Whittles

[PM]

blue with a diamond on , not blue with a animal on

What??

you

I mentioned the other day that I have a source well my source has asked me if another operator took them over which it looks possible what colour scheme would people like to see the vehicles re-painted in? Give me ideas folks!!

blue with a diamond on , not blue with a animal on 

You where ask about  livery  for your contact   The    livery  I would like to see is blue with diamond on ,  I would not like to see one in blue white a animal  on the side.  my last word on this tony

So basically what your saying is you want Diamond to take them over??

Much that I like Whittles, probably the best thing for bus services in the area to all be operated by Diamond. At least it should provide enough volume of customers to maintain a network

I agree there Tony. Kidderminster does seem too small for competition to ever be particularly useful to passengers in the long run. Interchangeability of tickets in Bewdley between say the 125 and the 2 will help passengers-presumably Diamond would try and up the frequency of the 2 if Whittle's services were rationalized. It would certainly help to link up Diamond's Black Country and Worcestershire network, at the moment linked by the 202 and would make their "Network" ticket even better value. Hopefully whatever happens, the 125 cuts will be reversed and instead something properly done to sort out reliability there.

The other interesting thing to consider is what happens to the Bewdley to Stourport link? Whittle's commercialized it and cut it out of the 15 therefore it has to be hoped either another operator is also prepared to run it commercially or WCC step in to ensure that link is maintained.

[111 Roughley]

You folk at Kiddy have yet to meet Diamond where they have no competition. See Redditch.

[Cedric]

blue with a diamond on , not blue with a animal on

What??

you

I mentioned the other day that I have a source well my source has asked me if another operator took them over which it looks possible what colour scheme would people like to see the vehicles re-painted in? Give me ideas folks!!

blue with a diamond on , not blue with a animal on 

You where ask about  livery  for your contact   The    livery  I would like to see is blue with diamond on ,  I would not like to see one in blue white a animal  on the side.  my last word on this tony

So basically what your saying is you want Diamond to take them over??

Much that I like Whittles, probably the best thing for bus services in the area to all be operated by Diamond. At least it should provide enough volume of customers to maintain a network

I agree there Tony. Kidderminster does seem too small for competition to ever be particularly useful to passengers in the long run. Interchangeability of tickets in Bewdley between say the 125 and the 2 will help passengers-presumably Diamond would try and up the frequency of the 2 if Whittle's services were rationalized. It would certainly help to link up Diamond's Black Country and Worcestershire network, at the moment linked by the 202 and would make their "Network" ticket even better value. Hopefully whatever happens, the 125 cuts will be reversed and instead something properly done to sort out reliability there.

The other interesting thing to consider is what happens to the Bewdley to Stourport link? Whittle's commercialized it and cut it out of the 15 therefore it has to be hoped either another operator is also prepared to run it commercially or WCC step in to ensure that link is maintained.

in answer to your question  about the Bewdley to Stourport link it is now  just the 2a & 2c  .apart from 1 run of the  15 which is a school run . the 15 now is Kidderminster to stourport a few runs  mostly  it runs  from Tesco stourport to various areas of stourport think Tesco might be subsiding it

[andyr]

The old or new Hardings have never had a interest in operating Nat Ex contracts. They now as they always have concentrate on incoming tourists and there contracts reflect this. There is very little money to be made in coaching these days.

[Cedric]

You folk at Kiddy have yet to meet Diamond where they have no competition. See Redditch.

there area only 2 areas in Kidderminster  where there is compition  . and in the other areas things
have improved  since diamond arrived

[PM]

blue with a diamond on , not blue with a animal on

What??

you

I mentioned the other day that I have a source well my source has asked me if another operator took them over which it looks possible what colour scheme would people like to see the vehicles re-painted in? Give me ideas folks!!

blue with a diamond on , not blue with a animal on 

You where ask about  livery  for your contact   The    livery  I would like to see is blue with diamond on ,  I would not like to see one in blue white a animal  on the side.  my last word on this tony

So basically what your saying is you want Diamond to take them over??

