Diamond East Midlands (formerly Midland Classic)

[the trainbasher]

@mikestone as mentioned in the Buses on TV thread it was HIGNFY

[mikestone]

83 (FX55 VKG - note is duplicated as VKH in fleetlist) seen today running towards Tamworth station on the 16.04 X13 a few minutes late with about a dozen passengers.
;

[Dutsey]

What has the patronage been like on the X13?

[PM]

What has the patronage been like on the X13?

Obviously not sufficient as it's withdrawn from 5/7/15

[Cheese]

Obviously not sufficient as it's withdrawn from 5/7/15

Not totally withdrawn, 3 return journeys still registered from then.

[Dutsey]

That's a shame, I think new routes should have to be run for a year to give people the chance to use it and rely on it

[Cheese]

That's a shame, I think new routes should have to be run for a year to give people the chance to use it and rely on it

But if the operator is losing money on it, why should they continue to run it? Arriva tried running Burton to Tamworth but that didn't last long.  If it is only carrying passes with a few fare payers which I suspect is probably the case, hardly worth continuing with it.  Train by far and away the quickest way between Burton and Tamworth.

[Dutsey]

I understand that but surely a route needs time to become established, 3 months is hardly a long time and they should advertise the route with offers etc.

I think they could link with the hospital which may give more usage.

[646]

I understand that but surely a route needs time to become established, 3 months is hardly a long time and they should advertise the route with offers etc.

I think they could link with the hospital which may give more usage.

I agree that this isn't a long time from a passenger perspective but if you are taking all of the commercial risk, three months is a long time!

[Dennis]

I understand that but surely a route needs time to become established, 3 months is hardly a long time and they should advertise the route with offers etc.

I think they could link with the hospital which may give more usage.

Three months sounds ample time to assess whether it's commercially viable or not. The only way to tell is to try it.

If there's been patronage growth in that period you might keep at it, but if it's been flat for two of the three months it's probably not going to work and you're best to scale it back.

[Tony]

Three months sounds ample time to assess whether it's commercially viable or not. The only way to tell is to try it.

If there's been patronage growth in that period you might keep at it, but if it's been flat for two of the three months it's probably not going to work and you're best to scale it back.

Any 'new' route takes a lot longer than three months to know if it is going to be viable. Most genuine 'new' routes as opposed to ones aimed at either taking existing passengers, or mostly replacing another route are generally tendered for the first year to give them chance to grow and become viable.

Nobody just changes their travelling habits just because a new route appears.

[MrBevan2000]

I know I'm going to seem like an idiot for asking but is TOJ 592S still with Midland Classic?

[Ashley 60171]

I know I'm going to seem like an idiot for asking but is TOJ 592S still with Midland Classic?

It is.

[Bob]

Any 'new' route takes a lot longer than three months to know if it is going to be viable. Most genuine 'new' routes as opposed to ones aimed at either taking existing passengers, or mostly replacing another route are generally tendered for the first year to give them chance to grow and become viable.

Nobody just changes their travelling habits just because a new route appears.

Do you think this will be the case with the 154 Tony? Because despite smart new buses wi fi etc its doing absolutely dismally at the moment.  Yet the 54 has taken off.

[Tony]

Do you think this will be the case with the 154 Tony? Because despite smart new buses wi fi etc its doing absolutely dismally at the moment.  Yet the 54 has taken off.

Yes, when people look for jobs, they have to be able to get there, so people along the 154 route can now apply for jobs at JLR, but may not have done before, that is why it takes so long for routes to build up.

Not enough people in Hednesford will see a bus with Wolverhampton on the front and think 'let's go to Wolverhampton for the day' to make the service financially viable.

Whereas Stafford, Penkridge, Wolverhampton already has established links, not just Arriva, but the train as well