Diamond Bus Service Changes 15th April 2023

[BrumKev86]

Wonder if stagecoach will take them on   

I definitely would feel sorry for the passengers if Stagecoach take them them   . 

[Westy]

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/walsall/2023/02/15/calls-made-for-transport-chiefs-to-intervene-and-save-at-risk-diamond-bus-service/

There's a petition, folks!

[Rachvince53]

They've been closed since 2014.

Well Vehicle Operator Licensing.gov.uk  then.

[winston]

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/walsall/2023/02/15/calls-made-for-transport-chiefs-to-intervene-and-save-at-risk-diamond-bus-service/

There's a petition, folks!

And under 100 people have signed it...

[Westy]

And under 100 people have signed it...

160 now!

[winston]

160 now!

Wow! Based on Simon's comments, the 45 service currently needs 50 people per hour average using it to make it viable....

[Tony]

Wow! Based on Simon's comments, the 45 service currently needs 50 people per hour average using it to make it viable....

And with 6 buses on there to provide a 20 min service on a 2 hour round trip that's 300 passengers per hour, multiple by 12 hours for the main 7 till 7 service, then half as most people will make a journey each way, that's 1,800 people to make it viable

[Mike K]

What I'm curious to understand is how a commercially run service with a 20 minute frequency, 30 mins up until around 9pm, 30 mins on a Sunday, is suddenly axed due to it not being viable. I have no bus industry knowledge, so this is a question more than an observation, but more ordinarily wouldn't other alternatives to significantly reduce vehicle requirements and hours be explored first? Reduced frequency, later start, earlier finish, remove the Sunday service etc. Or possibly curtail or split the route, e.g. West Brom to Charlemont Farm, and Walsall to Yew Tree.

I'm not that familiar with the area but West Brom to Charlemont Farm always used to have a reasonable service in the past, as part of the 448 or the 408. Walsall to Yew Tree has also always had a reasonable service as far as I know.

I understand the issues, lack of revenue and cost pressures etc and if there's no alternative then so be it. But to axe daily and reasonably frequent commercial services overnight seems quite unprecedented. 

[bususer12]

What I'm curious to understand is how a commercially run service with a 20 minute frequency, 30 mins up until around 9pm, 30 mins on a Sunday, is suddenly axed due to it not being viable. I have no bus industry knowledge, so this is a question more than an observation, but more ordinarily wouldn't other alternatives to significantly reduce vehicle requirements and hours be explored first? Reduced frequency, later start, earlier finish, remove the Sunday service etc. Or possibly curtail or split the route, e.g. West Brom to Charlemont Farm, and Walsall to Yew Tree.

I'm not that familiar with the area but West Brom to Charlemont Farm always used to have a reasonable service in the past, as part of the 448 or the 408. Walsall to Yew Tree has also always had a reasonable service as far as I know.

I understand the issues, lack of revenue and cost pressures etc and if there's no alternative then so be it. But to axe daily and reasonably frequent commercial services overnight seems quite unprecedented.

I interpret the intended withdrawals of these routes rather than routes where they compete (4/16) as a political statement about the Low fare zones.

I can't see how these routes ran hourly instead if they were really loss making wouldn't be profitable and keeps their assets working.

 The chips are down and either there is a unlikely climbdown over LFZ by TFWM (I take this issue is the LFZ Nbus rather than Nxs offerings) Game on and maybe a smaller operator such as Kev's can capitalize

[Rachvince53]

Can't see Kevs doing it, too much dead mileage.  And yes I know Stagecoach have dead mileage with their new routes but they have the ability to absorb it. 

[the trainbasher]

Maybe we might see D&G come in as a replacement *hears shudders from those who use Cannock routes*

Technically D&G have ran routes in the WM area before (as D&G, not Midland)

[hlliwmai]

Maybe we might see D&G come in as a replacement *hears shudders from those who use Cannock routes*

Technically D&G have ran routes in the WM area before (as D&G, not Midland)

Chaserider running in the West Midlands I very much like that idea but apart from the obvious what routes could they operate 

[Stuharris 6360]

I do wonder whether the 1st January changes have actually changed the bus services for the better or not.

Certainly the 142/A seems to run between Halesowen and Stourbridge with very few people on it, the Stourbridge to Merry Hill bit seems to be rather better although still not brilliant loadings. Sundays the 142s I see (runs pasr my flat) are mostly empty, was this a really good idea from TfWM? Surely the best idea, imo, would be to withdraw the 142A, the 7 could cover Springfield Avenue once an hour. Continue the 142 hourly and reduce the Merry Hill section to hourly. Withdraw the Sunday service.

Same as the new 25 service, had some time to kill last week and caught a 25 between Dudley and Stourbridge and across the whole journey there were only 9 passengers including myself. Once again limit the 25 to hourly which should help.

Can't comment on the 45, but have seen both the 002 and 226 carrying more passengers than these services.

[the trainbasher]

I do wonder whether the 1st January changes have actually changed the bus services for the better or not.

Certainly the 142/A seems to run between Halesowen and Stourbridge with very few people on it, the Stourbridge to Merry Hill bit seems to be rather better although still not brilliant loadings. Sundays the 142s I see (runs pasr my flat) are mostly empty, was this a really good idea from TfWM? Surely the best idea, imo, would be to withdraw the 142A, the 7 could cover Springfield Avenue once an hour. Continue the 142 hourly and reduce the Merry Hill section to hourly. Withdraw the Sunday service.

Same as the new 25 service, had some time to kill last week and caught a 25 between Dudley and Stourbridge and across the whole journey there were only 9 passengers including myself. Once again limit the 25 to hourly which should help.

The 25, 142 and 142A service uplifts are being part paid for by BSIP (Bus Service Improvement Plan) money

[Stuharris 6360]

The 25, 142 and 142A service uplifts are being part paid for by BSIP (Bus Service Improvement Plan) money

and to be frank, what an awful waste of money!