Diamond Bus
Encyclopedia
Diamond is a bus operator in the West Midlands, formed in 1986 as The Birmingham Coach Company.
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.
, branded as Diamond. This created the second biggest operator in the West Midlands, behind Travel West Midlands.
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.
The following routes were operated by Ludlows before the takeover.
, which were under contract to Worcestershire County Council, due to persistent vandalism and violence on the routes. 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.
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.
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. By September 2008 a further 6 new buses were in operation, along with 10 older buses in the new livery.
In February 2009, Red Diamond won Worcestershire County Council contracts to operate a number of services around Droitwich and Redditch starting in April 2009, 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. 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.
s 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 Dart
s displaced from this service have replaced older ones which have since been withdrawn and sold to other companies.
This brand has since been discontinued.
This service runs every 15 minutes stopping at Newman College, Bartley Green and Halesowen on the way to Merry Hill from Weoley Castle.
s 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 Dart
s displaced from this service have replaced older ones which have since been withdrawn and sold to other companies.
This brand has since been discontinued.
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.
, Diamond started to "localise" their operations. In the Black Country
, this ment that the brand became Black Diamond with 20 new Plaxton Centro
s (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 Centro
s.
, Worcestershire
. These buses are mainly Diamond owned Wright Eclipse
/Volvo B7RLE but there have been several re-painted Dennis Darts/Wright DAFs in operation.
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 B7RLE
s.
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 Evolution
s 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.
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.Diamond Bus
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 MidlandsGo West Midlands
Go West Midlands was a bus company based in Birmingham in the United Kingdom. It was owned by Go-Ahead Group and was formed through Go-Ahead buying Probus Management Limited and Birmingham Coach Company and merging the two...
, branded as Diamond. This created the second biggest operator in the West Midlands, behind Travel West Midlands.
Rotala Group
On 3 March 2008, Go West Midlands was sold to Rotala Group, who also owned Central Connect and North Birmingham Busways. Rotala originally kept the Diamond business separate from Central Connect and Ludlows (purchased later), instead switching a number of routes between the three operators. From November 2011 Central Connect has started to be re-branded "Blue Diamond" however this seems at the moment to be kept as a separate operation.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, 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.Ludlows
Ludlows was a busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
operator that operated a number of services in Halesowen
Halesowen
Halesowen is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands, England.The population, as measured by the United Kingdom Census 2001, was 55,273...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. 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
Rotala
Rotala is an Alternative Investment Market listed company, which owns a variety of UK transport operators.Rotala was set up in 2005, with the main intention of acquiring or gaining majority interest in businesses within a number of areas.-Surrey Connect:...
subsidiary Central Connect, which itself operates many bus services around Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. 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.
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.
Worcestershire
From 22 January 2007, Diamond were forced to withdraw their evening services on the 57 and 58 routes in RedditchRedditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
, which were under contract to Worcestershire County Council, due to persistent vandalism and violence on the routes. 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
Evesham
Evesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
due to low passenger numbers.
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
First Midland Red
First Midland Red is a bus company operating in Herefordshire and Worcestershire in the English Midlands. The company was formed in 1981, and until 1999 was known as Midland Red West...
withdrew links to the hospital.
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
Midland Red
Midland Red was a bus company which operated in the English Midlands from 1905 to 1981. It was the trading name used by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company , which was renamed Midland Red Omnibus Company in 1974...
buses. By September 2008 a further 6 new buses were in operation, along with 10 older buses in the new livery.
In February 2009, Red Diamond won Worcestershire County Council contracts to operate a number of services around Droitwich and Redditch starting in April 2009, 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. 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.
Awards
At the Passenger Transport Management Awards in June 2009, Austin Birks, Scott Dunn and John Everill of the company were nominated for awards. Austin Birks went on to win the Innovation & New Thinking award, Scott Dunn won the Young Passenger Transport Professional of the Year award while John Everill was runner up for the Marketing award. Additionally, Trevor Hickinbottom won an Unsung Heros award for dedication to the industry over the previous 38 years.Stourbridge Shuttle
In September 2010, Diamond bus branded 2 Optare SoloOptare Solo
The Optare Solo is a low-floor midibus manufactured by Optare in Leeds, UK since 1997. The name "Solo" is a play on the low-floor status of the bus, the manufacturer believing its vehicle having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension.The innovative...
s 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
West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive
The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive , sometimes known as Centro, is a local government organisation responsible for certain transport services in the West Midlands county in England....
