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Diamond's MD has said the reduction in PVR is 4

(10/02/2021 18:58)mikestone Wrote: [ -> ]Diamond's MD has said the reduction in PVR is 4

for what 171 and 172 or both

(10/02/2021 09:26)Mrboo Wrote: [ -> ]When Beeline had it they had Mercedes-Benz mini buses on the route about 30 seater. I don't see many routes with standing anymore and that makes you think there waste in the system. like Stagecoach running Deckers on tenders as no route needing a decker should be on a tender. So I would put on a Optare Solo on the 171

Deckers were in use because it did get busy and there are plenty of schools on the route which generated usage. I believe the service is down for Enviro200s in the tender but it started getting busy with the schools so deckers get used to save it being snug.
It's been said a few times privately that the service could be commercial. It's just an easy tender and why commercialise a route and have the revenue risk when you can keep a tender and have guaranteed money.

(10/02/2021 14:16)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]I think the idea is where possible use the biggest buses available to encourage social distancing. When Maynes ran the 171/172 it was a mix of single and double deckers. Certainly no mini’s as they didn’t have any

Stagecoach used deckers pre Covid, it's not specifically a social distancing thing.

(10/02/2021 18:58)mikestone Wrote: [ -> ]Diamond's MD has said the reduction in PVR is 4

Do you mean 171/172 PVR or the net reduction in the depot?

It's certainly a surprise to see Stagecoach lose the 171/2, it's been with them since the Mayne takeover. Can't see the punters being too chuffed, a lot of passengers use the service to connect with commercial services run by Stagecoach.

As for vehicles used, realistically it needs 38 seat Enviro200s at a minimum, and many journeys require double deckers due to heavy loadings. I drove that route for 2 years and it was not uncommon on specific journeys to have to drive past passengers due to the bus being full even pre-pandemic.

(10/02/2021 19:50)iMarkeh Wrote: [ -> ]Deckers were in use because it did get busy and there are plenty of schools on the route which generated usage. I believe the service is down for Enviro200s in the tender but it started getting busy with the schools so deckers get used to save it being snug.

Stagecoach used deckers pre Covid, it's not specifically a social distancing thing.

Enviro200s so backs what I been saying with the tender is for a 30 seater give or take. like when Beeline had it back in the 90s with the Mercedes-Benz Beaver.

Sometimes in my view it better to be full on a smaller bus then to just use a bigger bus as you can build a route with it being more often. look back in the 80s with the rise of the minibus routes many turned into full size then failed like the 168 as people like the turn up and go over 1 bus every hour.

Brand new 40800 is out on the 472 today. Just need 40802 from this batch to enter service.

(12/02/2021 16:50)WWH44L Wrote: [ -> ]Brand new 40800 is out on the 472 today. Just need 40802 from this batch to enter service.

This and 40802 should allow the last First owned B7RLEs to be returned.

Not North West, but Coach & Bus Weekly report that Rotala's Hallmark bus operation is to rebranded as Diamond. I'm surprised to note that they operate in Oxford. Their depot at Stanwell, near Heathrow Airport, is nearly 50 miles from there. Does anyone know if they now have a depot in the Oxford area please ?

Bustimes suggests a depot in Bicester as well as Stanwell.
Looking on this link during the day and you can see how far apart the two operations are https://bustimes.org/operators/diamond-b...h-east/map

They have a Outstation based at Grayline Coaches Blackthorn Hill Bicester Oxon OX25 1TL

They have 3 streetlites Based there. for Route 250 Oxford to Bicester