Refurbs

[MW]

A direct swap of 27 presidents to Coventry and then send 27 tridents to BC and then send Coventry's 10 Gemini's to WB in return for 10 presidents, this suggestion is a bit unrealistic but is simple

As well as costly as 37 Presidents would need to be resprayed, as well as 37 Tridents/Geminis.

Also, the Coventry Geminis are different to the rest of the NXWM Geminis, they are fitted with Voith gearboxes.

I'd also like to see Gemini2's ordered. They would be excellent replacements for the 4700-4717 batch on the Dudley Road, replacing the Presidents.

They'd also be good replacements for the Sutton Lines I think.

[Ash]

Yeah thought it would be along shot just a different view of how the fleet could be swapped round

[winston]

I'd rather see BC gain Geminis

I still think that the Gemini's at Walsall should have gone to Birmingham Central for the 900. Maybe refurbish a few more in the 467* to high back seating and these could run the 900's. This could then get rid of around 10 President's (Whatever the PVR of the 900/E is).

Maybe the 900/900E could be treated to some new higher spec double deckers from the 2013 NX order, to the same spec as the 997 Enviros. Afterall it is a high profile route between two major cities and also serving the airport

[BU07 LGO]

Alot of this vehicle transferring is due to WB not getting any brand new buses for a long time and having the oldest average fleet age as in recent times the only new double deckers WB have actually had is the Dudley road '06' Gemini's the alx400 and presidents were all new to other garages and now the newest full length single deckers are V reg mercs (excluding the alx200 darts). WB must be due some new buses especially with the sandwell bus review coming up.

Didn't they get Omnilinks for the 404 in 2009?

[MW]

They did, but were lost to Walsall along with the 404.

[MW]

The Soho Road corridor could do with new buses as well, but they'd just get ruined.

[monkeyjoe]

Before the 404 Scanias the last new vehicles to run through WB were the 43xx Tridents for the 79 which entered service in May 2002... 7 years of no investment by any operator is impressive.
I'm sure the Dudley Rd buses were brand new in around 2006 Gemini's or what ever they are called so I don't think the above is strictly true.

[Ash]

No they run through Oldbury and the drivers change there for the service and even the 79 tridents have gone and replaced by spectra's

[MW]

Do the 82/87 run through West Bromwich?

Strictly speaking, that's incorrect, as the 79 (Birmingham - Wolverhampton) ran through West Bromwich and in it's later days, was operated by the final 100 Tridents of the NXWM fleet.

[Ash]

It was only operated by the newer tridents due to most of the 79 branded ones leaving Wolverhampton garage for Walsall, Birmingham and even Coventry. So used the newer tridents and a couple of the older 79 branded tridents. Now it sees spectra's and occasionally a merc

[monkeyjoe]

Arh, I mis read. I thought you meant running out of West Bromwich as in garage I eat humble pie.

[MW]

It was only operated by the newer tridents due to most of the 79 branded ones leaving Wolverhampton garage for Walsall, Birmingham and even Coventry. So used the newer tridents and a couple of the older 79 branded tridents. Now it sees spectra's and occasionally a merc

It was still ran by them so it isn't really true.

[Ash]

It was only operated by the newer tridents due to most of the 79 branded ones leaving Wolverhampton garage for Walsall, Birmingham and even Coventry. So used the newer tridents and a couple of the older 79 branded tridents. Now it sees spectra's and occasionally a merc

It was still ran by them so it isn't really true.

Sorry Michael i dont get what your trying to say, the 79 now uses tridents on sundays and occasionally in the evenings and uses spectra's now, before the change when it went through to Birmingham it used the newer tridents and a last couple of branded 79 tridents (02 reg) by that time quite a few was at Walsall, Birmgham, Yardley Wood and Coventry

[MW]

It was only operated by the newer tridents due to most of the 79 branded ones leaving Wolverhampton garage for Walsall, Birmingham and even Coventry. So used the newer tridents and a couple of the older 79 branded tridents. Now it sees spectra's and occasionally a merc

It was still ran by them so it isn't really true.

Sorry Michael i dont get what your trying to say, the 79 now uses tridents on sundays and occasionally in the evenings and uses spectra's now, before the change when it went through to Birmingham it used the newer tridents and a last couple of branded 79 tridents (02 reg) by that time quite a few was at Walsall, Birmgham, Yardley Wood and Coventry

What I'm saying is that new buses not running through West Bromwich between 2002-2009 isn't strictly true because BL53, BU04 and BX54 were used on the 79 which ran from Birmingham to Wolverhampton. I know it isn't now, but before 2009 it was. 2002-2009 he said.

[Ash]

Also the 56 reg Eclipses which  were occasionally used on the 405 when ran by Walsall Garage