Platinum

[The Fox 4846]

Do you know for sure any platinum routes?

[Liverpool Street]

Very impressed. As it has been mentioned, looks like a proper transition from older WMT/pte liveries. Forget the whole of 1993-2014 liveries hahaha.

[CL]

Really annoyed I missed it now I know it was 4723 :( looks much better than the current rubbish though,  a bit grey but I suppose it is supposed to look more professional which it certainly does. My only worry is will it look as good on the MMC? Time will tell.

Tbh, I do think the 'Platinum' font on the logo doesn't suit, but regarding your question about if it'll look good on the E400MMC, I think it would. For example, in one of Rob's photos (which are great quality, btw) at the front, you can see a red strip go across the bottom of the windshield, which, personally, will suit the MMC and would certainly look 'flush'.

[winston]

To answer a few questions, If you missed it today, you've missed it. I took it back to Walsall to be painted Red & White.

When I left Snow Hill with it I took the directors back to Bordesley garage in it, then drove it around Digbeth 3 times for the Press office to get some photos and then back via Moor Street Queensway, Miller Street and Walsall town centre to Walsall garage, during all the time I was driving it I didn't see any enthusiasts photograph it which is quite amazing considering where I drove it.

It is the aim that only new buses will carry this livery, of which 58 will be delivered next year.

The MD did tell the press today that these 58 buses are in addition to the agreement with Centro for 600 new buses in five years, so it looks like 658 new buses at least

Tony,

Has the partnership agreement being extended further? As originally it was 300 new buses by Summer 2015.

Even more new buses & high spec, impressive levels of investment!  :)

[Tony]

I have added a couple more shots of 4723 today, one at Bordesley, one on Walsall Road, amazing how the grey changes depending on the light
http://wmbusphotos.com/NXWM/4700-4879/4723.html

[arrifirststage]

I really hate being a miserable old Git,but isn't the world dull enough without dreary,dark colours on the buses?
Is it actually beyond designers to choose a livery which conveys cheerfulness?
Still ,suppose it could be worse (although not much) ...........could have copied the Diamond Bus funeral hearses.
If this livery is supposed to attract passengers then It is about as likely as Wolves winning the Champions League.

[Liberator9]

The Silver/Grey combination, with the red stripe looks smart - it's a massive improvement on the standard red/white livery (rather have this as a standard livery across the whole fleet!)

[monkeyjoe]

All looks and sounds very promising, it just seems a bit ?????? (you decide); nearly 20 years to effectively bring back the West Midlands Travel "Timesaver" network. Okay we didn't have Wifi in those days lol.

Mind I suppose there has been a recession so can let the management off on those grounds.

Their is a map in the evening mail outlining longer term plans include rapid sprint routes etc, can't find it on the council site though. Yippee Washwood heath rd via Hodge Hill to Coleshill parkway station is getting on according to this map. Probably not in my life time though.

[RW]

To answer a few questions, If you missed it today, you've missed it. I took it back to Walsall to be painted Red & White.

When I left Snow Hill with it I took the directors back to Bordesley garage in it, then drove it around Digbeth 3 times for the Press office to get some photos and then back via Moor Street Queensway, Miller Street and Walsall town centre to Walsall garage, during all the time I was driving it I didn't see any enthusiasts photograph it which is quite amazing considering where I drove it.

It is the aim that only new buses will carry this livery, of which 58 will be delivered next year.

The MD did tell the press today that these 58 buses are in addition to the agreement with Centro for 600 new buses in five years, so it looks like 658 new buses at least

.                                                                                                                                           

Tony when you say "....only new buses will carry this livery......." is that all new buses in future or only vehicles destined for gold corridor routes? If the latter is any consideration being given to 'refreshing'/updating the standard livery?

[D10]

Saw 4723 in the flesh this morning, it looked fantastic even on a grey morning.

I think it looks really stylish and modern, and should hide the dirt! The red helps to lift the livery and provides a bright contrast to prevent the greys being too dull.  :)

[Bob]

Hey tony this is like deja vu! Remember when they painted the tracline A reg Metrobus into Timesaver livery in the 80s for publicity shots prior to the real things being delivered.  I always wondered what happened to it did it go on timesaver routes?

[leewhayward29]

How would the fleet numbers be as 4*** or 5*** or 6*** or 7*** or 8***

[winston]

All looks and sounds very promising, it just seems a bit ?????? (you decide); nearly 20 years to effectively bring back the West Midlands Travel "Timesaver" network. Okay we didn't have Wifi in those days lol.

Mind I suppose there has been a recession so can let the management off on those grounds.

Their is a map in the evening mail outlining longer term plans include rapid sprint routes etc, can't find it on the council site though. Yippee Washwood heath rd via Hodge Hill to Coleshill parkway station is getting on according to this map. Probably not in my life time though.

Found this online, but no map
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/4bn-birmingham-transport-improvements-revealed-8098875

B'ham congestion charges still being considered:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-congestion-charges-could-still-8103383

[Solo1]

When will the 58 buses be in service in this livery

Wasnt it a bit of a waste of money painting the bus in the new livery only for a day would of been better of had it do the rounds
for a month then see what folks think of the livery at each road show it went to

[monkeyjoe]

https://www.centro.org.uk/media/358890/Prospectus_Presentation.pdf

The map I was referring to, is slide 11. I have to say lack of attention to detail in some of the formatting, council needs to have a word with who ever produced this lol.

Tell a lie above map looks like the one that was in yesterdays evening mail, but has been changed again. This one has part of the 70 route as a proposed sprint route.