News, debate and discussion on West Midlands' Bus Operations.

Has anyone seen this? Www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-22842990
Bargain at £1.80 too! Wonder how much GNE would charge and how many zones they would squeeze into the route?

The 638 must have pushed close to this 31 mile European record mind!

For anyone who is thinking about starting up their own bus business...
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/loc...3m-7069186

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-28471957

Passenger with Dwarfism barred from buses.

Outside Alexander Dennis (Camelon) this evening awaiting collection were National Express West Midlands:

852  SN64OEF
853  SN64OEG
854  SN64OEH
856  reg unconfirmed

4970  SN64OCP
4971  SN64OCR
4972  SN64OCS

A few of these have been around since late last week.

The E300s had finally disappeared by this evening, presumably collected at some point today. This evening had a line up of:

4972  SN64OCS
4973  SN64OCU
4974  SN64OCV

Outside Alexander Dennis this evening was E200 858 (SN64OEM).

4220 in the same zip livery as worn by derby's 4224:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/81543024@N06/15322440775/

Fresh out the paint shop at First Worcester

photographs from midlandred.net





Thoughts??

Quite like the ALX400 - Enviro300 is a bit plain!

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-30023390

New hub for Birmingham.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ouses.html

Hi anyone know rates of pay for arriva bus driver in Midlands area

2 new Enviro 200 MMC's for NX West Midlands were seen on delivery today both had YX15 plates so presumably were built at Scarborough.

National Express West Midlands' Mercedes 0405 1707 (V177 MOA) has been preserved. Was collected from Miller Street depot today.

PD0001374/360 - DIAMOND BUS LTD, HALLBRIDGE WAY, TIPTON ROAD, TIVIDALE, WARLEY, B69 3HW
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Sutton Coldfield, Lower Parade and Erdington, High Street given service number 15A effective from 24-Apr-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.
PD0001374/396 - DIAMOND BUS LTD, HALLBRIDGE WAY, TIPTON ROAD, TIVIDALE, WARLEY, B69 3HW
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: Perry Barr One Stop
Finish Point: Perry barr One Stop
Via: Aston, Six Ways
Service Number: 68A
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 24-APR-2016
Other Details: Monday to Saturday, except bank holidays.

PH1066711/123 - WESSEX BUS LTD, BEACON HOUSE, LONG ACRE, ASTON, BIRMINGHAM, B7 5JJ
Variation Accepted: Operating between Bristol Union Street and Cribbs Causeway given service number 1/2 effective from 24-Apr-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.

I had a ride on some shuttle buses today at the NEC when I went for Gadget Show Live, they were citaros and coped well with the load of many people

http://m.tamworthherald.co.uk/mp-craig-t...story.html

Problems in Tamworth area after possible withdrawal of 116 service.

Hinckleybus are to integrate with the main Arriva brand.

"Hinckleybus is part of the Arriva family and we’ll slowly be adopting the main Arriva brand throughout 2018. We're going to be changing the colour of the buses, and you may have already noticed the changes to printed timetables which are turning blue!

Don't worry though, we're still your friendly local bus company offering a network of local bus services in Hinckley & Nuneaton and as well as interurban routes across parts of Leicestershire and Warwickshire.

Tickets are staying the same, with our great value saver tickets valid on all Arriva and Hinckleybus services."

http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2020...orms-nxwm/

Data technology being introduced in West Midlands following initial trial.

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...depot-to-d&g-bus

Arriva to dispose of their Cannock depot to regional independent D&G Bus.

If anyone’s not familiar with the area it encompasses the majority of local and regional services in Cannock, Stafford & Rugeley with links to Lichfield and Wolverhampton. It significantly expands the scope of D&G who now have an operating area covering from the southern extremities of Manchester to the northern extremities of Birmingham. D&G operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Centrebus but the director also has minority shares in the other significant independents of Staffordshire, Select of Penkridge and Midland Classic of Burton. Day tickets are currently inter-accepted across all of these operators plus High Peak of Derbyshire.

Although it could be argued Arriva’s Stafford & Cannock operations have been dead in the water for some time, it dampens the idea Arriva are closed to the prospect of downsizing or selling on a regional, rather than national, basis.

(26 Nov 2020, 10:30 pm)James101 wrote https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...depot-to-d&g-bus

Arriva to dispose of their Cannock depot to regional independent D&G Bus.

If anyone’s not familiar with the area it encompasses the majority of local and regional services in Cannock, Stafford & Rugeley with links to Lichfield and Wolverhampton. It significantly expands the scope of D&G who now have an operating area covering from the southern extremities of Manchester to the northern extremities of Birmingham. D&G operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Centrebus but the director also has minority shares in the other significant independents of Staffordshire, Select of Penkridge and Midland Classic of Burton. Day tickets are currently inter-accepted across all of these operators plus High Peak of Derbyshire.

Although it could be argued Arriva’s Stafford & Cannock operations have been dead in the water for some time, it dampens the idea Arriva are closed to the prospect of downsizing or selling on a regional, rather than national, basis.

They're probably just trying to make the company more saleable tbf. Arriva Midland North has been been plowing money for years and they've lost roughly £10m over the last 5 years. It's no wonder they want shot of the operations down there especially with the whole fleet at the depot coming up for renewel they've probably come to the conclusion it's not worth keeping it.

At least they didn't just shut it down like First have done in numerous places in the past 10 year.

It hasn't been mentioned here before, but National Express West Midlands new hydrogen Streetdecks have started entering service in December: https://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/med...n-service/

According to the Birmingham City Council article, they've actually purchased the vehicles, so not sure on what financial arrangement they're used by NXWM. The re-fuelling hub is at Tyseley Energy Park.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-he...r-59827695

An interesting read on Midland Red.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-he...ampaign=64&at_custom4=A21A4172-F308-11EC-A06D-7A1F16F31EAE&at_custom1=link&at_custom2=facebook_page&at_custom3=LR+BBC+Hereford+and+Worcester&at_medium=custom7

Yet another operator has their begging bowl out. This time only one of their routes is profitable.

(24 Jun 2022, 4:48 pm)Andreos1 wrote https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-he...ampaign=64&at_custom4=A21A4172-F308-11EC-A06D-7A1F16F31EAE&at_custom1=link&at_custom2=facebook_page&at_custom3=LR+BBC+Hereford+and+Worcester&at_medium=custom7

Yet another operator has their begging bowl out. This time only one of their routes is profitable.

From what I've seen of other operations in Rotala, they'd give GCT a run for their money when it came to reliability and customer service ......

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-he...r-62052718

£500,000 invested in bus restoration.

How much?!

Going back to the Kidderminster buses, they're doomed with that MP.

Yet another acquisition by Rotala.
https://www.route-one.net/business-deals...ows-reach/

Arriva Midlands to close Oswestry Depot

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/oswestry-depot