Much that I like Whittles, probably the best thing for bus services in the area to all be operated by Diamond. At least it should provide enough volume of customers to maintain a network

I agree there Tony. Kidderminster does seem too small for competition to ever be particularly useful to passengers in the long run. Interchangeability of tickets in Bewdley between say the 125 and the 2 will help passengers-presumably Diamond would try and up the frequency of the 2 if Whittle's services were rationalized. It would certainly help to link up Diamond's Black Country and Worcestershire network, at the moment linked by the 202 and would make their "Network" ticket even better value. Hopefully whatever happens, the 125 cuts will be reversed and instead something properly done to sort out reliability there.

The other interesting thing to consider is what happens to the Bewdley to Stourport link? Whittle's commercialized it and cut it out of the 15 therefore it has to be hoped either another operator is also prepared to run it commercially or WCC step in to ensure that link is maintained.

in answer to your question  about the Bewdley to Stourport link it is now  just the 2a & 2c  .apart from 1 run of the  15 which is a school run . the 15 now is Kidderminster to stourport a few runs  mostly  it runs  from Tesco stourport to various areas of stourport think Tesco might be subsiding it

That's what I thought, the 2A/C replaced the full 15 as you say the S15 is a full run and an exception to the standard daytime service. It seems likely that Tesco had some input, given the mention in the Whittle's guide.

About that, was a guide showing the 22nd September changes ever produced or an insert or something for the existing 1st September guide?

[111 Roughley]

You folk at Kiddy have yet to meet Diamond where they have no competition. See Redditch.

there area only 2 areas in Kidderminster  where there is compition  . and in the other areas things
have improved  since diamond arrived

I think it is the threat of competition that does it. There was no upping of the frequencies in Redditch. Duplications were naturally cut out and the opportunity to improve the network was not taken. There have been reductions on the 55/56, 70, 247, and the peak hour extras on 143 have gone. The service on the 57/58 is diabolical. The 146 has been improved. I think that's a fair summary

[PM]

You folk at Kiddy have yet to meet Diamond where they have no competition. See Redditch.

there area only 2 areas in Kidderminster  where there is compition  . and in the other areas things
have improved  since diamond arrived

I think it is the threat of competition that does it. There was no upping of the frequencies in Redditch. Duplications were naturally cut out and the opportunity to improve the network was not taken. There have been reductions on the 55/56, 70, 247, and the peak hour extras on 143 have gone. The service on the 57/58 is diabolical. The 146 has been improved. I think that's a fair summary

Services have been improved there though! The 146 is probably one of the best examples-now it has an hourly, clockface timetable that will hopefully lead to growth in attracting commuters back to the bus.

The 143, simplified and sped up, has later departures and reliability seems much improved now the route is shorter.

Services to Studley are improved in frequency.

The 55/6H is simplified and gains later and Sunday departures. If reliability improves and the service outgrows the current frequency then no doubt it can be increased again in the future.

The 57A link was re-established.

I'll agree the 70/A has been cut back considerably but especially after the WCC cuts, Diamond kept most of the old links, some newly commercialised.

Did frequencies need upping in Redditch compared to Kidderminster? Frequencies had stayed far higher there due to the bus war and anyone that took over was going to have to scale back the amount of resources being deployed there to make any money at all.

In Kidderminster, services previously every 10 mins were down to every 30 mins and so there was far more potential there I would have thought.

[111 Roughley]

You folk at Kiddy have yet to meet Diamond where they have no competition. See Redditch.

there area only 2 areas in Kidderminster  where there is compition  . and in the other areas things
have improved  since diamond arrived

I think it is the threat of competition that does it. There was no upping of the frequencies in Redditch. Duplications were naturally cut out and the opportunity to improve the network was not taken. There have been reductions on the 55/56, 70, 247, and the peak hour extras on 143 have gone. The service on the 57/58 is diabolical. The 146 has been improved. I think that's a fair summary

Services have been improved there though! The 146 is probably one of the best examples-now it has an hourly, clockface timetable that will hopefully lead to growth in attracting commuters back to the bus.

