Blackheath Bus Services

[Kevin]

Excellent every little helps for the profitability of Diamond Buses Limited

Clearly missing his point that it was a Hansons bus....

Excellent news the more Mellors the better, great little bus on Blackheaths 231 and a credit to Diamond Bus offering brand new buses on a local tendered route I doubt that happens anywhere else in the UK.

Of course it happens all over the UK, when a tendered service is specified to have new buses new buses will be used....

[don]

I enjoyed using the  TfL 53/453 @donthere are times on this forum I wonder am I the only person who loves using buses..............................

I think you may have misconstrued and I think there are lots of bus fans on this forum - in fact why would they be here otherwise - I certainly do but am not only a bus enthusiast, but also a rail enthusiast, and a Transportation Professional (so take a very broad view, including private car and freight). You asked me what the point of my comment about the London journey you quoted was and I've told you. I know lots of people who prefer to take a bus, and vice versa. It is their decision, as was yours to take the bus - not a problem for me if that's the decision they make.

[richardjones210368]

Clearly missing his point that it was a Hansons bus....

Of course it happens all over the UK, when a tendered service is specified to have new buses new buses will be used....

I think if you check on Hanson Limited at Companies House there is so such thing as a "Hansons" Bus the point is bus is owned by Diamond Buses Limited whatever anyone may think to the contrary on this forum and @Kevin when Diamond Bus was rewarded the TfWM contract for the 231 it was on the basis of brand new buses the Mellors being procured for the service please substainsate your comment
Of course it happens all over the UK, when a tendered service is specified to have new buses new buses will be used..
by providing outside London of:
1. The Tendering Authority
2. The buses that were specifically  ordered specifically for the contract - not diverted or cascaded
3. The service they are operated on
4. If the service is operated 6 days a week.
Not including other TfWM Contractors
I am sure we all look forward to your reply @Kevin ?

[richardjones210368]

I think you may have misconstrued and I think there are lots of bus fans on this forum - in fact why would they be here otherwise - I certainly do but am not only a bus enthusiast, but also a rail enthusiast, and a Transportation Professional (so take a very broad view, including private car and freight). You asked me what the point of my comment about the London journey you quoted was and I've told you. I know lots of people who prefer to take a bus, and vice versa. It is their decision, as was yours to take the bus - not a problem for me if that's the decision they make.

I certainly don't remember asking for your point of view on any bus journey I  have ever made or will ever make I commented on a journey I enjoyed every day and it was you who made the comment that I may have chosen the wrong travel option why when I have made it clear I only use buses you would suggest a train journey is beyond me and then it was you who came up with this frankly stupid  idea of using a train from Blackheath to Whitehall I just expanded on the journey I enjoyed on the 53/453 frankly i would never be seen dead on a train so why you thought your journeys comments would be of a relevance to me is unbelievable I couldn't care less what you or other people think of me or my love of bus journeys or I wouldnt still be enjoying my buses after 51 years I have no idea where you got that from I couldn't care a toss what anyone thinks of me and my buses but I don't like criticism from others who do not use buses 7 days a week 364 days a year as I do and just post on this forum to criticize others.

[don]

Diamond Tividale have 7 new ones. My concern is:-

1) they'll almost certainly turn up (when not required on the allocated service and for engineering/operational convenience) on unsuitable routes (eg 4H).
2) They are less suitable than a short E200 or Solo for many users.
3) They seem to be bargain basement (as have minibuses since popularisation in the mid 80s) beloved of companies like Stagecoach (Sir Brian himself has waxed very lyrically and quite recently about Mercedes minibuses for cost and engineering reasons - notably not customer satisfaction) - so if anything is a cash cow these may be it. After introducing them on a wide basis in Ashford a couple of years ago, Stagecoach has now seen sense and replaced many with 'proper' buses!!

I worry this will be a creeping epidemic!!

[Lukeee]

I think if you check on Hanson Limited at Companies House there is so such thing as a "Hansons" Bus the point is bus is owned by Diamond Buses Limited whatever anyone may think to the contrary on this forum and @Kevin when Diamond Bus was rewarded the TfWM contract for the 231 it was on the basis of brand new buses the Mellors being procured for the service please substainsate your comment
Of course it happens all over the UK, when a tendered service is specified to have new buses new buses will be used..
by providing outside London of:
1. The Tendering Authority
2. The buses that were specifically  ordered specifically for the contract - not diverted or cascaded
3. The service they are operated on
4. If the service is operated 6 days a week.
Not including other TfWM Contractors
I am sure we all look forward to your reply @Kevin ?

