Autumn service changes ??

[AdamH]

Oh, and I asked the question... These services will start in September for the new school term. There is now a made rush for drivers the get Herefordshire CRB checks done in time!

[Peter]

Oh, and I asked the question... These services will start in September for the new school term. There is now a made rush for drivers the get Herefordshire CRB checks done in time!

Thanks for the info Adam! Sounds quite a rush to get CRB's etc done and belts fitted for effectively 3 weeks' notice, I guess especially with drivers on holiday! I see courtesy of Winston on WMBIP that Astons have also cancelled the 405 Bromyard-Hereford... They've lost a fair chunk of work!

[AdamH]

Yes, First have won the 405 too. It's only one return journey on Wednesdays only. I'm looking forward to that one as there is a long break in Hereford.

[AdamH]

Some school routes are in the contract but I don't know the route numbers yet. One of them, Ledbury to Much Marcle, will require a Solo to be fitted with seat belts (two are being done so there is a spare). They will almost certain get these from the withdrawn Volvo Coach.

Change of plan!!

Looks like Worcester will now get two second-hand Solos with seat belts already fitted. Probably from Swansea.

[MattW]

Plenty of 'country' stuff. Maybe I should come back

[Rich82]

Has Worcester got enough buses to cope with increase of services

[AdamH]

Hmmm... Good question!

67651 has now been withdrawn and sent to Stoke without being replaced. The 59-reg Volvos should start arriving any time now (I think the first is now over due) but as all of these are being refurbished by Thorntons before coming to Worcester we are only expecting 1 to arrive every 3 or 4 weeks. The "repaint spare" bus 66305 is still not on the road either.

I wonder how quickly we can get the two Solos from Swansea?

[DD12]

Hmmm... Good question!

67651 has now been withdrawn and sent to Stoke without being replaced. The 59-reg Volvos should start arriving any time now (I think the first is now over due) but as all of these are being refurbished by Thorntons before coming to Worcester we are only expecting 1 to arrive every 3 or 4 weeks. The "repaint spare" bus 66305 is still not on the road either.

I wonder how quickly we can get the two Solos from Swansea?

..... I could ask if we have got enough DRIVERS, .... but I don't want to open-up old wounds !

Great news that the refurbs are being done by Thorntons !

It would be nice if the repainting of our solos, could resume (after a long break) !

[Peter]

Hmmm... Good question!

67651 has now been withdrawn and sent to Stoke without being replaced. The 59-reg Volvos should start arriving any time now (I think the first is now over due) but as all of these are being refurbished by Thorntons before coming to Worcester we are only expecting 1 to arrive every 3 or 4 weeks. The "repaint spare" bus 66305 is still not on the road either.

I wonder how quickly we can get the two Solos from Swansea?

66305 barely sounds worth the effort to repair at coming up to 16 years old and with the faults it has!

Ideal that seat belted Solos nay be sourced from Swansea, possibly the ones acquired by Potteries second hand and moved down to Wales recently?

Thorntons of Ashington refurbs are always very smart, I'm assuming they'll get a retrim and repaint into fuschia fronted livery?

Would be good to see the rest of the Solos and Dartsplus Centros repainted too!

Work won so far to summarise is: 417/405/675?

[AdamH]

From memory, work won by First...

417 Worcester-Cradley-Ledbury
405 Cradley-Bromyard-Hereford (Wednesday only)
400 Bromyard local (1 journey only??)
482 Bromyard-Leominster (Friday only)
600 Ledbury local
672/4 Bromyard-Ledbury
675/6 Malvern-Colwall-Ledbury
Ledbury-Much Marcle School.

I understand the 417 will be run with a Dart to a new timetable, while the 675/6 will use a Solo and will be extended to the new supermarket in Ledbury.