Arriva take over Midland

[Discodave]

Will have to give them a chance yes they are darts but the replacements they have at Wednesfield have at least been refurbed and are in latest livery and have decent interiors unlike Cannocks which you have said on many occasions like myself, chase had a load of loss making routes and Arriva thought at the time they could expand off them but underestimated the West Mids market.  Midland are a little more established but had been struggling but not to the extent of chase just under investment like Jarl said.  You cannot just throw new buses at everything and expect results well presented and maintained ones are better and thats where Cannock lacks.  It could do with a few newer buses too but what is there to replace the Darts MPD or longer length versions. Scanias and volvos are not cheap neither are new deckers.  Optare offer value but build quality is questionable and lasting is another thing look at the solo them things are really clapped out.  If any commercial routes are going to be put on a lot of thought needs to be put in as look at diamonds failures on the 59,529.

[Bob]

Exactly! NXWM have got all corner's covered, and crap Darts even if refurbed arent gonna make much of a good impression or any impact are they? Theyre noisier than even a bloody solo ffs

[covlad27]

I dont believe the type of bus bothers most people.  Most passenger want a clean well presented bus.  This is what the ex london darts are, they look clean and tidy and people will get on them.  They wont stand at walsall bus station and say oh thats an rerurbished mpd from london  not getting on that, they will say oh here is the bus and get on job done

[Bob]

Apparently three of the ex london darts broke down yesterday, things are looking good.....

[Bob]

Pity the ex London darts have the b series engine, ISBE engined ones wouldve been loads better. Also ive been on 2155 today & counted 29 seats not 23? Interior not bad but very rattly & screeching brakes so about Arriva's usual standard but with a better interior

[Bob]

On one of the ex a2z Marshall darts and despite it being refurbed its an absolute rattling bloody shed. Will these be going??

[Discodave]

I do not think these are staying

[Bob]

Wonder what they got coming to take their place, id imagine the east lancs spryte dart, that alx200 nail and most of the knackered solo's would be on the way out. Sayin that i saw one of their MPD pointers the other week in Lichfield and that werent looking or sounding too good either. Seen in Buses mag that 3 more DAF/Alx400 Deckers have come from London V-reg this time wonder where these'll be heading, prob Burton so they can be used on more routes that dont need Deckers. Been on sb200 Fd52 GGP today it sounds really knackered.

[Discodave]

If you look at the wednesfield bit unless you have seen it 2102 has been re liveried so some of the MPDs are staying and the ex London and the some from the reserve pool will top it all off I reckon the deckers may get re liveried

[arrivaaston]

I saw 2158 yesterday and that seemed to have a few rattles, as oppose to the 51 plate solos, total shit, and I had a pretty decent marshall dart the other day, I'd like to think they'd keep these on

[Bob]

Doubt theyll keep em mate. More likely to keep the Pointers i reckon

[arrivaaston]

I see tony uploaded a pic of 2162 on the A1, thought this was a Burton bus?? And is there any more of these 52 plates?
I reckon the following buses will be on the way out
Sadly the Marshall darts
The optare excell
The 3 east lancs spryte bodied darts
And I think the deckers will transfer to Leicester/Wardle meself

[NXWM Spectra]

I see tony uploaded a pic of 2162 on the A1, thought this was a Burton bus?? And is there any more of these 52 plates?
I reckon the following buses will be on the way out
Sadly the Marshall darts
The optare excel
The 3 east lancs spryte bodied darts
And I think the deckers will transfer to Leicester/Wardle meself

I saw 2162 this morning heading in the direction of both Wednesfield garage and Wolverhampton, with private on the display.
The two Tridents aren't needed on the 10, it needs full size singles at a push. The DAFs will need to stay though because of the A1.

[Discodave]

I see tony uploaded a pic of 2162 on the A1, thought this was a Burton bus?? And is there any more of these 52 plates?
I reckon the following buses will be on the way out
Sadly the Marshall darts
The optare excel
The 3 east lancs spryte bodied darts
And I think the deckers will transfer to Leicester/Wardle meself

I saw 2162 this morning heading in the direction of both Wednesfield garage and Wolverhampton, with private on the display.
The two Tridents aren't needed on the 10, it needs full size singles at a push. The DAFs will need to stay though because of the A1.

Check VOSA registrations A1 is being withdrawn in April just been mentioned on Arriva depot wednesfield section by a post from someone else.

[NXWM Spectra]

I see tony uploaded a pic of 2162 on the A1, thought this was a Burton bus?? And is there any more of these 52 plates?
I reckon the following buses will be on the way out
Sadly the Marshall darts
The optare excel
The 3 east lancs spryte bodied darts
And I think the deckers will transfer to Leicester/Wardle meself

I saw 2162 this morning heading in the direction of both Wednesfield garage and Wolverhampton, with private on the display.
The two Tridents aren't needed on the 10, it needs full size singles at a push. The DAFs will need to stay though because of the A1.

Check VOSA registrations A1 is being withdrawn in April just been mentioned on Arriva depot wednesfield section by a post from someone else.

They're probably gonna go aswell then. Leaving Wednesfield almost completely 29 seater midibuses.