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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
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{{Infobox Bus transit
{{Refimprove|date=November 2008}}
|name =
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{{Infobox company
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|logo = GoWestMidlands.svg
| name = Go West Midlamds
|logo_size =
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| logo = GoWestMidlands.svg
|image = Go West Midlands K302 YJA.jpg
| caption =
|image_size =
| fate = Sold (due to bad financial results)
|image_caption = [[Northern Counties Paladin]] bodied [[Dennis Lance]] in June 2006
| successor = [[Diamond Bus]]
|company_slogan =
| foundation = 2006
|parent = [[Go-Ahead Group]]
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| defunct = 3 March 2008
|founded = 2 December 2005
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| location = [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]
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|defunct = 3 March 2008
| industry = [[Bus transport]]
|headquarters = [[Tividale]]
}}
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|locale = [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
[[File:Go West Midlands K302 YJA.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A Go West Midlands bus shortly after the purchase of Birmingham Coach Company. Its '''Diamond Bus''' livery can be seen with "We're part of the Go-Ahead Group" branding, prior to Go West Midlands rebranding into one '''Diamond''' brand.]]
|service_area =
|service_type = Bus services
|alliance =
|routes =
|destinations =
|stops =
|hubs =
|stations =
|lounge =
|fleet = 130 (March 2008)
|ridership =
|fuel_type =
|operator =
|ceo =
|website = [http://web.archive.org/web/20080208080428/http://www.birmingham-coach.co.uk/ www.birmingham-coach.co.uk]}}


'''Go West Midlands'''<ref name=company2490584>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/02490584 Companies House extract company no 2490584] Go West Midlands Limited formerly The Birmingham Omnibus Company Limited</ref> was a bus company in the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]. It was a subsidiary of the [[Go-Ahead Group]] in March 2006.
:''This company has been sold, for more recent developments, see [[Diamond Bus]].''


==History==
'''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|Probus Management Limited]] (trading as [[People's Express]], and before that [[Pete's Travel]]) and [[Birmingham Coach Company]] (trading as Diamond Bus) and merging the two. Bus services were operated throughout the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] under the '''Diamond''' name.
On 2 December 2005, the [[Go-Ahead Group]] purchased [[Diamond Bus]]<ref name=company2490584/><ref>[http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/archive/2005-12-05.aspx Acquisition of Birmingham Passenger Transport Services Limited] Go-Ahead Group 2 December 2005</ref> and in February 2006 [[Probus Management]]<ref>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/04384063 Companies House extract company no 4384063] Probus Management Limited</ref> (trading as [[People's Express]]) with over 100 vehicles and merged the two companies to form Go West Midlands.<ref>[http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/archive/2006-02-22.aspx Acquisition of the Business and Assets of Probus Management Limited] Go-Ahead Group 22 February 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.reddibus.com/Diamond%20Bus%20-%20Introduction.htm Diamond Bus] Reddibus</ref>


Go West Midlands was seen as the second biggest operator in the West Midlands with [[National Express West Midlands]] (Travel West Midlands at the time) being the biggest.
In 2006, Diamond relaunched its image, by increasing its frequency on route 16, which basically matched that of [[National Express West Midlands|Travel West Midlands]] and increased its frequencies on routes 17, 63, 64, 74 and 87.


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However in November 2007, Diamond withdrew its services on routes 17 and 63 and majorly altered its operations on routes 74 and 87 (cutting parts of the route off completely).
In 2006, Diamond relaunched their image, by increasing its frequency on route 16, which basically matched that of Travel West Midlands and increased its frequencies on the 17, 63, 64, 74 and 87.


Diamond also lost many [[West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive|Centro]] and [[Staffordshire County Council]] contracts to other operators.
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However, in November 2007, Diamond withdrew its services on the 17 and 63 and majorly altered its operations on services 74 and 87 (cutting parts of the route off completely).


In March 2008, Go West Midlands was sold to [[Rotala]] and rebranded as [[Diamond Bus]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080410030241/http://www.go-ahead.com/Main.php?sFileName=NewsRelease.php&iNewsId=265 Disposal of Go West Midlands] Go-Ahead Group 3 March 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.rotalaplc.com/company/DiamondBusLtd_5.html Diamond Bus Ltd] Rotala</ref><ref name=Bus&Coach>[http://test.busandcoach.com/news/articles/go-ahead-sells-west-midlands-unit Go-Ahead sells West Midlands unit] ''Bus & Coach Professional'' 11 March 2008</ref>
Diamond also lost many Centro and Staffordshire County contracts to other operators since Go-Ahead took over and stopped many of their school services.


