Astwood Bank Review
Seeing as Diamond are reviewing the possibility of changing the route of the 70, I decided to catch a 70 across to Astwood Bank (to see numbers and also to bash this Solo again, to see if it's improved since I last bashed it). The review proposes rerouting the 55 and 70 so that they follow the same route, just in opposite directions, and also lowering the frequency to every hour. This would work for the 70, which mostly has low numbers, but not for the 55 which can be rather busy most of the time, especially as it serves the Oakenshaw Tesco Extra Superstore.
Diamond's CW03 XDM (20008) is seen pulling away from the stop on Hoopers Lane, Astwood Bank. The 70 currently operates up to every 30 minutes between Redditch Bus Station and Astwood Bank. Back when First were operating, both companies operated up to every 30mins on the 70. However, it then dropped down to hourly after the sale. But when the route started interworking with the 55, they increased the frequency to half hourly. CW03XDM was new as N10 HDA to Ashton, Gaerwen. 2011 then saw N10HDA leave their fleet and be acquired by the Rotala PLC for use with the Wessex Connect operation, where it wore branding for use on Royal Bath services. It is an Optare Solo M850.
As a side note, the driver of the bus has always seemed sound, and I got a wave from him when I photoed the bus.
Astwood Bank Review
Seeing as Diamond are reviewing the possibility of changing the route of the 70, I decided to catch a 70 across to Astwood Bank (to see numbers and also to bash this Solo again, to see if it's improved since I last bashed it). The review proposes rerouting the 55 and 70 so that they follow the same route, just in opposite directions, and also lowering the frequency to every hour. This would work for the 70, which mostly has low numbers, but not for the 55 which can be rather busy most of the time, especially as it serves the Oakenshaw Tesco Extra Superstore.
Diamond's CW03 XDM (20008) is seen pulling away from the stop on Hoopers Lane, Astwood Bank. The 70 currently operates up to every 30 minutes between Redditch Bus Station and Astwood Bank. Back when First were operating, both companies operated up to every 30mins on the 70. However, it then dropped down to hourly after the sale. But when the route started interworking with the 55, they increased the frequency to half hourly. CW03XDM was new as N10 HDA to Ashton, Gaerwen. 2011 then saw N10HDA leave their fleet and be acquired by the Rotala PLC for use with the Wessex Connect operation, where it wore branding for use on Royal Bath services. It is an Optare Solo M850.
As a side note, the driver of the bus has always seemed sound, and I got a wave from him when I photoed the bus.