Kev's cars bought new buses for some contracts, so did claribels with the 424 and 604 and landflight

[richardjones210368]

Diamond Tividale have 7 new ones. My concern is:-

1) they'll almost certainly turn up (when not required on the allocated service and for engineering/operational convenience) on unsuitable routes (eg 4H).
2) They are less suitable than a short E200 or Solo for many users.
3) They seem to be bargain basement (as have minibuses since popularisation in the mid 80s) beloved of companies like Stagecoach (Sir Brian himself has waxed very lyrical about Mercedes minibuses for cost and engineering reasons - notable not customer satisfaction) - so if anything is a cash cow these may be it.

I worry this will be a creeping epidemic!!

The bus supplied by the operator has to meet the requirements of the tendering authority for which the contract is awarded.

[richardjones210368]

Kev's cars bought new buses for some contracts, so did claribels with the 424 and 604 and landflight

Did you not read my post @Lukeee :
"Not including other TfWM Contractors"

[don]

The bus supplied by the operator has to meet the requirements of the tendering authority for which the contract is awarded.

Well if the tender allows these abominations, maybe the tendering authority should look to closing loopholes!! Is there sensible luggage space and wheelchair space on them? 

[richardjones210368]

Well if the tender allows these abominations, maybe the tendering authority should look to closing loopholes!! Is there sensible luggage space and wheelchair space on them?

I have no problem with a Mellor on the 4H @don .As a council tax payer I welcome any authority that maintains a vital service in today's cash strapped times and a lovely lady In  Woodbury Ave who used to be in the Hurst Green townswomen's guild with my late Aunty seems to have little problem getting herself and her wheelchair onto the 231 to do her shopping in Asda in Halesowen and has nothing but praise for the service again @don this is an example of someone actually using the bus service and appreciating it. Oh and she is 86 the same age my Aunty would have been as they went to school together. The downside she talks to me on the bus as if I was still 11.....

[richardjones210368]

Just to clarify something before anyone else does I posted to @Tony a point about Clapham Junction and said I stayed close by this was for my work I undertook in.London post 2016 as I stopped staying with my cousin and his partner in Blackheath in respect of them having started a family after having the sack from my regular job in 2016.

[BK63 YWP]

I think if you check on Hanson Limited at Companies House there is so such thing as a "Hansons" Bus the point is bus is owned by Diamond Buses Limited whatever anyone may think to the contrary on this forum and @Kevin when Diamond Bus was rewarded the TfWM contract for the 231 it was on the basis of brand new buses the Mellors being procured for the service please substainsate your comment
Of course it happens all over the UK, when a tendered service is specified to have new buses new buses will be used..
by providing outside London of:
1. The Tendering Authority
2. The buses that were specifically  ordered specifically for the contract - not diverted or cascaded
3. The service they are operated on
4. If the service is operated 6 days a week.
Not including other TfWM Contractors
I am sure we all look forward to your reply @Kevin ?

And how long has Diamond been in ownership of Hanson's YET IN 2020 they are still sporting the old livery!

[richardjones210368]

And how long has Diamond been in ownership of Hanson's YET IN 2020 they are still sporting the old livery!

Personally as an accountant I would look at the Net Book Value of the buses and take a decision is it worth repainting to be honest I would say no especially the ones branded for the 228 its just hard economics.

[BK63 YWP]

Personally as an accountant I would look at the Net Book Value of the buses and take a decision is it worth repainting to be honest I would say no especially the ones branded for the 228 its just hard economics.

So the 228 buses are 15/65 plates not even 5 years old are not worth repainting?!?! Yet diamond are repainting buses older than that?

[richardjones210368]

So the 228 buses are 15/65 plates not even 5 years old are not worth repainting?!?! Yet diamond are repainting buses older than that?

It depends on the Net Book Value of the bus I would repaint an 09 plate B7 into the new diamonds livery rather than a 15 plate E200 because the asset life is deemed to longer its just how accountants look at an asset an 09 B7 is worth more on the Balance Sheet than a 15 plate E200 that has most likley under current rules been fully written down whereas the B7 wouldnt be I am not saying ideally that is right with my bus enthusiast hat on but its right with my accountants hat on.