Stagecoach trying to by Travel West Midlands

[Tony]

And the West Midlands could have ended up with step entrance buses with service numbers on bits of paper in the windscreen.  Oh sorry that is what I have just photographed actually happening

Here is said Olympian, Quality?
http://wmbusphotos.com/StagecoachUC/16695.html

If some of the other operators were operating a bus like this they would be called cowboys!

[notepanel]

And the West Midlands could have ended up with step entrance buses with service numbers on bits of paper in the windscreen.  Oh sorry that is what I have just photographed actually happening

Here is said Olympian, Quality?
http://wmbusphotos.com/StagecoachUC/16695.html

If some of the other operators were operating a bus like this they would be called cowboys!

I'm pretty sure I also saw this bus parked in Pool Meadow on Monday in the same state - if not there was definitely an Olympian with a piece of paper in the windscreen!

[PM]

And the West Midlands could have ended up with step entrance buses with service numbers on bits of paper in the windscreen.  Oh sorry that is what I have just photographed actually happening

Here is said Olympian, Quality?
http://wmbusphotos.com/StagecoachUC/16695.html

If some of the other operators were operating a bus like this they would be called cowboys!

It looked in a sorry state when you photographed it two years' ago in Northampton!!

As for if a First bus looked like this!!

[winston]

And the West Midlands could have ended up with step entrance buses with service numbers on bits of paper in the windscreen.  Oh sorry that is what I have just photographed actually happening

Here is said Olympian, Quality?
http://wmbusphotos.com/StagecoachUC/16695.html

If some of the other operators were operating a bus like this they would be called cowboys!

It looked in a sorry state when you photographed it two years' ago in Northampton!!

As for if a First bus looked like this!!

Surely, they shouldn't have to put buses out in that state on a Sat. At best it should be confined to schools or better still scrapped!

[Bob]

And the West Midlands could have ended up with step entrance buses with service numbers on bits of paper in the windscreen.  Oh sorry that is what I have just photographed actually happening

Here is said Olympian, Quality?
http://wmbusphotos.com/StagecoachUC/16695.html

If some of the other operators were operating a bus like this they would be called cowboys!

Arriva have done exactly that in Cannock numerous times Tony! Remember S629 KHN? That didnt have a working blind fir months? There was an mpd the other week on 33s also..

[Ally]

And the West Midlands could have ended up with step entrance buses with service numbers on bits of paper in the windscreen.  Oh sorry that is what I have just photographed actually happening

Here is said Olympian, Quality?
http://wmbusphotos.com/StagecoachUC/16695.html

If some of the other operators were operating a bus like this they would be called cowboys!

Leamington & Stratford Garages don't really seem to bother with sorting their blinds out anymore, N809 DNE & N139 AET immediately spring to mind there, with N139 AET actually being caught out by a VOSA inspector in Pool Meadow! They don't seem to bother swapping the old units for newer ones or bother fixing them for ages if they stop working.

Rugby's 22841 spent Wednesday going round on the 63 & 64 routes with "Hong Kong" stuck showing on the blind
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1427320537548504&l=dc07b190aa

Nuneaton once had a case with 34628 showing "448" on the blind on one of the via points, rather than "48" on all the others.
You don't normally tend to see Nuneaton's buses in much of a state as their gaffer is very fleet proud and would blow a gasket if he ended up with some of the other states you see around the country! He just spent £58k getting two Transbus Darts that Northampton claimed were "ready for service" up to a standard where they could actually be used in public! To say that it didn't go down very well was an understatement!
Even 34494's blind was fixed quickly and that was an intermittent fault where half the LEDs would blank as it drove along, presumably a loose connection not helped by the constant vibrations from road movement.

It was recently discovered that Leamington's 57/58 plate Solos are in a worse condition than Nuneaton's 04 plate ones, it has been said that the 04 plates are due for replacement at the end of the year by some new stuff, said to be short Enviro 200s.

Does Centro have any sort of control over fare prices within their borders? Operators in South Yorkshire apparently have to ask Travel South Yorkshire's (SYPTE's) permission before they can raise fares, hence Stagecoach & First being so cheap up there (60 or 70p max Child fare up there).

[Tony]

Uuuuuuuuuurrrrrgh just imagine the west midlands full of stagecoach livery. ...

Buses on the Stratford Road would have looked something like this
http://wmbusphotos.com/Stagecoach/24003.html
(without the third axle, bus Stagecoach Omni single decks are quite a rare breed)

[Sh4318]

And the West Midlands could have ended up with step entrance buses with service numbers on bits of paper in the windscreen.  Oh sorry that is what I have just photographed actually happening

Here is said Olympian, Quality?
http://wmbusphotos.com/StagecoachUC/16695.html

If some of the other operators were operating a bus like this they would be called cowboys!

Arriva have done exactly that in Cannock numerous times Tony! Remember S629 KHN? That didnt have a working blind fir months? There was an mpd the other week on 33s also..

As well as First Wyvern's Enviro 200s when they first arrived

[JoNi]

16683 made it to Willenhall last Wednesday with paper card in windscreen too.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/7zLun2

[Stuharris 6360]

16683 made it to Willenhall last Wednesday with paper card in windscreen too.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/7zLun2

What would happen regarding with fare collection if say Stagecoach began to operate in the West Midlands. Would they continue with the fare box or would they reintroduce change giving which presumably the unions would hit the roof about??

[Ally]

16683 made it to Willenhall last Wednesday with paper card in windscreen too.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/7zLun2

What would happen regarding with fare collection if say Stagecoach began to operate in the West Midlands. Would they continue with the fare box or would they reintroduce change giving which presumably the unions would hit the roof about??

I would imagine they would stick to the cash vaults as it would be cost too much time, money and effort to remove all the cash vaults, fit cash trays and brackets for the cash tins as well as converting all the assault shields to accommodate the trays, then there's all the drivers having to adjust to the change.
That's not to say that it wouldn't happen, just that it'd just be trillions times easier if they kept it how it is now, and I imagine they would see it the same way, even before all the drivers grab their torches and pitchforks!

[tank90]

16683 made it to Willenhall last Wednesday with paper card in windscreen too.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/7zLun2

What would happen regarding with fare collection if say Stagecoach began to operate in the West Midlands. Would they continue with the fare box or would they reintroduce change giving which presumably the unions would hit the roof about??

I would imagine they would stick to the cash vaults as it would be cost too much time, money and effort to remove all the cash vaults, fit cash trays and brackets for the cash tins as well as converting all the assault shields to accommodate the trays, then there's all the drivers having to adjust to the change.
That's not to say that it wouldn't happen, just that it'd just be trillions times easier if they kept it how it is now, and I imagine they would see it the same way, even before all the drivers grab their torches and pitchforks!

Also what is now NX WM has always had vaults as my mum remembers in the 60's and early 70's when using buses on the Cov Rd that the NX buses you didnt get change and Midland Red you did. So in my mind why change something that has been that way for so long and shops in some areas are happy to give you change and or cash back in a way to make it easier to use the bus if you're not local.

[JoNi]

With Swift NX ought be able to get rid of virtually all cash collection.