Service Changes Jan 2025

[Sandy Lane]

At one time Stagecoach had minibus services in Coventry with just a letter, as I can remember C for Cheylesmore.

Wasn't the SC Coventry minibus fleet all kept at a depot off Rowley Rd? Not far from where the former MDC depot was?

[Tony]

Wasn't the SC Coventry minibus fleet all kept at a depot off Rowley Rd? Not far from where the former MDC depot was?

Yes, other side of the road

[MW]

I now suspect we might either see a new entrant to the WM market or Stagecoach may go for a big swoop again.

Only hearsay though, of course. 

[Ingleboro261F]

Who though, definitely not first because the closest is Worcester which I would suspect is too far to do any services in Birmingham. I don't think chaserider would either.

[Stu]

I now suspect we might either see a new entrant to the WM market or Stagecoach may go for a big swoop again.

Only hearsay though, of course.

Who though, definitely not first because the closest is Worcester which I would suspect is too far to do any services in Birmingham. I don't think chaserider would either.

Stagecoach are already running their Birmingham services all the way from Rugby. Maybe this works out cheaper than renting or buying a depot or outstation in Birmingham.

The likes of First, GoAhead or even Arriva might take an interest in bidding on TfWM contracts, if they have one eye on future franchise opportunities in the West Midlands. They'd just need to find some premises somewhere for a depot and then send in some spare or surplus vehicles from elsewhere, and recruit locally for drivers.

[2206]

Who though, definitely not first because the closest is Worcester which I would suspect is too far to do any services in Birmingham. I don't think chaserider would either.

Arriva could probably run some North Birmingham services from Tamworth? As Diamond run Stourbridge/Dudley services from Kidderminster.
Placement trips on the 110 maybe?

It wouldn't be the first time they've ran WM tenders as they exited these several years ago.

[woody38]

Anybody any idea when the Tenders will be announced, heard it was October 2024

[Coventrybususer95]

Anybody any idea when the Tenders will be announced, heard it was October 2024

They normally post them here https://www.tfwm.org.uk/who-we-are/what-we-do/bus-services/bus-tenders/

[Rachvince53]

Tenders will be announced at the end of the month although when they will be published on line I'm unsure.

[wembley86]

Surely on smaller routes like 67 Wednesbury to Yew Tree via Friar Park it will be harder to bid on as if it is low passenger numbers is it worth Diamond or NX going for it as it could end up making a loss in the long term.

[Tony]

Surely on smaller routes like 67 Wednesbury to Yew Tree via Friar Park it will be harder to bid on as if it is low passenger numbers is it worth Diamond or NX going for it as it could end up making a loss in the long term.

That's all taken into account

[Jack D]

Have tenders been announced?

[Coventrybususer95]

Have tenders been announced?

Not to the public yet

[wembley86]

If the new Metro Mayor was that keen on franchising surely this group of tenders could have been this first group of routes to be in franchise bids

[Tony]

If the new Metro Mayor was that keen on franchising surely this group of tenders could have been this first group of routes to be in franchise bids

No, they couldn't. It's not that simple.