Platinum

[Bob]

I wonder if the 900, 934/5/6, 957, 997 and X51 will be renumbered X1 (like the mock up e400) to X7 to show their platinum status but wouldn't that confuse people due the 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 already exist in Birmingham and putting an X in front of those number might confuse people think they were express service of those routes. I would keep the numbers as they are and just upgrade them to platinum

You've just answered your own question there.

[Stevo]

How about P1, etc? You could have the display in white characters as the Arriva E400s.

[Gareth]

The current numbering system is confusing enough with all it's duplicates without added X variations too.
From what I gather the route renumbering is a success and locals seem to prefer it, but for me who once knew the entire WM network, a lot of this forum and it's unusual workings etc or any mention of a non Birmingham route, you may as well be taking in Japanese for all the sense it makes.

[GeminiFan1991]

I believe X services are express services and simply adding another prefix to the route number will probably confuse passengers who'll probably just end up waiting for the usual service. I think they should just keep it simple, stay with the route number/ route and merely change the bus.

I was under the assumption the vehicles will be existing Enviros which are upgraded, turns out it's new ones which leads me onto. Were will the fleet numbers be starting ?! My guess is either continuing from the Enviro 400MMC or just a new block altogether.

[tank90]

I believe X services are express services and simply adding another prefix to the route number will probably confuse passengers who'll probably just end up waiting for the usual service. I think they should just keep it simple, stay with the route number/ route and merely change the bus.

I was under the assumption the vehicles will be existing Enviros which are upgraded, turns out it's new ones which leads me onto. Were will the fleet numbers be starting ?! My guess is either continuing from the Enviro 400MMC or just a new block altogether.

Well the X4/5/6/7 where Midland Red West numbers X6/7 being the express services between Evesham Redditch and Birmingham.
As for fleet numbers I have a feeling they will start at 5000 as I can't see the number of platinums being more than 5399.

[GeminiFan1991]

Well the X4/5/6/7 where Midland Red West numbers X6/7 being the express services between Evesham Redditch and Birmingham.
As for fleet numbers I have a feeling they will start at 5000 as I can't see the number of platinums being more than 5399.

I think them being Johnson buses, people will know to differentiate between them but NXWM thats something else.

5000 upwards isn't a bad idea although It'll have to be after the hybrids 

[tank90]

I think them being Johnson buses, people will know to differentiate between them but NXWM thats something else.

5000 upwards isn't a bad idea although It'll have to be after the hybrids

How do you get Johnsons from (First) Midland Red West? I'm confused how Johnsons got in the act.

As for 5000 upwards, why after the hybrids?
I ask as I don't think Nxwm is planning to have hundreds of Platinums, just for the routes they think need them so 399 slots will be enough surely.

[GeminiFan1991]

How do you get Johnsons from (First) Midland Red West? I'm confused how Johnsons got in the act.

As for 5000 upwards, why after the hybrids?
I ask as I don't think Nxwm is planning to have hundreds of Platinums, just for the routes they think need them so 399 slots will be enough surely.

Johnson buses are white/ yellow and blue (Not to dissimilar to the Stagecoach livery) while NXWM are white/ red for the main fleet, green/ white for hybrids and bue/ white for Coventry

5001 - 5518 are hybrid buses, hence my reasoning.
It's probably worth starting the Platinum naming scheme from 5100 in case NXWM may want more hybrids in the future

[Sh4318]

Johnson buses are white/ yellow and blue (Not to dissimilar to the Stagecoach livery) while NXWM are white/ red for the main fleet, green/ white for hybrids and bue/ white for Coventry

5001 - 5518 are hybrid buses, hence my reasoning.
It's probably worth starting the Platinum naming scheme from 5100 in case NXWM may want more hybrids in the future

Think you mean 5401

[GeminiFan1991]

Think you mean 5401

I stand corrected, for someone who's writing a Dissertation, that's a fantastic mistake to make considering I looked at it twice to make sure  ::)

[Sh4318]

I stand corrected, for someone who's writing a Dissertation, that's a fantastic mistake to make considering I looked at it twice to make sure  ::)

I completed mine roughly this time last year, so I can relate. NXWM seem reluctant to use the 5000 series numbers on anything other than Hybrids. As the Platinum buses will be in a different livery, I can see them having a different set of fleet numbers

[tank90]

Johnson buses are white/ yellow and blue (Not to dissimilar to the Stagecoach livery) while NXWM are white/ red for the main fleet, green/ white for hybrids and bue/ white for Coventry

5001 - 5518 are hybrid buses, hence my reasoning.
It's probably worth starting the Platinum naming scheme from 5100 in case NXWM may want more hybrids in the future

Ok Johnsons had nothing to do with Midland Red West which was Crimson and Cream or if express nationals a yellow and red and I think white. But this was back in the 80's. So what you where trying to say about Stagecoach Johnsons and NXWM had no relevance to what I was saying which was the X4 X5 X6 and X7 will be remembered by older people who used Midland Red Wests Xs.

As for the NXs Platinum it is a unique livery in the west mids. As for Johnsons and Stagecoach you can't mistake them at all, as if they did Johnsons would have changed it by now.
As for the numbering NX as I understand from what has been said about them, the numbers will be low so using 5001-5399 will be ample which then leaves 56xx plus free for any other hybrids NX may want. But if you went for 5601 to 5999 for plats then if NX decided to have more hybrids say another 200 on top of what they have they will need to go back down to 5001 which could get very confusing.

I completed mine roughly this time last year, so I can relate. NXWM seem reluctant to use the 5000 series numbers on anything other than Hybrids. As the Platinum buses will be in a different livery, I can see them having a different set of fleet numbers

Granted NX could have started the hybrids at 5001 but maybe it was a ploy to stop too many hybrids and platinums being bought. Which set of numbers would you suggest as 1-999 is mid 1001-2999 is singles 4001-4995 are DDs bought from spectres to E400s pre MMC, 5401-5518 are so far are hybrid DDs 6001-6099 are bendi buses 6101-6999 are E400MMC 7001-7999 is for Dundee 8001-8999 is for Airport buses and 9001-9999 is training and others. So I can see 3001-3999 is free but if NX wants singles that are hybrids then they may use 3401-3599 as per DDs in the 5000 series. Looking at that NX could have all plats and hybrids in the same series ie singles in 3001 - 3999 and DDs 5001-5999 and would make sense.

[Chris2301]

Maybe the platinums will be numbered with the rest of the mmcs there only going to be 58 of them unless more platinum routes to come in 2016

[Bryan]

I'm putting my money on them being in the same number sequence as the other Enviro 400MMCs. The logic behind this is Walsall's 4680-86 have dual purpose seating, setting them apart from other vehicles, but they are not given a different number sequence.

[Tony]

The managing Director has made this announcement in his weekly business brief today

Our shiny new two-tone grey Platinum buses will start arriving very soon.

    18 buses are going to Birmingham Central for services 900 and 957, arriving from early May (the existing E400s on there will be cascaded to the Pershore Road).
    40 buses are going to Walsall for the X51, 997 and 934/5/6, arriving from June. The existing fleet on there will leave Walsall for various other places including Coventry, Dundee and BC.