The 143, simplified and sped up, has later departures and reliability seems much improved now the route is shorter.

Services to Studley are improved in frequency.

The 55/6H is simplified and gains later and Sunday departures. If reliability improves and the service outgrows the current frequency then no doubt it can be increased again in the future.

The 57A link was re-established.

I'll agree the 70/A has been cut back considerably but especially after the WCC cuts, Diamond kept most of the old links, some newly commercialised.

Did frequencies need upping in Redditch compared to Kidderminster? Frequencies had stayed far higher there due to the bus war and anyone that took over was going to have to scale back the amount of resources being deployed there to make any money at all.

In Kidderminster, services previously every 10 mins were down to every 30 mins and so there was far more potential there I would have thought.

The 146 is really the only example and that had to be done because First's timetable was idiotic. Buses to Brum at 0555 and then next 0855 was it? Last bus to Brum 1525 was it?
The peak-time extras on the 143 have gone. There's no 143 between 0820 and 1048 from Bromsgrove.
There were more 143s going to Studley than there are 67s. Peak-time 247s have reduced, meaning a poorer service to Studley. The idea of a better service to Studley is pure Diamond propaganda.
The 55/56 group went from being every 20 minutes each way to every half-hour, half of which are now diverted to Webheath. The Hospital has lost 4 journeys an hour (5 including the 143), so the 57A isn't much compensation. Cutting out the Hospital on half the journeys also means that the service is irregular for much of the inward route.
Surely the complaints about the 57/58 must have reached everyone's ears?
Kidderminster has improved in order to push Whittles out. Once it's gone...........

[tank90]

You folk at Kiddy have yet to meet Diamond where they have no competition. See Redditch.

there area only 2 areas in Kidderminster  where there is compition  . and in the other areas things
have improved  since diamond arrived

I think it is the threat of competition that does it. There was no upping of the frequencies in Redditch. Duplications were naturally cut out and the opportunity to improve the network was not taken. There have been reductions on the 55/56, 70, 247, and the peak hour extras on 143 have gone. The service on the 57/58 is diabolical. The 146 has been improved. I think that's a fair summary

Services have been improved there though! The 146 is probably one of the best examples-now it has an hourly, clockface timetable that will hopefully lead to growth in attracting commuters back to the bus.

The 143, simplified and sped up, has later departures and reliability seems much improved now the route is shorter.

Services to Studley are improved in frequency.

The 55/6H is simplified and gains later and Sunday departures. If reliability improves and the service outgrows the current frequency then no doubt it can be increased again in the future.

The 57A link was re-established.

I'll agree the 70/A has been cut back considerably but especially after the WCC cuts, Diamond kept most of the old links, some newly commercialised.

Did frequencies need upping in Redditch compared to Kidderminster? Frequencies had stayed far higher there due to the bus war and anyone that took over was going to have to scale back the amount of resources being deployed there to make any money at all.

In Kidderminster, services previously every 10 mins were down to every 30 mins and so there was far more potential there I would have thought.

Since Diamond have taken on all the services in Redditch it has gotten worse. Frequency and timetables and haling at bus stops doesnt mean much to some of the drivers. My route the 55 and 56 has been drasticly changed for the worse one thing it has done is got people off the bus walking and into taxis if they have the money for them. Diamond are ok if they have another operator on there back. I hate to say it if Whittle is not bought Kidderminster will suffer as at the moment Whittle can put pressure on Diamond but as soon as its gone they drop off. the only reason why Diamond increased the 146 when they did was because I and others told them about the closing of the Redditch rail way line over the summer but if we hadnt it was going to stay the same or get cut.

[winston]

You folk at Kiddy have yet to meet Diamond where they have no competition. See Redditch.