The Dennis Dart
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
s 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
In September 2010, Diamond bus branded 2 Optare SoloOptare Solo
The Optare Solo is a low-floor midibus manufactured by Optare in Leeds, UK since 1997. The name "Solo" is a play on the low-floor status of the bus, the manufacturer believing its vehicle having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension.The innovative...
s 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 Dart
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
s 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
In October 2010, Diamond bus branded 10 MCV EvolutionMCV Evolution
The MCV Evolution is a single-decker bus bodywork built by Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles. It was unveiled in late 2004.This body is based on the frame of the Stirling but has been drastically restyled, incorporating a new roof-dome , and other new mouldings...
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
In 2008, upon takeover by RotalaRotala
Rotala is an Alternative Investment Market listed company, which owns a variety of UK transport operators.Rotala was set up in 2005, with the main intention of acquiring or gaining majority interest in businesses within a number of areas.-Surrey Connect:...
, Diamond started to "localise" their operations. In the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
, this ment that the brand became Black Diamond with 20 new Plaxton Centro
Plaxton Centro
The Plaxton Centro is a bus body designed by Bluebird Vehicles and manufactured by Plaxton. It was launched on the VDL SB120 in February 2006. The Centro was also made available on the VDL SB200 chassis in 2006. In 2007 the Centro was made available on the MAN 12.240 and the Volvo B7RLE chassis....
s (8 of which have moved to Wessex Connect
Wessex Connect
Wessex Connect was founded in Bristol by Rotala, through its subsidiary company Flights Hallmark, to provide Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council with an alternative to the near monopoly currently held in the city by FirstGroup....
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 Centro
Plaxton Centro
The Plaxton Centro is a bus body designed by Bluebird Vehicles and manufactured by Plaxton. It was launched on the VDL SB120 in February 2006. The Centro was also made available on the VDL SB200 chassis in 2006. In 2007 the Centro was made available on the MAN 12.240 and the Volvo B7RLE chassis....
s.
Red Diamond
In a working partnership with Worcestershire County Council, a new fleet of Red Diamond bus services are beginning to operate in RedditchRedditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
. These buses are mainly Diamond owned Wright Eclipse
Wright Eclipse
The Wright Eclipse is a low-floor single-deck bus body built by Wright on Volvo B7 chassis. It shares its design with the Wright Solar on Scania L94 chassis....
/Volvo B7RLE but there have been several re-painted Dennis Darts/Wright DAFs in operation.
In 2008, upon takeover by Rotala
Rotala
Rotala is an Alternative Investment Market listed company, which owns a variety of UK transport operators.Rotala was set up in 2005, with the main intention of acquiring or gaining majority interest in businesses within a number of areas.-Surrey Connect:...
, Diamond started to "localise" their operations. In Redditch
Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
, this ment that the brand became Red Diamond with several new Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE
Volvo B7RLE
Volvo B7RLE is a low-floor single-deck citybus launched initially in Australia in 2001, and then in the United Kingdom in 2003 to supplement the B7L single-decker, which was unsuccessful in both countries. It is similar to the B7L's predecessor, the B10BLE...
s.
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 Evolution
MCV Evolution
The MCV Evolution is a single-decker bus bodywork built by Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles. It was unveiled in late 2004.This body is based on the frame of the Stirling but has been drastically restyled, incorporating a new roof-dome , and other new mouldings...
s for services 362, 363 and 382
Along with this, all the Redditch and Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
depot Dennis Dart
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
allocations have been repainted into Red Diamond Livery.
See also
- List of bus operators of the United Kingdom
- Connect Buses
- Transport in BirminghamTransport in BirminghamBirmingham is a major transport hub, due in part to its location in central England. Public transport in the city is overseen by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive whose public brand is Centro/Network West Midlands.-Railways:-History:...