Diamond Bus

Diamond

Founded	1984
Headquarters	Birmingham
Locale	Birmingham
Service area	England
Service type	Urban and interurban bus services
Destinations	Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall
Operator	Rotala PLC
Web site	Red Diamond Black Diamond

Diamond is a bus operator in the West Midlands, formed in 1986 as The Birmingham Coach Company.

History

Birmingham Coach Company

The company was created in 1986 as the Birmingham Coach Company operating a single route, 16, in competition with West Midlands Travel.^[1]

Diamond Bus

"Diamond Bus" branding

In 2000, Birmingham Coach Company was re-branded as Diamond Bus, replacing many of their existing Leyland Nationals, expanding their network in Birmingham and the Black Country.

Go West Midlands

The Go Ahead group purchased Diamond Bus in 2005, as well as Peoples Express (formerly Pete's Travel), and integrated the two companies as Go West Midlands, branded as Diamond. This created the second biggest operator in the West Midlands, behind Travel West Midlands.

A "Diamond" branded bus in 2007

Rotala Group

On 3 March 2008, Go West Midlands was sold to Rotala Group,^[2] who also owned Central Connect and North Birmingham Busways. Rotala originally kept the Diamond business separate from Central Connect and Ludlows (purchased later^[3]), instead switching a number of routes between the three operators.

Red Diamond and Black Diamond

In July 2008, new buses were put into service in Redditch on the 57 and 58 routes, branded as Red Diamond. Since then a number of routes in North Worcestershire have been re-branded as Red Diamond,^[4] along with new routes in competition with First in Redditch. At the same time new buses were allocated to a number of Black Country routes, branded as Black Diamond.^[5]

Ludlows

Ludlows was a bus operator that operated a number of services in Halesowen, West Midlands, England. It operated a varied fleet of around 20 white buses, all of which were low-floor, still unusual for a small company.

Ludlows lost £24,000 in 2005/6, but in 2006/7 showed a £169,000 pretax profit. In 2007, Ludlows was purchased by Rotala subsidiary Central Connect, which itself operates many bus services around Birmingham. Rotala paid £850,000 for the company, after raising a £1 million loan. Rotala purchased all of the company's assets.

In January 2009, Diamond announced that the Ludlows operation was to be integrated with the Diamond operations, with all routes and vehicles moving to the Tividale depot and running under the Black Diamond brand.^[6]

The following routes were operated by Ludlows before the takeover.

• 002: The Merry Hill Centre – Colley Gate – Halesowen – Bartley Green – Weoley Castle.
• 004: The Merry Hill Centre – Colley Gate – Halesowen – Quinton – Harborne.
• 006: Halesowen – Squirrels Estate Circular.
• 007: The Merry Hill Centre – Timbertree Estate – Halesowen – Romsley – Bromsgrove.
• 202: Halesowen – Woodgate – Kitwell – Frankley – Rubery – Lickey – Bromsgrove.
• 204: Halesowen – Woodgate – Kitwell – Frankley – Rubery – Lickey – Cofton Hackett – Bromsgrove.
• 230: Halesowen – Blackheath – Cradley Heath.
• 417: Hayley Green – Halesowen – Blackheath – Oldbury – West Bromwich.

Operational history

Worcestershire

From 22 January 2007, Diamond were forced to withdraw their evening services on the 57 and 58 routes in Redditch, which were under contract to Worcestershire County Council, due to persistent vandalism and violence on the routes.^[7] The company told the council that they would no longer risk operating in the evenings. A month later on the 25 February 2007, Diamond also withdrew the evening services on route 246 between Redditch and Evesham due to low passenger numbers.^[8]

On 8 June 2008, the company introduced 57A and 58A journeys alongside their existing 57 and 58 routes, the new journeys would serve the Alexandra Hospital, after rival company First Midland Red withdrew links to the hospital.^[9]

The operations in Redditch were rebranded as Red Diamond in July 2008 to coincide with the launch of 6 new buses, with a livery designed to be similar to what was used on Midland Red buses.^[10] By September 2008 a further 6 new buses were in operation, along with 10 older buses in the new livery.^[11]

