THE UK MIDLANDS BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Go West Midlands Diamond Bus Company

Midlands
Go West Midlands Diamond Bus
Page 1
The Go-Ahead group decided to establish a presence in the Birmingham area with the acquisition of the Birmingham Coach Company, trading as Diamond Bus and Pete's Travel, trading as People's Express. The fleets were modernised with cast offs from the group's subsidiaries in the North East, Oxford and London and a new Go West Midlands livery appeared, but in a rapid change of direction Go-Ahead pulled out of the operation selling the fleet and services to the emerging Rotala Group in March 2008. These pictures are from October 2006 as the Go-Ahead identity was emerging.

A strategic purchase by Birmingham Coach Company for the Diamond Bus identity was 25 of the batch of 31 London LN class Dennis Lance/Northern Counties which had passed into Metroline's ownership. Former LN1 (K301YJA) is seen in central Birmingham now conveniently numbered 301. Lance LN1 (K301YJA) is seen in Birmingham in October 2006, when Diamond had recently become part of the Go-Ahead group.
 

Heading for Walsall, former LN27 (K327YJA) is bereft of Diamond branding.
 

Heading for Birmingham is ex LN30 (K330YJA) also in October 2006.
 

On the same day LN30 is seen again heading for Garretts Green terminus.
 
A very modern preserved vehicle appeared at SHOWBUS 2008 in the shape of ex Metroline Dennis Lance Northern Counties. Lance LN5 (K305YJA) was one of a batch of 31 identical buses delivered to London Buses in 1993. Alongside is a Dart/Caetano of Sullivan Buses.
 
Midlands
Go West Midlands Diamond Bus
Page 1