I've never seen anyone have a good to thing to say about Diamond's Redditch operation. This is despite it being 18 months since being acquired and 12 months since receiving clearance from the Oft. There seems to be constant complaints about late running, unreliable services & unsuitable packed buses being used. A lot of complaints seem tocentre around the 57/58 which should be the most lucrative route. People want First back and they weren't much cop up to selling out.......

[winston]

blue with a diamond on , not blue with a animal on

What??

you

I mentioned the other day that I have a source well my source has asked me if another operator took them over which it looks possible what colour scheme would people like to see the vehicles re-painted in? Give me ideas folks!!

blue with a diamond on , not blue with a animal on 

You where ask about  livery  for your contact   The    livery  I would like to see is blue with diamond on ,  I would not like to see one in blue white a animal  on the side.  my last word on this tony

So basically what your saying is you want Diamond to take them over??

Yep. Diamond are doing better in KR than in Redditch. I fail to see how City Fox with a hot dog business & some sort of Taxi business (if it exists) who never appear to have even run a bus company expect to take over a loss making business with a £4 million turnover in an area they don't even know & turn it around. Buying DTS with 2 buses would be a more realistic propsect.

[j789]

You folk at Kiddy have yet to meet Diamond where they have no competition. See Redditch.

I've never seen anyone have a good to thing to say about Diamond's Redditch operation. This is despite it being 18 months since being acquired and 12 months since receiving clearance from the Oft. There seems to be constant complaints about late running, unreliable services & unsuitable packed buses being used. A lot of complaints seem tocentre around the 57/58 which should be the most lucrative route. People want First back and they weren't much cop up to selling out.......

To be honest the problems in Redditch are of Diamonds own doing over previous years. People can bang on about competition all day long saying it is good for passengers but in the long run it leads to decreased services. In the MRW and early First days before the competition Redditch had a really profitable network of routes and was a good place to be a passenger. This changed with competition as the less lucrative routes went in an effort to complete on the profitable routes and they have never been replaced since. I do not think that there is now enough potential in that area to make it worthwhile investing heavily because the custom has been lost over many years so the status quo will remain. Bad for passengers and a good example of how competition is rarely a good thing in smaller areas.

[the trainbasher]

Cityfox bristol limited exists

https://www.duedil.com/company/08143091/cityfox-bristol-limited

Ironically the annual returns are overdue!

[winston]

You folk at Kiddy have yet to meet Diamond where they have no competition. See Redditch.

there area only 2 areas in Kidderminster  where there is compition  . and in the other areas things
have improved  since diamond arrived

I think it is the threat of competition that does it. There was no upping of the frequencies in Redditch. Duplications were naturally cut out and the opportunity to improve the network was not taken. There have been reductions on the 55/56, 70, 247, and the peak hour extras on 143 have gone. The service on the 57/58 is diabolical. The 146 has been improved. I think that's a fair summary

Services have been improved there though! The 146 is probably one of the best examples-now it has an hourly, clockface timetable that will hopefully lead to growth in attracting commuters back to the bus.

The 143, simplified and sped up, has later departures and reliability seems much improved now the route is shorter.

Services to Studley are improved in frequency.

The 55/6H is simplified and gains later and Sunday departures. If reliability improves and the service outgrows the current frequency then no doubt it can be increased again in the future.

The 57A link was re-established.

I'll agree the 70/A has been cut back considerably but especially after the WCC cuts, Diamond kept most of the old links, some newly commercialised.

Did frequencies need upping in Redditch compared to Kidderminster? Frequencies had stayed far higher there due to the bus war and anyone that took over was going to have to scale back the amount of resources being deployed there to make any money at all.

In Kidderminster, services previously every 10 mins were down to every 30 mins and so there was far more potential there I would have thought.

The improvements on the 146 only appeared to happen after comments on here about Diamond not using the opportunity of the Redditch rail line closure to their advantage. Similar with 002 & 4 Sunday services.