In February 2009, Red Diamond won Worcestershire County Council contracts to operate a number of services around Droitwich and Redditch starting in April 2009,^[12] these are routes 19 to Meadows Estate, 20 to Westlands, 20A to New Chawston, 137 to Dunhampstead, 140/141 to Bromsgrove and 157 to The Ridings. In addition to this, extra daytime journeys are to be provided on Redditch services 50, 64 and 70. The company will also once again operate evening services in Redditch on routes 55A, 56A, 57 and 58. Service 64 between Bromsgrove and Birmingham will also be renumbered to 144 and re-routed to follow the same numbered service operated by First.^[13] Droitwich residents were unhappy about the changes, showing concern about losing the known and respected drivers from the local routes, however, Diamond Bus entered into an agreement with the former operator of the routes, allowing them to continue operating with the same drivers, while Diamond Bus provide the buses and uniforms.^[14]

Awards

At the Passenger Transport Management Awards in June 2009, Austin Birks, Scott Dunn and John Everill of the company were nominated for awards.^[15][16] Austin Birks went on to win the Innovation & New Thinking award,^[17] Scott Dunn won the Young Passenger Transport Professional of the Year award^[18] while John Everill was runner up for the Marketing award.^[19] Additionally, Trevor Hickinbottom won an Unsung Heros award for dedication to the industry over the previous 38 years.^[20]

Brands

Stourbridge Shuttle

An Optare Solo in Stourbridge shuttle livery

In September 2010, Diamond bus branded 2 Optare Solos for the 142 Halesowen – Stourbridge service under the branding Stourbridge Shuttle.

This service operates every 30 minutes during the daytime as a commercial service then hourly during the evenings under tender to Centro

The Dennis Darts displaced from this service have replaced older ones which have since been withdrawn and sold to other companies.

This brand has since been discontinued.

The Double O-2

Diamond rebranded the 002 service from Merry Hill to Weoley Castle with an all-new green livery featuring the name "The Double O-2" on them, playing on the pronunciation in the local area.

This service runs every 15 minutes stopping at Newman College, Bartley Green and Halesowen on the way to Merry Hill from Weoley Castle.

Yew Tree Connection

An Optare Solo in Yew Tree Connection branding

In September 2010, Diamond bus branded 2 Optare Solos for the 401E Walsall – Yew Tree Estate service under the branding Yew Tree Connection.

This service operates every 15 minutes using 3 Optare Solos.

The Dennis Darts displaced from this service have replaced older ones which have since been withdrawn and sold to other companies.

This brand has since been discontinued.

Black Country Connection

A MCV Evolution in Black Country Connection branding

In October 2010, Diamond bus branded 10 MCV Evolution bodied MAN 14.240 for the 404 Walsall – West Bromwich service under the branding Black Country Connection. This service operates every 6-8 minutes.

These buses displaced the Black Diamond branded buses which 2 have transferred to Wessex Connect and the rest have been cascaded to other routes, e.g. the 56.

Black Diamond and Royale Black Diamond

A Plaxton Centro in Black Diamond branding

In 2008, upon takeover by Rotala, Diamond started to "localise" their operations. In the Black Country, this ment that the brand became Black Diamond with 20 new Plaxton Centros (8 of which have moved to Wessex Connect since due to service cuts.). These were new for the 401, 402, 404B, 404E and 404H.

In 2009, Diamond launched 7 more Plaxton Centro buses on service 9, these using Royale Black Diamond branding.

Most of the routes these buses were new for have since either had new buses (404E), withdrawn (404B/H) or had older stock transferred to them (401/2).

However, since then, service 56 has gained the existing Plaxton Centros.

Red Diamond

In a working partnership with Worcestershire County Council, a new fleet of Red Diamond bus services are beginning to operate in Redditch, Worcestershire. These buses are mainly Diamond owned Wright Eclipse/Volvo B7RLE but there have been several re-painted Dennis Darts/Wright DAFs in operation.

A Wright Eclipse Urban in Red Diamond branding

In 2008, upon takeover by Rotala, Diamond started to "localise" their operations. In Redditch, this ment that the brand became Red Diamond with several new Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLEs.

From 31 August 2008, Diamond Bus stepped up their operation of commercial and non-commercial services in Redditch significantly, to the point where they now operate more buses in Redditch than main rival First.

