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Some of the smaller independents where I live don’t employ cleaners. Instead, the drivers have to mop out the bus after their shift and you can tell! The floors are covered in dirt, and the handrails on the backs of the seats are stained. I once got on a bus that absolutely stank of stale p*ss.

That’s what really stands out - a company who’s drivers are willing to go the extra mile and who know their passengers. I sometimes use the 80 (Bilston - Moxley) and often find the same drivers on it. They know the passengers and always try their best to drop them at their door. Sometimes...

Ahh, apologies again Richard. I misread the timetable. NX and Diamond pioneered Swift at the same time, it wasn’t Diamond first. And anyway, why wouldn’t they pioneer a product on the region’s largest operator, with a much larger customer base? The only thing Diamond had before NX was...

I never said that NX operated on the Weoley Castle to Halesowen corridor. It is Diamond’s 002 service. As I said, I can’t provide you the name of another operator who bids for these tendered services, as my sources don’t show that information. Instead, i’ll provide you this link that shows...

I sometimes have drivers who wear earphones whilst driving. They’re often using them to talk on the phone hands free or to block out the noise, as you’d get a headache after a 10 hour shift on the road - especially in an e200:lol:. During the World Cup in 2018, I had some drivers who would...

Yes I was referring to this. Not only have I seen a Diamond driver in NX uniform, but also ex igo drivers still wearing their igo uniform. My local company, Banga, have some of their drivers in uniform, and some who aren’t. Their uniform consists of branded polos, jumper and fleece jacket...

I’d also add, a rounded amount to the nearest 10p. NX once charged £1.15 for a child single and Banga charge £1.05 for a child single. It is a bit of a random number. Also, it is easier to lay for say a £1.20 fare as you’d likely just use a pound coin and a 20 pence piece.

Fully agree with the points you’ve made. Simon does indeed engage with enthusiasts, and will happily answer any questions we may have. Also, it is good that he does this, as enthusiasts are more likely to spot something wrong or that needs attention with a particular vehicle or service and he...

TfWM award Diamond these contracts, as they bid the lowest price, dependant on what the contract is awarded on of course. I can’t give you the names of the operators willing to operate the Sunday tenders, as I don’t have them. If you look at the TfWM tender results on their website, they show...

TfWM subsidise most of Diamond’s Sunday services, including the ones NX run Monday-Saturday ,bar a select few routes, such as the 4. There are also many other operators who operate commercially 364 days a year, including NX. I fail to see how these two points you’ve made about Diamond sets...

This wasn’t during Covid times that i’d seen a Diamond driver in NX uniform.

I suppose that’s another benefit of driver uniforms - you know that they aren’t just some random whose nicked a bus! Some of my local drivers wear earphones whilst driving, sometimes even talking on the phone!

Yes, some drivers do look ‘scruffy’. Some also wear non company clothing on top of their uniforms, such as hoodies. We similarly have uniform regulations for services subsidised by TfWM, although there still remains some companies on these routes with no company uniform.

Long, indirect routes that go 'round the houses' put many people off. Arriva used to run the 10 between Telford & Wolverhampton, competing on the route with Banga. However, Arriva's service was almost 20 minutes longer as it served Perton. Banga's 891 service is much more direct, using the...

Was that the 326 by any chance? An ex igo tender. I often see ex igo drivers at Diamond doing their old tendered work, still wearing an igo uniform. You'd have thought Diamond would have provided them with the appropriate uniform, as they've had almost a year to do it.

Following on from the '2nd Hand Unrepainted buses' and 'What makes a good bus service' threads, I thought it would be a good idea to open up a discussion about uniforms. Some operators local to me don't provide drivers with a uniform, instead they just wear plain clothes, or worse still, their...

Not really. There’s no point in paying to have them sprayed white when the new owner would probably spray them into their livery anyway.

1) Reliable service 2) Vehicle presentation 3) Value for money fares 4) Friendly & helpful drivers

What are your opinions on Banga Buses, Thandi and Travel Express, if you’ve used them?

I wouldn’t say Diamond are perfect. Sometimes, I wonder how some of their vehicles are still on the road quite frankly. I was speaking to an ex Diamond driver not too long back. He said that Diamond was a terrible company and the worst he’d worked for. He said that he would start his bus up...