West Midlands bus route 303
| Management | |
|---|---|
| Operated by | Diamond Bus |
| Garage | Tividale |
| Vehicle | Dennis Dart or Optare Solo |
| Peak vehicle requirement | 1 |
| Route | |
| Start | Bilston Bus Station |
| Via | Willenhall Town Centre |
| End | County Bridge Estate, Devon Road |
| Length | About ?? miles |
| Service | |
| Level | Daytime 09:30–15:25 Monday–Saturday off peak, No Sunday Service |
| Frequency | every 60 minutes |
| Journey time | 25 minutes |
| Night | No Service |
The 303 is a bus route in the West Midlands area of England. It is operated by Diamond Bus under subsidy to Centro.[1]
Present
The 303 is currently operated by Diamond Bus using Dennis Darts or Optare Solos. It runs to an hourly off-peak Monday–Saturday frequency under subsidy to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, Centro.[2]
History
Previously the 303 was operated by Pete's Travel on a commercial basis at a similar timetable to present. In 1999 it was known that National Express West Midlands (then Travel West Midlands), also operated journeys on the route at irregular frequencies, but by 2000 these were withdrawn.
In 2004, following the merger of Pete's Travel and Diamond Bus following their takeover by Go-Ahead, the Pete's Travel name was scrapped, in favour of the Diamond Bus brand. The continued to operate the route until 2007, when due to large losses many services by the company were withdrawn, including the 303.[3]
Recently formed A2Z Travel instantly stepped in to save the route, however, shortly before the end of the year they announced they were to withdraw off the route, due to a lack of patronage. The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive then put the route to tender, which A2Z Travel then won.
By now A2Z Travel was in trouble with the West Midlands Traffic Commissioner and VOSA for poor vehicle standards and was struggling to pay fines and keep its licence.[4]
The companies licence was revoked in 2008, however, due to numerous appeals the company was able to continue operating.
In February 2009, it was announced that Diamond Bus were once again to operate the route. Having been sold by Go-Ahead to the Rotala Group, the company was rapidly expanding and won close to thirty tenders in the round. The change of operator was due to take place from April 26, 2009.
However, A2Z Travel's licence was finally revoked on March 31, 2009 after they had lost their final appeal, meaning Diamond Bus started operating the service 25 days earlier from April 1.
Diamond Bus hold the route on a three-year-long tender.
Route
- Bilston Bus Station
- Willenhall Town Centre
- Bentley
- County Bridge Estate
References
- ↑ Centro, www.centro.co.uk
- ↑ Diamond Bus, www.diamondbuses.com/services/WestMidlands_5/303-CountyBridgetoBilston_104.html
- ↑ Diamond Bus
- ↑ A2Z Travel