Landflight (formerly Silverline)

[Tony]

The only West Midlands vehicle I found at the show was this 16 seat coach for Silverline
http://wmbusphotos.com/Silverline/YN64CAV.html

[Matt.N0056]

The only West Midlands vehicle I found at the show was this 16 seat coach for Silverline
http://wmbusphotos.com/Silverline/YN64CAV.html

Thought they had changed their minds about these! Believe they are to replace the 22 seaters

[Stu]

There was a serious RTA earlier on Wharfedale Road, at the junction with Rushey Lane. Police have closed the road there.

No-one appears to have informed the driver of the 36, as he was sat there with his hazards on as I came out of the Royal Mail building about 5:40pm. Probably will be delayed a bit, unless he can get his Solo turned around!

[Liberator9]

Rode the S10 for the first time today on their 63 reg E200; really good service. However I see Silverline are losing the 36 - will they be starting up on any other route to make up for it, or will it just see off the Solos? This will mean I assume the only public service Silverline will run is the S10.

Would still like them to take over on the S2/S4 considering they were excellent on the S3 Evening/Sunday services, and have a local garage ideal for if anything goes wrong.

[Stu]

I guess, like The Green Bus, they are finding private contract work to be better business.

When I was on the 900 the other day, as my bus was waiting to turn right onto the Coventry Road (at the junction with Damson Parkway) I saw one of their coaches full of what I can only presume were JLR workers crossing past. And one of their purple E200s was heading down Damson Parkway the other way.

Contrast that to the half-empty Solos and E200s I normally see on the 36. If Diamond outbid them for that contract, they must be desperate for contracted work, good luck to them!

It is a shame really though, as compared to some other smaller operators, Silverline had quite a modern fleet.

[Matt.N0056]

Silverline do have their problems, but seem a lot better since ther merger a couple of years ago. The S10 also has its problems; as its my local route I notice these more often. However, due to work I rarley use the service now. With the loss of the 36 (unless they are able to keep it, the way they did with the S10) they could always trail putting the extra bus back on the s10. I was surprised to see on Friday when I used the bus that the 10.28 & 10:58 to solihull were packed! They may also choose to stick more buses on the JLR contract as I believe they subcontract some of the work out to B'ham international/claribels & Wiksons

[Stu]

I'm pretty sure that IGO/WMSNT already have an eye on the S10 and will snap that up when it comes up for tender.

[winston]

I'm pretty sure that IGO/WMSNT already have an eye on the S10 and will snap that up when it comes up for tender.

You may Diamond have an interest in it as well to add to the Signature network

[Matt.N0056]

I'm pretty sure that IGO/WMSNT already have an eye on the S10 and will snap that up when it comes up for tender.

You may Diamond have an interest in it as well to add to the Signature network

Diamond (Central Connect) did win the contract for it a couple of years ago, but lost it due to Silverline's part commercial registration.

Igo, if they did win the contract, I think will be the ones who improve the service. I say this due the the fact they increased the frequcney of the S1 on a Sunday, even though it doesnt carry they best loads, from what I have seen

[fleetline6477]

I'm sure that the reason they increased the Sunday S1 was on an hourly frequency buses had a 40 min or so layover between each trip. They have to pay the driver so may aswell try and get some revenue. However, as this was subsidised an increase to 30 mins frequency would presumably be commercial, does this mean Centro have removed the subsidy?

[Matt.N0056]

I'm sure that the reason they increased the Sunday S1 was on an hourly frequency buses had a 40 min or so layover between each trip. They have to pay the driver so may aswell try and get some revenue. However, as this was subsidised an increase to 30 mins frequency would presumably be commercial, does this mean Centro have removed the subsidy?

Ahh yes, true, but if it is now fully commercial it shows they are willing to try!

They didn't try and keep the 36:

PD0001760/14 - SILVERLINE LANDFLIGHT LTD T/A SILVERLINE, ARGENT HOUSE, VULCAN ROAD, SOLIHULL, B91 2JY
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Sparkbrook and Stechford given service number 36/36C effective from 26-Apr-2015.

[Stu]

I'm sure that the reason they increased the Sunday S1 was on an hourly frequency buses had a 40 min or so layover between each trip. They have to pay the driver so may aswell try and get some revenue. However, as this was subsidised an increase to 30 mins frequency would presumably be commercial, does this mean Centro have removed the subsidy?

If I recall correctly, when NXWM operated the Sunday S1 journeys, it used to interwork with the 966? That was how they got around the long layover times I think.

If the Sunday tender contract was for an hourly service, IGO wouldn't have been able to get more money of Centro for operating it half-hourly, so I can only presume this can be considered 'part-subsidised' and IGO must be earning enough to justify operating the extra journeys commercially.  Though looking at the Sunday timetable, it looks like only one bus is used anyway, so there's not really any extra cost involved.

Anyway, back to Silverline, I didn't realise that they operated the S10 commercially, so it must be worthwhile for them to continue running it.

[Matt.N0056]

I'm sure that the reason they increased the Sunday S1 was on an hourly frequency buses had a 40 min or so layover between each trip. They have to pay the driver so may aswell try and get some revenue. However, as this was subsidised an increase to 30 mins frequency would presumably be commercial, does this mean Centro have removed the subsidy?

Anyway, back to Silverline, I didn't realise that they operated the S10 commercially, so it must be worthwhile for them to continue running it.

Partially commercial when they registered it, not sure if its still the same

[suavegarv]

Interesting to see that the 36 is being cancelled. Why is this? I thought it was a Centro subsidised service. Also ,the reference to their merger. Who  did they merge with and when? How come IGO are suddenly making their presence felt?

[Stu]

Interesting to see that the 36 is being cancelled. Why is this? I thought it was a Centro subsidised service.

Diamond are taking over the tender.