MidlandRed.net

The attached article 'Bold Target for Buses' appeared in the local Observer free newspaper dated Wednesday 18 August 2021. I have put this under Diamond Bus (Rotala) heading as there is a key paragraph (seven) which states (quote) The proposed extent of the ZEBRA scheme within Worcestershire would initially cover the Bromsgrove and Redditch districts (unquote).

As Firstbus have no services in Redditch and just the 144 in Bromsgrove, it seems a safe bet that any zero emission buses would inevitably be run by the main operator - Diamond.

Sadly no mention of Worcester at this stage, but all would depend on the success of the Worcestershire County Council bid and receipt of £30 million Government funding!

I think that Diamond have recently converted some rather old single deckers to "electric power" . And would not Bewdley be the best place for a ZEBRA scheme ? ! ?

ANDREW wrote: ↑

12:22 Monday 23rd August 2021

I think that Diamond have recently converted some rather old single deckers to "electric power" . And would not Bewdley be the best place for a ZEBRA scheme ? ! ?

Could be!

As a bit of light relief here are a few vehicle names from the animal kingdom.

Motorbikes; BSA Bantam & Triumph Tigress scooter.

Cars; AC Cobra, Ford Cougar, Mustang & Puma, All Jaguars, Reliant Kitten & Robin, Singer Gazelle, Vauxhall Wyvern & Wolseley Hornet.

Lorries; Commer Cob (light van), Guy Vixen, Otter & Wolf, Karrier Bantam, Leyland Beaver, Bison, Buffalo, Hippo, Mastiff & Octopus & Scammell Scarab.

Buses & Coaches; AEC Swift, Crossley Condor, Dennis Falcon, Leyland Cub, Gnu, Leopard, Lion, Lioness, Lynx, Panther, Panther Cub, Tiger & Tiger Cub. Plaxton Leopard & Panther.

Please add any missing creatures (there must be many more).

Quite a lot of aircraft have animal, bird and insect names, but that is another subject!

Here is a link to the Department For Transport Zebra information website which gives a full list of the local authorities making applications for the millions on offer;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... us-funding

I guess Worcester will remain a dirty City Centre with through routes renowned for CO2 and NOX levels at or near the recognised danger level for a long time to come. Hydrogen and electric buses are just a pipedream, I think we would all settle for a CAZ with Euro 6 standard buses, taxis and delivery vehicles - dream on!

I am shocked that the proposal / application is not for Worcester !

- I cannot fathom what the CC is thinking of

DD12 wrote: ↑

17:26 Thursday 26th August 2021

I am shocked that the proposal / application is not for Worcester !

- I cannot fathom what the CC is thinking of

*If* the depot is to be relocated then it wouldn’t make sense to build in any required infrastructure until after it’s moved. I suspect this same argument may be getting used for several years.

Buses include - Leyland Cheetah , Dennis Pelican , Guy Otter and Vixen.

Buses also include, AEC Merlin & Dennis Pointer Dart. Apparently Leyland had pre-war PSVs named, Badger, Leveret and Panda!

Cars include, Dodge Viper, Hillman Husky, Riley Kestrel & Triumph Stag.

Vans include, Bedford Beagle & Peugeot Boxer; Boxer also a Leyland lorry c. 1970.

https://www.route-one.net/news/zebra-st ... ion-buses/

My reading of this article is that the ZEBRA bid for North Worcestershire has failed, --

-- let's hope that the Bus Service Improvement Plan submitted by Worcestershire C.Council doesn't go the same way !!

I've not seen anything mentioned about Worcestershire gaining from these bids.

However, at Stagecoach we are very happy to be on the receiving end of part of the Oxford award. This will see 55 new double deck buses at our Oxford depot (the rest are going to Oxford Bus Company) for use on local services. Deliveries are expected to start min-2023.