Some more vehicles

[bmmoboy]

An appeal went out today on the Ticketer machines for 4 or 5 drivers to go to Stoke on Sunday, to bring some vehicles back. Don’t know what will be arriving, but my guess is some E200s, I think they have some newer examples than our current batch.

[ANDREW]

We could get 44511 and 44514 back !

[bmmoboy]

I,ve found out that the vehicles from Stoke are 4 E400s from Rochdale. We have already received 2 E400s from Bristol. That will bring the total number of deckers to 19, which could be a record for Worcester, and will make DD12 very happy.

We are also expecting 3 short E200s, from I believe South Wales, these will no doubt be for the newly acquired Droitwich locals.

[ANDREW]

Thanks for the update.

[ANDREW]

With thanks to someone updating Bustimes 33746,33747,33749,33751,44577,44578,44579 and trainer 69333 have arrived.

[DD12]

Thanks for the tip-off, bmmoboy.

Yes, I am indeed very pleased about the further DDs, and am interested in how they will be used :-
(1) - I hope "we" will get to keep all twenty, - my guess is one to four of them could be
"cover" for vehicles to be sent away for repaints (IF that happens).

(2) - One to four of them could replace some of "our" longer single-deckers (which could
leave First Midland Red).

(3) - One or two of them could provide the extra journeys of the X50 --
Or displace one or two of our single-deckers for these journeys.

(4) - It MIGHT be that one or two school-time services still need to become double-decker.

-- "YOUR SHOUT" !!

[Reddibus]

The four extra double deckers 33746,33747,33749,33751 were until the end of last week used on TfGM school service which First have lost with the start of the Tranche 3 franchises from the beginning of January. The school routes they were being used on will be operated by either Metroline or Diamond North West who have won the franchises those particular school services

[DD12]

There is now (according to bustimes.org) a fifth E400 from Rochdale.

I forgot to mention above that they will probably be mainly used on the 44/ X50 / 144 "same as" the extra DDs since September.

(I had speculated that FMR had maybe submitted tenders for Transport for WM work, but that looks very unlikely now, and I also speculate - UNREALISTICALLY - about what the two local councils might do to promote bus usage in the next year !)

ALSO, could some of these 5 E400s replace some of the previous recent 16 that might have been judged to need too much money spending on them ?

[ANDREW]

Interestingly, 44577 “tracked” on the map on Bustimes .

[DD12]

Interestingly, 44577 “tracked” on the map on Bustimes .

Yes, "Nice One" Andrew, -- a great tracking map !!