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==Fleet==
On 3 March 2008 [[Go-Ahead Group|Go-Ahead]] announced that it had sold Go West Midlands to [[Rotala Group]] subsidiary [[Connect Buses|Central Connect]].<ref>[http://www.go-ahead.com/Main.php?sFileName=NewsRelease.php&iNewsId=265 Go-Ahead - "Disposal of Go West Midlands"] Accessed 3 March 2008</ref> To make significant cost savings, Rotala plans to integrate the Diamond branding into its existing business. Currently, buses are losing their "we're part of the Go-Ahead Group" branding on the Diamond livery.
As at March 2007, Go West Midlands operated a fleet of over 130 buses.<ref name=Bus&Coach/>

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==Fares==
Before the sale, Diamond operated a fare system that was similar to its competitors within the West Midlands Metropolitan area. The fares and fare structure was similar to that of [[National Express West Midlands|Travel West Midlands]] - £1.10 for a 'short hop' and £1.50 for an unlimited single journey ticket. Diamond differed by offering cheaper day tickets on a much more limited network of buses. A Diamond 'freedom' day ticket cost £2, whereas a child was £1. The ticket was also valid on the Friday and Saturday night services that Diamond ran across Birmingham (it was not, however, valid on the 5N and 58N as they are [[Central Connect]] Centro subsidised services). Week tickets were £7 for adults, child were £3.50 and a monthly pass was £25 for adults, £12.50 for children.

On journeys that go outside the West Midlands boundary (Service 64 and 146 for example) fares increased at various rates.

Diamond, unlike [[National Express West Midlands|Travel West Midlands]], did give change.

==See also==
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*[[Transport in Birmingham]]
*[[List of bus operators of the United Kingdom]]


==References==
==References==
Line 43: Line 49:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.birmingham-coach.co.uk/ Official website]
*[http://www.showbus.com/gallery/wm/gowm.htm Showbus gallery]


{{Defunct British Bus Companies}}
{{Defunct British Bus Companies}}


[[Category:Former bus operators in England]]
[[Category:Former bus operators in England]]
[[Category:Rotala]]
[[Category:Go-Ahead Group companies]]
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[[Category:Transport in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Transport in Wolverhampton]]
[[Category:Transport in Wolverhampton]]
[[Category:Transport in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Companies disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:2008 disestablishments in England]]

Revision as of 06:23, 7 April 2015

Northern Counties Paladin bodied Dennis Lance in June 2006
ParentGo-Ahead Group
Founded2 December 2005
Defunct3 March 2008
HeadquartersTividale
LocaleWest Midlands
Service typeBus services
Fleet130 (March 2008)
Websitewww.birmingham-coach.co.uk

Go West Midlands[1] was a bus company in the West Midlands. It was a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group in March 2006.

History

On 2 December 2005, the Go-Ahead Group purchased Diamond Bus[1][2] and in February 2006 Probus Management[3] (trading as People's Express) with over 100 vehicles and merged the two companies to form Go West Midlands.[4][5]

In 2006, Diamond relaunched its image, by increasing its frequency on route 16, which basically matched that of Travel West Midlands and increased its frequencies on routes 17, 63, 64, 74 and 87.

However in November 2007, Diamond withdrew its services on routes 17 and 63 and majorly altered its operations on routes 74 and 87 (cutting parts of the route off completely).

Diamond also lost many Centro and Staffordshire County Council contracts to other operators.

In March 2008, Go West Midlands was sold to Rotala and rebranded as Diamond Bus.[6][7][8]

Fleet

As at March 2007, Go West Midlands operated a fleet of over 130 buses.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Companies House extract company no 2490584 Go West Midlands Limited formerly The Birmingham Omnibus Company Limited
  2. ^ Acquisition of Birmingham Passenger Transport Services Limited Go-Ahead Group 2 December 2005
  3. ^ Companies House extract company no 4384063 Probus Management Limited
  4. ^ Acquisition of the Business and Assets of Probus Management Limited Go-Ahead Group 22 February 2006
  5. ^ Diamond Bus Reddibus
  6. ^ Disposal of Go West Midlands Go-Ahead Group 3 March 2008
  7. ^ Diamond Bus Ltd Rotala
  8. ^ a b Go-Ahead sells West Midlands unit Bus & Coach Professional 11 March 2008
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