National Express West Midlands

[NX Spectra 4001]

RE: National Express West Midlands
Due to additional contracts and an increase in PVR at West Bromwich that have been taken on in the past few weeks, Mercs are back in service at West Bromwich and Pensnett (albeit the Mercs are blue!). Pensnett garage are also due a Streetdeck demonstrator, however this is as a seed vehicle, and will be a permanent part of the fleet.

This is what the allocations look like now:

1571, 1591 & 1594 are now at Pensnett (from Coventry) until Christmas, should be allocated to routes 243/244 (1) & 297 (2). So if anyone wants a photo of a blue Merc in Dudley or Merry Hill, now's your chance!

1585, 1607, 1695 & 1699 have been reinstated at West Bromwich, most likely to be allocated to routes 42/43, 45 & 49, although 1607 made its return in spectacular fashion, by doing a trip on the 74 from Dudley to Birmingham!

Vehicle transfers:

4024, 4027, 4032, 4033, 4065, 4068, 4073, 4076 & 4105 have all transferred from either Reserve fleet or Acocks Green, marking the first time Walsall have had Presidents since early 2008!

4200-4202 have transferred to Wolverhampton in the short term, from Pensnett, until Christmas for the Amazon Rugeley contract services, along with 4133 from Walsall

Only 1 of the Acocks Green OmniLinks (1940) is still left at AG, presumably as a buffer, in case of issues with the E200MMC's, or just as a spare. All of the B7RLE's have now transferred elsewhere (2106-2111 to Pensnett, 2112-2114 to Wolverhampton & 2115-2120 to Birmingham Central). All of the 50 E200MMC's have now been delivered.

4527-4534 will transfer to Acocks Green from Walsall, although, 4528/30/32 are still left at Walsall, while the others are in for repaint into Crimson, these Geminis being the oldest vehicles (currently) in the new livery (53 plates). 4527/29 are already out and about, usually on the 5 or the 31.

Alex