Arriva take over Midland

[Discodave]

except Tamworth and Telford thankyou for correcting me

[andy]

Well they were never going to spend a fortune on state of the art kit for a load of tenders they're hardly breaking even on?

To be honest I find the standard of new buses disappointing all round compared to the stuff of years gone by. Particularly standard of seating and leg room, and loose fittings. These horrible and uncomfortable flimsy plastic seats have come from the continent and we are paying fo the lack of quality coachbuilders left in this country but our operators have to go somewhere to get large numbers of vehicles.

I prefer the older style bench seats which were much more comfortable and wish the moulded seat had never come along. Windows and fittings will always rattle on new buses because there is so much plastic these days. Buses may have advanced mechanically but in terms of bodywork and comfort I think they have gone backwards in many cases.

For instance, I remember the DP seats on the Timesaver Metrobuses and the other day I had to get the X51 from Walsall and it was one of the branded DP Geminis. You simply can't compare the seats on those to the ones on the Metros.

[Bob]

I wonder if theyll keep the x31 now they have more presence in the midlands. they need to take it off the m6 it is now 25 mins late and im cold and wet thanks to the pathetic 'facilities ' in albert st!!!!!!

[j_rp_wright]

To be honest due to the fact that NXWM have such a strong presence it wouldn't work as well as London!  I think privatisation in the Midlands was a step back to be honest. That not me saying there aren't some good a respected operators in the Midlands.

[Discodave]

Hansons are one a long standing black country firm

[Bob]

I reckon P942 EMS, the Marshall bodied darts, the excel, and possibly the oldest S reg Solos will probably be the first casualties, Arriva will apparently shortly be with drawing their early P & R reg darts once the step entry buses have gone and the Marshalls are a similar age

[Tony]

I reckon P942 EMS, the Marshall bodied darts, the excel, and possibly the oldest S reg Solos will probably be the first casualties, Arriva will apparently shortly be with drawing their early P & R reg darts once the step entry buses have gone and the Marshalls are a similar age

P942EMS is just about to get reinstated, so will get a new MoT, I reckon that one will last 12 months. My betting is on the excel and ex A2Z Marshall darts

[Discodave]

I work next door to midland there redundat buses have already gone only the exel with no engine is there S2CLA

[Discodave]

sorry my fingers are too fat for my keyboard hense the spelling cock ups

[nx4737]

I reckon P942 EMS, the Marshall bodied darts, the excel, and possibly the oldest S reg Solos will probably be the first casualties, Arriva will apparently shortly be with drawing their early P & R reg darts once the step entry buses have gone and the Marshalls are a similar age

P942EMS is just about to get reinstated, so will get a new MoT, I reckon that one will last 12 months. My betting is on the excel and ex A2Z Marshall darts

Makes sense really, can't imagine Arriva keeping the Excel, it's a bit non-standard for them... in face, do any Arriva garages have Excels?

[wilmotm (Matt Wilmot)]

I'd like to see the Marshall bodied darts doing another year at least, certainly very striking buses to look at, almost brings a bit of American sunshine to Bilston, stress "almost"

[tphi12000]

i think MK Metro still have a couple of Excels . Tony

[Ashley]

I think MK Metro still have 2, they were new to Claribels as it goes.

[sconehead85]

According to my records, Arriva TGM have no Optare Excels, Arriva Midlands did have one or two but theyre no more.

sconehead85

[Ashley]

They must have gone a while ago then, thanks for the info