Service Changes Jan 2025

[BBS]

Bus tenders have been released

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/media/hb4lduci/statutory-information-january-2025.pdf

A shame about the 615 and S66, was quite interesting to see how a service would've performed to BHX from Acocks 

[Ingleboro261F]

Bus tenders have been released

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/media/hb4lduci/statutory-information-january-2025.pdf

15 from Wolverhampton to merry hill being operated by carolean is very interesting 

[Stu]

15 from Wolverhampton to merry hill being operated by carolean is very interesting

Only if it actually happens, as I pointed out to someone else it states "on hold".

[Rachvince53]

Only if it actually happens, as I pointed out to someone else it states "on hold".

And it would only be the daily evening journeys I would think which were previously operated by Diamond (plus the Sunday daytimes) as the majority is commercial.

[B7RLE]

I suspect its on hold as Carolean do not currently have the vehicles to run it - while I can't comment for evening 15s, Sunday 15As would not cope on an E200

[Stu]

I suspect its on hold as Carolean do not currently have the vehicles to run it - while I can't comment for evening 15s, Sunday 15As would not cope on an E200

There could be any number of reasons why a contract award is 'on hold', that one may be for the same reasons why the 77A/X15 contract awarded to Stevensons (Bus Link?) shows as 'on hold' although TfWM have already announced that this starts from end of February on their service changes page.

I also note that another contract 'on hold' is for the 76 (Solihull to Northfield) showing as awarded to NX; I presume this is for the late evening and Sunday journeys, and is possibly related to the delay in getting the rest of the electric buses into service at YW.

[BBS]

Well done to TFWM for still not changing flags even though changes come effect tomorrow 

[ellspurs]

Give them another six months, and they *might* have got around to it by then.

[MW]

Is that just for the Sunday and evening service though? The lowest bid of £2000 a week for 7 days seems ridiculously low otherwise.

How it works is you cost the operation up, add a profit margin and then minus expected fare revenue. If the service doesn't meet the expected fare revenue that TfWM states in the Tender Specification, it will eat into your profit and may even bring you into a loss. These contracts aren't totally subsidised by TfWM - the operator takes a risk with fare revenue. 

The example you've given at £2000 per week might well be a service that's well used and takes decent fare revenue or its cost of operation is relatively low - possibly 1 driver and low mileage. I haven't looked at it so do not know.

Something that's hit operators is the Autumn Budget. If I recall correctly, operators submitted the tenders before the Budget was announced. So the winning bidders would have based their tender price on the old 13.8% Employers NI contribution rather than the increased 15% which kicks in from April 2025.

The cost of leasing E200MMCs isn't cheap either - they cost around £700 per week. 

[Ingleboro261F]

Well done to TFWM for still not changing flags even though changes come effect tomorrow

No changes just yet to landflight 

[Rachvince53]

No changes just yet to landflight

Don't hold your breath. Diamond have operated my local 64 service in Wolverhampton since June last year and, except where the route is shared by the 15 & 16, timetables still show the service to be operated by Travel Express!

[Roy]

Sunday 15As would not cope on an E200

Couldn't agree more.  However, it wouldn't be any worse that some Monday to Friday journeys that use B7RLEs and are full and standing.

[Steve3229vp]

The new stop for the 907/33/51/X51 opposite  the Square Peg is going to a big problem judging by last night. There is an unloading stop for the 934 etc which is fine but Walsall drivers just sit there with Not In Service on the front, there's not enough room. There was 4 buses at 1640 yesterday. They need to be told to move away as soon as they have unloaded.

[BBS]

A week ago, changes were made to Solihull service, and not a single flag has been changed in the Acocks green/Olton and Shirley areas 

[GoldenSquid]

Noticed as I was driving past that the 2/3 stop is now shared with the 5/6, and now the 2/3 stop says on the digital screen that it's an overflow stop. Although I'm certain that throughout this week they've been stopping at separate stops.