Diamond West Midlands - Kidderminster

[winston]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Have KR not had any many additional buses than those to cover the 3 frequency increase & new route 1?

[iamwilljh92]

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Looks like its Darts for the 202 then. On the plus side, Tividale will now have two extra B7RLE to allocate elsewhere

I assume the Darts will be repainted blue in the not too distant future

They won't just be exclusive to those routes Winston as I overheard a driver say last week that MUO/MUP will be used on those routes as well

Well presumably any bus will appear on any route at some point as allocations seem pretty flexible at the moment!! Long darts  min are needed on the 202 though...

I'd use the ex First Darts on the 202 where possible. They seem the least poor vehicles Kidderminster have to play with

But they are/were supposed to be for the X3

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

My sentiments exactly @Matt but end of the day if Simon says no then they won't

[PM]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Have KR not had any many additional buses than those to cover the 3 frequency increase & new route 1?

Could those longer routes pay for them and fill a royale though?

I thought at least one JPT dart had additionally been transferred in?

[nitromatt1]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Well, Tividale have received a large number of B7s recently. I would have thought these would allow the Royales to move to Kidderminster. Unless these replaced withdrawn Darts/Cadets or were provided for a PVR increase at Tividale?

With two further Royales essentially freed from the 202 now, I think they're only going to end up on West Bromwich local routes and the 4 where they just aren't needed. These buses are the jewel amongst Diamond's otherwise dodgy fleet and I think they should make the most of them

[winston]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Have KR not had any many additional buses than those to cover the 3 frequency increase & new route 1?

Could those longer routes pay for them and fill a royale though?

I thought at least one JPT dart had additionally been transferred in?

Royales would certainly help with improving the quality of the vehicles provides and could lead to passenger growth on said routes

[iamwilljh92]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Have KR not had any many additional buses than those to cover the 3 frequency increase & new route 1?

Could those longer routes pay for them and fill a royale though?

I thought at least one JPT dart had additionally been transferred in?

@DiamondDart yes there has mate Y3 JPT

[nitromatt1]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Have KR not had any many additional buses than those to cover the 3 frequency increase & new route 1?

Could those longer routes pay for them and fill a royale though?

I thought at least one JPT dart had additionally been transferred in?

The full length Dart I caught on the 303 on Friday was rammed leaving Worcester, from what I gather the others are well used too

[PM]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Have KR not had any many additional buses than those to cover the 3 frequency increase & new route 1?

Could those longer routes pay for them and fill a royale though?

I thought at least one JPT dart had additionally been transferred in?

@DiamondDart yes there has mate Y3 JPT

Cheers @Will. Thought I'd heard it mentioned somewhere-probably by you or Sam!! So that is five vehicles and even before changes KR had 3 spare vehicles so presumably one of these will be used before the final two JNF's re-enter service.

Thanks for the info @Matt but as for the 292/4/5 for a start the 292 is supported and the 294/5 have been quiet whenever I have seen them. Granted, the 303 is undoubtedly the busiest out of the routes listed above and warrants decent vehicles

[iamwilljh92]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Have KR not had any many additional buses than those to cover the 3 frequency increase & new route 1?

Could those longer routes pay for them and fill a royale though?

I thought at least one JPT dart had additionally been transferred in?

@DiamondDart yes there has mate Y3 JPT

Cheers @Will. Thought I'd heard it mentioned somewhere-probably by you or Sam!! So that is five vehicles and even before changes KR had 3 spare vehicles so presumably one of these will be used before the final two JNF's re-enter service.

Thanks for the info @Matt but as for the 292/4/5 for a start the 292 is supported and the 294/5 have been quiet whenever I have seen them. Granted, the 303 is undoubtedly the busiest out of the routes listed above and warrants decent vehicles

Actually @DiamondDart there are a few more routes apart from the 303 that get busy which are the
3 / X3 and the 10 (which @bowler will clarify) most of the time these will be chocca and or standing especially Diamond choose to use MPDs on said routes

[nitromatt1]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Have KR not had any many additional buses than those to cover the 3 frequency increase & new route 1?

