What routes need NEW or different buses the most

[BBS]

Don't the electrics have less capacity? That won't help on the 74 which gets overcrowded as it is.

In terms of Birmingham the one that would benefit the most is the 4/4A.

The 4/4A is those routes that are in dire need of new buses, but since it's operated by Acocks green and the mass influence of E200mmcs they have, there's no chance that they'll make that route fully decker yet 

[tombzy]

To be honest, this thread is a bit pointless now, as has already been pointed out elsewhere, new vehicles are just replacing older ones, and not being allocated to any particular routes, see Yardley Wood for example.

Also, with bus franchising looming in the next couple of years, it is going to be difficult for bus operators to make commitments to invest in vehicles, if there is uncertainty about whether the WMCA will acquire them and for what value.

Of course, in the case of NX Bus, if they continue to partner with Zenobe, then there's no reason why the leasing costs wouldn't pass to WMCA.

Unfortunately I can see the next couple of years being a bit of a 'no-mans land' with fleet renewal being in a bit of 'limbo'.

Members are welcome to comment in this topic, however I warn you all that I won't have this turn into another argument clinic, bickering and squabbling isn't welcome here.

With franchising though it could bring buses that we would likely have assumed nx or diamond wouldnt get such as first potentially bringing un U11DDs 

[hemmy]

With franchising though it could bring buses that we would likely have assumed nx or diamond wouldnt get such as first potentially bringing un U11DDs

please no

[tombzy]

please no

Huh? Are you on about the hypothetical where first brings u11dds into the west midlands?
I liked UU11 DDD which diamond had as a demonstor vehicle mainly on the 50.

[hemmy]

Huh? Are you on about the hypothetical where first brings u11dds into the west midlands?
I liked UU11 DDD which diamond had as a demonstor vehicle mainly on the 50.

yeah, i just have a personal dislike for the u11dd.

[Stu]

With franchising though it could bring buses that we would likely have assumed nx or diamond wouldnt get such as first potentially bringing un U11DDs

WMCA want to own the vehicles and then lease them back to the contracted operators.

Any future fleet renewal will then be up to the WMCA to decide what vehicles they source, it wouldn't be up to the individual operators.

[tombzy]

WMCA want to own the vehicles and then lease them back to the contracted operators.

Any future fleet renewal will then be up to the WMCA to decide what vehicles they source, it wouldn't be up to the individual operators.

Ahh. I wonder what WMCA would choose for us to get though.