The Diamond Bus Company is pleased to announce the award of eleven tendered bus services by Worcestershire County Council.
The services, operating in the Redditch and Droitwich area will commence in April 2009 for a three-year period.
Austin Birks, Commercial Manager for Diamond, said he was thrilled at the news. "We are extremely pleased to have been successful in winning these tenders at the e-auction operated by Worcestershire County Council. We are keen to maintain a high profile across the County of Worcestershire and these contracts consolidate our position in the Droitwich Spa and Redditch areas".
He added, "This raises the profile of Red Diamond even higher and reinforces our position as one of the largest bus operators in the West Midlands and Worcestershire area".
The award includes the following services:
Service 19 - Droitwich to Meadows Estate
Operating Monday to Saturday every 60 minutes.
Service 20 - Droitwich to Westlands
Operating Monday to Saturday every 30 minutes.
Service 20A - Droitwich to New Chawson
Operating Monday to Saturday every 60 minutes.
Service 137 - Dunhampstead to Droitwich
Operating one return journey on a Wednesday and Friday.
Service 140 / 141 - Droitwich / Stoke Prior to Bromsgrove
Operating Monday to Saturday every 60 minutes.
Service 157 - Droitwich to The Ridings
Operating Monday to Saturday every 60 minutes.
At the same time, the following changes will come into effect on our Redditch network:
Service 50 - Redditch to Batchley
Additional afternoon journeys provided at the request of Worcestershire County Council.
Service 51 - Redditch to Batchley - 7 day operation
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced to every 15 minutes. Sunday frequency remains every 20 minutes.
Service 55A / 56A - Redditch Circular
Evening journeys introduced between 8pm and 11pm, Monday to Saturday. Sunday frequency increased to every 60 minutes.
Services 57, 57A, 58 and 58A - Redditch Circular - 7 day operation, day and night
Additional journeys will serve Alexandra Hospital, providing a 15 minute frequency (combined 57A and 58A service). Evening service introduced on behalf of Worcestershire County Council.
Service 64 - Redditch to Woodrow North
Additional afternoon journeys provided at the request of Worcestershire County Council.
Service 64 - Bromsgrove to Birmingham
This service will be renumbered 144 and operate via Princess of Wales Hospital and Catshill (this service will no longer continue to serve Birmingham Road from Golden Cross Road to Bromsgrove). Stops in Birmingham City Centre will be revised with the service terminating in Smallbrook Queensway. Stops in Priory Queensway, Corporation Street, Stephenson Street and Suffolk Street Queensway will no longer be served.
Service 70 - Redditch to Astwood Bank - 7 day operation
New Monday to Saturday service introduced, operating every 30 minutes. No change to Sunday service.
Service 144 - Bromsgrove to Birmingham
See 64 above.
Service 175 - Inkford to Solihull
Route altered to serve Marshall Lake Road for Sears Retail Park following a request by Worcestershire County Council. Minor timetable changes.
Service 178 - Redditch to Birmingham
Rerouted via Birchfield Road and Bromsgrove Road in Redditch to serve Webheath and Batchley at the request of Worcestershire County Council. Minor timetable changes.
Timetables for these services will be available online towards the end of March.