The Green Bus

[winston]

I really hope diamond put up a fight on the 50 as the buses on there do well-there just aren't enough. I'd say 10 mid life buses, paint em yellow advertise returns and have timetables etc drive competitively and it would take off.

Peter123, based on current evidence I just don't think it will happen, I think they've missed the opportunity to TGB. Could even the 50 support 3 operators, two running every 10 mins & NX running every 4/5mins which would no doubt be increased further if Diamond also increased their frequencies to match TGB

The 16 does and i don't think that is as busy a route as the 50!

Fair point, it does at present, but if Tony's recent photo of to Solo's on it is anything to go by Diamond aren't doing that well on it

It took this picture on Saturday, The one on the right was on the 50, unfortunately the destination didn't show in the photo

maybe no longer doing so well on the 50 as well as the 16, but they seem content to sit back and let others get the upper hand....

[Stuharris 6360]

I think if you are going to do really well on a popular route, you need to offer an 18 hour a day, 7 day a week route.

Then offer passengers passes at a reasonable rate, then you stand a chance of success.

[nitromatt1]

Asked for a metro for this afternoon's journey as Nath was able to come for a ride due to finishing school early, and was lucky enough to get 313 :)

313 was round Sheldon today working AH5 which goes to Handsworth If that's correct :D It was great to see it nothing can beat the Metro's in my opinion :)

According to Matt this did the HC2 from hagley this afternoon

Yeah it was on mine this afternoon, so I assume you saw it in the morning, as we had Spectra 204 in the morning

[nitromatt1]

Dart 502 is on the 50 today (along with 108, 110, 112, 116, 117 and 120)

[Rob H]

Asked for a metro for this afternoon's journey as Nath was able to come for a ride due to finishing school early, and was lucky enough to get 313 :)

313 was round Sheldon today working AH5 which goes to Handsworth If that's correct :D It was great to see it nothing can beat the Metro's in my opinion :)

According to Matt this did the HC2 from hagley this afternoon

Yeah it was on mine this afternoon, so I assume you saw it in the morning, as we had Spectra 204 in the morning

Yes I did see 313 at around 7:30am while I was on 4614 on the 900 came out of wagon lane when I seen it ;)

[Lukeee]

I really hope diamond put up a fight on the 50 as the buses on there do well-there just aren't enough. I'd say 10 mid life buses, paint em yellow advertise returns and have timetables etc drive competitively and it would take off.

Peter123, based on current evidence I just don't think it will happen, I think they've missed the opportunity to TGB. Could even the 50 support 3 operators, two running every 10 mins & NX running every 4/5mins which would no doubt be increased further if Diamond also increased their frequencies to match TGB

Don't usually pay attention to the 50 route but had a few rides today and Diamond appeared to be quite empty (not helped by using two of their smallest solos). However, the one last Nifty Fifty Centro was fairly busy all day. Does make you wonder had Diamond kept the Nifty Fifty brand going (even if they swapped the buses and kept them yellow) would they be any busier.

[ilovetea4370]

It doesn't help Diamonds case they have a few drivers who are quite happy to sit behind NXWM all the way rather than getting infront and taking some customers! Not saying thats what happened today but I know from past journeys some of their drivers are like that.  I will admit this though, I still favour Diamond over Green Bus for a few reasons and will always try my best to use them if I catch the 50.

[Lukeee]

It doesn't help Diamonds case they have a few drivers who are quite happy to sit behind NXWM all the way rather than getting infront and taking some customers! Not saying thats what happened today but I know from past journeys some of their drivers are like that.  I will admit this though, I still favour Diamond over Green Bus for a few reasons and will always try my best to use them if I catch the 50.

Noticed one driver today who was behind 2 NXWM 50's and a Green Bus, on the other hand, there was one driver who was constantly in front (for the time I was watching at least) of a couple NXWM's (including 4799).

[nitromatt1]

Today's 50s are 108, 110, 114, 116, 117, 120 and 502 - I can tell you the exact times each of them will depart Birmingham or Maypole if anyone wants to know

[PM]

It doesn't help Diamonds case they have a few drivers who are quite happy to sit behind NXWM all the way rather than getting infront and taking some customers! Not saying thats what happened today but I know from past journeys some of their drivers are like that.  I will admit this though, I still favour Diamond over Green Bus for a few reasons and will always try my best to use them if I catch the 50.

Yeah some drivers do do this unfortunately-when their inspector came up they were taught to hold back but seem to have stopped doing this-I really like catching diamond on the 50 tho as ppl have said solos dont help-people need a brightly coloured reasonably sized bus they can notice. Yeah the yellow nifty branding was a good choice to be honest and 804 always seems busier than the other ones-should this tell management something??

[nitromatt1]

109 on the 50 vice 116 which had ticket problems

[nitromatt1]

Currently listening to 989 being revved by engineers and it is not a healthy sounding Metrobus!

[ilovetea4370]

109 on the 50 vice 116 which had ticket problems

A shed for a shed... sounds about right!

[nitromatt1]

109 on the 50 vice 116 which had ticket problems

A shed for a shed... sounds about right!

109 is a terrible bus due to fudged up gearbox, above 35mph not a problem but 3rd gear is messed up meaning going uphill it has a tendency to drop down a couple of gears, then shoot off and change up a couple, then lose power and drop a couple of gears again, etc...

Slowest bus in the fleet though is 121 which is not allowed on the Hagley services due to the fact it would not make it up the Hagley Hill!

[BU07 LGO]

109 on the 50 vice 116 which had ticket problems

A shed for a shed... sounds about right!

109 is a terrible bus due to fudged up gearbox, above 35mph not a problem but 3rd gear is messed up meaning going uphill it has a tendency to drop down a couple of gears, then shoot off and change up a couple, then lose power and drop a couple of gears again, etc...

Slowest bus in the fleet though is 121 which is not allowed on the Hagley services due to the fact it would not make it up the Hagley Hill!

If its so useless why did they spend all that money refurbing it, seems a bit stupid