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Thank you Richard, much appreciated. If regulations are there, they should be adhered to and enforced. I think that is quite a poor attitude from the company. The operator should cover all costs to provide the initial uniform. If drivers want more items, in addition to that already provided...

Some buses have a ‘security key’ that has to be inserted into the dashboard in order to start the bus. Some also have ‘secret’ buttons that have to be pressed in addition to the normal starting procedure. Just because they weren’t on the meetings agenda, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. All...

When I was at school, we had to wear clip on ties for the same issues. I personally think clip on ties look smarter, as some people don’t seem to know how to tie a tie properly! You also have to have your top shirt button fastened if you wear a clip on. Some drivers who wear round the neck...

It doesn’t matter whether Diamond acquired the company or not. Frankly, that is irrelevant. They are operating that service under the Diamond brand, and not that of Arriva or anyone else for that matter. They operate the service under Diamond’s licence. Diamond acquired only the Wednesfield...

It goes from Bridgnorth in Shropshire, to Kidderminster in Worcestershire and then to Stourbridge in the West Midlands.

My comments were not about WMCA/WMB in the slightest. You’ve brought them into this unnecessarily and created confusion. They were about Shropshire Council and their involvement on the 125 route. Obviously, I know that Shropshire Council is a non constitute member of the WMCA, as they are not...

Yes, I was talking in relation to the 125 and the subsidy from Shropshire Council. Nothing to do with West Midlands Bus or the Combined Authority. Please check before you jump the gun and accuse me of being wrong @richardjones21

They’ve changed their name (sort of) from Banga Travel to Banga Buses. You’ll certainly notice a difference since the mercs were in service. They now operate solos and E200s.

Poorly maintained or poorly presented? NX maintenance is top class, and i’ve never been on an NX vehicle that has broken down. They do have issues with graffiti, but I’m seeing less of that now. NX have a ‘zero tolerance’ policy in that no vehicle can be in service with damage to it.

Yes, many drivers do wear the black polo’s with logo on them whereas there are some who just wear casual clothes. I’ve had one driver who was wearing a tracksuit!

Yes. I think for a small independent operator, they provide a rather more extensive uniform than others i.e the jumper and fleece jacket. For a smaller operator, I think that the branded polo’s look casual but smart and give a more friendly and easier appearance, rather than a corporate shirt...

It does. Makes it sound like they’re working together, when actual fact, it’s just the council chucking some money at them and that’s it. Councils nowadays seem not to want to have anything to do with bus services. Shropshire Council in particular want to cut their public transport budget...

They’re just standard tenders.

I respect Richard’s views to the fullest, however unusual I may find them. I agree, that it may be a challenge to maintain standards for larger operations. I think Diamond have really forgotten some of their most important operations - the subsidised services. These services are a lifeline to...

The Platinums are the “worst vehicles ever to hit the streets of the West Midlands?” Really? What about some of the Travel Express vehicles, for example? So you think that a bus that knocks loudly when idling, has a threadbare and dirty interior and smells of petrol is better than a quiet...

I know some companies cover Sunday’s as overtime, as drivers put their name down to work Sunday if they want to.

The thing is, if local authorities made bus lanes full time, how would they make their money from bus lane cameras? :lol:

I’m not sure whether Arriva or the Council own them. You’d have thought that being council owned and liveried buses would be allocated to their subsidised services, however I regularly see them on the 1, 11, 24, 25 which aren’t subsidised.

The solos are being cascaded to other depots. Telford and Shrewsbury both had a load last year. Shrewsbury will probably end up with more to replace the 4 60xx council liveries solos that are there.

I can assure you, it definitely smelt of urine! This was a 2001 solo, so lacked any form of ventilation other then open windows. It was a hot day too, so no condensation.