Services 55A/56A are introduced in competition with the 55/56 routes, however will divert via Batchley. The frequency of this route is every 15 minutes, which is actually more frequent than the First Midland Red service.

They also introduced a ten minute frequency on route 51 through to Batchley.

They took over the 50,61, 64 and 175/177/178/179 routes.

In November, Diamond will again step up the competition against First, by re-routing the 55A/56A in Webheath and Oakenshaw and introducing an evening and Sunday service on these routes. Diamond will also match the 20 minute Sunday frequency on route 51.

In 2010, amid much criticism of the poor performance of the existing buses from Worcestershire County Council and passengers, Diamond brought 9 MCV Evolutions for services 362, 363 and 382

Along with this, all the Redditch and Worcester depot Dennis Dart allocations have been repainted into Red Diamond Livery.

Routes

Main article: List of Diamond Bus routes

See also

• List of bus operators of the United Kingdom
• Connect Buses
• Transport in Birmingham

References

1. ^ Reddibus - Diamond Bus. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
2. ^ Go-Ahead - "Disposal of Go West Midlands". Retrieved 21 December 2008.
3. ^ Rotala buys bus business Ludlows of Halesowen for 850,000 stg. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
4. ^ The Diamond Bus Company - Seeing Red (For all the right reasons). Retrieved 12 January 2009.^{[dead link]}
5. ^ The Diamond Bus Company - Black to the Future. Retrieved 12 January 2009.^{[dead link]}
6. ^ Changes to Ludlows operations. Retrieved 12 January 2009.^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "Night buses cancelled after attacks". Redditch Advertiser. 22 January 2007. http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/1138143.night_buses_cancelled_after_attacks/. Retrieved 28 February 2009. 
8. ^ "Low ticket sales forces bus cuts". Evesham Journal. 15 February 2007. http://www.eveshamjournal.co.uk/news/1195214.low_ticket_sales_forces_bus_cuts/. Retrieved 28 February 2009. 
9. ^ "Alex bus help". Redditch Advertiser. 10 June 2008. http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/2331964.alex_bus_help. Retrieved 28 February 2009. 
10. ^ "New bus fleet hits the roads". Redditch Advertiser. 22 July 2008. http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/2406182.new_bus_fleet_hits_the_roads. Retrieved 28 February 2009. 
11. ^ "Go green with Red Diamond". Redditch Advertiser. 8th September 2008. http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/3654789.Go_green_with_Red_Diamond/. Retrieved 28 February 2009. 
12. ^ "Bus firm wins 11 tenders (From Worcester News)". Worcesternews.co.uk. 2009-02-20. http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/search/4141962.Bus_firm_wins_11_tenders/. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 
13. ^ "Diamond expands operations in Redditch and Worcestershire". http://www.diamondbuses.com/getdoc/b2bc9520-99c1-4e88-9c20-f28e7a2c1074/diamondexpands.aspx. Retrieved 28 February 2009. 
14. ^ "Moves to ease bus service fears (From Worcester News)". Worcesternews.co.uk. 2009-04-21. http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/search/4306744.Moves_to_ease_bus_service_fears/. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 
15. ^ "Passenger Transport Management Awards - Top Transport Managers compete for prizes". Ptmawards.co.uk. http://www.ptmawards.co.uk/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=2. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 
16. ^ "High flyers at the bus company (From Worcester News)". Worcesternews.co.uk. 2009-05-20. http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/search/4381741.High_flyers_at_the_bus_company/. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 
17. ^ "Passenger Transport Management Awards - Innovation and New Thinking". Ptmawards.co.uk. http://www.ptmawards.co.uk/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106&Itemid=47. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 
18. ^ "Passenger Transport Management Awards - Young Passenger Transport Professional of the Year". Ptmawards.co.uk. http://www.ptmawards.co.uk/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=110&Itemid=47. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 
19. ^ "Passenger Transport Management Awards - Marketing". Ptmawards.co.uk. http://www.ptmawards.co.uk/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=47. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 
20. ^ "Passenger Transport Management Awards - Unsung Heroes". Ptmawards.co.uk. http://www.ptmawards.co.uk/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=102&Itemid=47. Retrieved 2009-06-12. 

External links

• Red Diamond
• Black Diamond