JNF in service although I went past the bus depot yesterday on the Stourport bus and the Wessex bus has re-appeared as has S405 JUA (V.O.R notice in windscreen) and T71 JBA is still parked there V.O.R only thing I did notice is YJ06 YPU has vanished (good riddance!) but no more out of place vehicles I noticed anyway.

[PM]

I haven't seen (unless anyone else has) LG02 FFC for a few days which makes me wonder if it has gone back to Birmingham nor have I seen W904 JNF in service although I went past the bus depot yesterday on the Stourport bus and the Wessex bus has re-appeared as has S405 JUA (V.O.R notice in windscreen) and T71 JBA is still parked there V.O.R only thing I did notice is YJ06 YPU has vanished (good riddance!) but no more out of place vehicles I noticed anyway.

The Wessex centro was still in Wessex livery yeah?

[iamwilljh92]

I haven't seen (unless anyone else has) LG02 FFC for a few days which makes me wonder if it has gone back to Birmingham nor have I seen W904 JNF in service although I went past the bus depot yesterday on the Stourport bus and the Wessex bus has re-appeared as has S405 JUA (V.O.R notice in windscreen) and T71 JBA is still parked there V.O.R only thing I did notice is YJ06 YPU has vanished (good riddance!) but no more out of place vehicles I noticed anyway.

The Wessex centro was still in Wessex livery yeah?

Yes mate (YJ07 JRV) it is

[PM]

I haven't seen (unless anyone else has) LG02 FFC for a few days which makes me wonder if it has gone back to Birmingham nor have I seen W904 JNF in service although I went past the bus depot yesterday on the Stourport bus and the Wessex bus has re-appeared as has S405 JUA (V.O.R notice in windscreen) and T71 JBA is still parked there V.O.R only thing I did notice is YJ06 YPU has vanished (good riddance!) but no more out of place vehicles I noticed anyway.

The Wessex centro was still in Wessex livery yeah?

Yes mate (YJ07 JRV) it is

Cheers Will!

[StourportSam]

S405 JUA returned to Kidderminster this week by recovery lorry, so I can only assume YJ06 YPU went the other way.

W904 JNF is inside the garage being prepared for service.

I don't think LG02 FFC is here anymore.

[PM]

S405 JUA returned to Kidderminster this week by recovery lorry, so I can only assume YJ06 YPU went the other way.

W904 JNF is inside the garage being prepared for service.

I don't think LG02 FFC is here anymore.

It must have been at long acre then potentially having work done. ..

[iamwilljh92]

S405 JUA returned to Kidderminster this week by recovery lorry, so I can only assume YJ06 YPU went the other way.

W904 JNF is inside the garage being prepared for service.

I don't think LG02 FFC is here anymore.

It must have been at long acre then potentially having work done. ..

Hmmm, interesting I wonder if that now means JUA will return to service and I wonder what exactly the point was in bringing FFC down here for it to go back again!! christ Diamond work in very mysterious ways I'm looking foward to W904 starting service mind

[StourportSam]

The X3 seems to have returned to normal with W572 JVV making an appearance, although it was alongside V383 SVV...

[iamwilljh92]

The X3 seems to have returned to normal with W572 JVV making an appearance, although it was alongside V383 SVV...

T418 MNH on the 5 (Puxton Drive via Marlpool) this afternoon typical Diamond putting a big bus on a route that's not particually populated and V658 HEC on the 295 (Worcester via Stourport) in my opinion they should of used V658 on the 5 and T418 on the 295 would of made a lot more sense when will Diamond learn...

[StourportSam]

There were two old Diamond red and white liveried long darts (in addition to T418 MNH) parked up around the back of KR garage when I went past just now, will have a look for their identities when I go past on the way to work tomorrow...