Could those longer routes pay for them and fill a royale though?

I thought at least one JPT dart had additionally been transferred in?

@DiamondDart yes there has mate Y3 JPT

Cheers @Will. Thought I'd heard it mentioned somewhere-probably by you or Sam!! So that is five vehicles and even before changes KR had 3 spare vehicles so presumably one of these will be used before the final two JNF's re-enter service.

Thanks for the info @Matt but as for the 292/4/5 for a start the 292 is supported and the 294/5 have been quiet whenever I have seen them. Granted, the 303 is undoubtedly the busiest out of the routes listed above and warrants decent vehicles

Actually mate there are a few more routes apart from the 303 that get busy which are the
3 / X3 / 10 most of the time these will be chocca and or standing

I think the SPDs currently used will suffice for the 3 & 10 though, as long as no MPDs are used

[PM]

@Will-having used all of those routes, I agree. The X3 needs full length darts but really if MPD's have to be allocated anywhere then the 3 on a 15 min frequency should be able to cope with loadings.

I was referring to loadings on out-of-town routes as opposed to more frequent town services.

No SPD's at Diamond Kidderminster @Matt-the only ones to ever have run left a while back after being branded for the 56. These are just standard 10.7 m darts...

[nitromatt1]

@DiamondDart my mistake, I meant the longer Darts, like 30382/30383

[PM]

@DiamondDart my mistake, I meant the longer Darts, like 30382/30383

Sorry, I was just being fussy! Shame the SPD's went though-they had a lot of space and were more refined than the shorter darts...

[winston]

There's a big difference between intentions and reality, I've seen them all over the place. I really think Kidderminster should be having Tividale's royales and not more poxy Darts as Kidderminster's services are far more suitable for them

I agree the Royales would be better suited to the longer distance X3, 292, 294, 295 & 303 etc additionally now the 202. But I don't think Tividale should lose those unless they are replaced by further B7RLE from within Rotala or even new.

Kidderminster update (01/06/14)

Tividale vehicles have arrived in Kiddy my mate went past the garage today and had a look and he confirmed that the vehicles that are here include:

W567 JVV
KU52 RYH
LG02 FFH
V391 SVV

So there we go Black Diamond vehicles have returned to KR!! :)

Have KR not had any many additional buses than those to cover the 3 frequency increase & new route 1?

Could those longer routes pay for them and fill a royale though?

I thought at least one JPT dart had additionally been transferred in?

@DiamondDart yes there has mate Y3 JPT

Cheers @Will. Thought I'd heard it mentioned somewhere-probably by you or Sam!! So that is five vehicles and even before changes KR had 3 spare vehicles so presumably one of these will be used before the final two JNF's re-enter service.

Thanks for the info @Matt but as for the 292/4/5 for a start the 292 is supported and the 294/5 have been quiet whenever I have seen them. Granted, the 303 is undoubtedly the busiest out of the routes listed above and warrants decent vehicles

I can't see them running all the KR services with only two spares, something else must have moved in to KR or be joining earlier next week. I think the KR Pvr is now up to 25 or 26? With a 6 vehicles increase from tomorrow. With a fleet made up totally of min 10 year old Darts, undoubtedly there will be more frequent breakdowns, even that number of spares wouldn't cover routine maintenance. I'd have though that they may now need up too 4 spares, otherwise risk having to miss journey's.

Judging by the age profile of the KR fleet, I don't think the operation could presently support newer high spec buses such as the Royales, even though some of the routes would be ideal for them.

[PM]

As a general rule what % of spares would an average depot require?

Another long dart from Redditch will probably move across as and when 30302 enters service.

I agree about the royales- the routes they would be idealfor wouldn't be able to pay for them...