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65-504: The step-entrance version was known as the O405. A 3-axle articulated version was also built known as O405G and a trolleybus as the O405T. There were two generations of O405, designated as O405 MkI and O405 MkII. Most of them have their boxy roof dome (slightly arched) with a double-curvature windscreen, separately mounted destination indicator and pantograph system windshield wipers that

130-678: A boxy roof dome (slightly arched) similar to the MAN NL202 and the MAN NL262 with a double-curvature windscreen with a separately mounted destination display just that it has a full low floor layout with seats mounted on platforms. The low-entry version of the O405 was called the O405NH chassis which was produced by EvoBus for the Australian market. Much of its popularity with government and private operators alike can be attributed to

195-526: A fleet of MCW Metroliner coaches, following London Coaches' withdrawal, Central Coachways continued to run the service as its sole operator from the end of March. The company invested in a heavy rebranding campaign in 1988 that saw the introduction of a new silver, blue and red livery to the bus fleet, new uniforms, and the purchase of 150 new MCW Metrobus double-decker buses . After 18 months of deregulation, WMT announced in October 1988 that it had made

260-586: A fleet of over 1,600 buses and coaches from eight garages in Acocks Green , Birmingham Central ( Digbeth ), Perry Barr , Yardley Wood , Pensnett , Walsall , West Bromwich and Wolverhampton . Perry Barr is the newest location, having opened in December 2022. The site, housing infrastructure for charging a fleet of electric buses and a bus driving simulator as well as featuring 150 solar panels, environmentally-friendly heating systems and water recycling for

325-523: A grey and red colour scheme; some buses are given special colour schemes for select services such as the 8/X8, 9, 16, 50 and 82/87. Drivers on Platinum services are issued with suit-style uniforms. Deliveries of the first Platinum buses began in 2015, with 58 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMCs from a larger order of 171 buses delivered with Platinum branding. These were initially deployed on services 900 and 957, since renumbered X1 and X2, before being rolled out onto services 934, 935, 936, 997 and X51 later in

390-707: A low-floor Spectra, managed to bring their bus out into service a few hours ahead of TWM, making them the first low-floor double-decker operators in the United Kingdom. 20 more Spectras would later be delivered to TWM to upgrade West Midlands bus route 50 during 1998. Alternatively-fuelled buses were first introduced to the Travel West Midlands fleet in 1997, with 14 Alexander Ultra bodied Volvo B10Ls fuelled by compressed natural gas being launched on route 529, serving Walsall and Wolverhampton via Willenhall . These Ultras were supplied as part of

455-579: A naturally aspirated engine (OM447h-II), a turbocharged engine (OM447hA) or a turbocharged, intercooled engine (OM447hLA). The gearbox coupled to the engine was either the ZF 4HP 500 or 5HP 500, or the Voith D864.3. From 1994, this chassis was available with the M447hG Euro II 175 kW (235 hp) naturally aspirated compressed natural gas (CNG) engine. The low-floor version of

520-503: A new underground light rail line is equipped with platforms for low-floor trams and will be permanently operated with low-floor vehicles. This form of design and construction will avoid the need for subsequent rebuilding of stops on tram routes, even though both cities already have underground lines with high-floor platforms. Buses in the UK were traditionally step-entrance built, however this has created problems for people who use wheelchairs as

585-913: A partnership supported by the Energy Saving Trust between TWM, Volvo Bus and British Gas , the latter of whom constructed CNG refuelling points at Walsall garage for the buses. In February 2020, National Express announced its intention to operate a completely zero-emission bus fleet by 2030, pledging it would not buy another diesel-powered bus and only purchase zero-emissions vehicles for its West Midlands, Coventry and Dundee operations from 2020 onwards. The company's first nine BYD Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV battery electric buses began operation on 5 July 2020, with 20 hydrogen fuel cell -powered Wright StreetDeck Hydroliner buses following in late 2021. By 2024, over 200 BYD Enviro400EVs had been ordered for delivery to National Express West Midlands. Further hydrogen-powered buses are set to enter

650-424: A profit of over £217 million (equivalent to £736,983,000 in 2023), retained 97% of its pre-deregulation bus network and had recorded a 5% drop in passengers compared to before deregulation; the latter, however, would increase to a drop of 10% by 1989, resulting in fare rises and cutbacks in its bus network. Despite pressure from the central government, including both a threat to be split under Section 61 of

715-434: A railcar more rapidly if they do not have to climb stairs to enter, reducing dwell time at a stop, and reducing overall travel time. In addition, high-platform railcars have more floor space for passengers if space is not required for stairways, and wheelwells needed to accommodate train bogies . Because bilevel rail cars have two passenger levels within a standard height rail car, the lower level, where passengers board,

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780-430: Is generally lower than a conventional high-floor car. Hence level boarding with a bilevel car is accomplished using a lower platform, as low as 460 mm (18 in) ATOR. Because tram/light-rail/streetcar vehicles often share loading gauge sizes with heavy rail vehicles, these passenger vehicles usually also use high floor designs. Existing tram/streetcar/light-rail networks generally feature low platforms as many of

845-417: Is generally measured above the street surface or above the top of the rail. High-floor designs usually result from packaging requirements: mechanical items such as axles, motors, crankshafts, and/or transmissions, or luggage storage spaces are traditionally placed under the interior floor of these vehicles. The term is used in contrast with low-floor designs, which offer a decreased floor and entry height above

910-414: Is not clear. Lagos based private company Lagbus (Red Buses) of LAMATA is known to have at least adopted 1 O407 from Germany to work regular services, making it the unique unit of its Yutong ZK6100NGA9, Marcopolo and Ashok Leyland dominated fleet. Production of the O405 series ended in 2001 when the last articulated buses were delivered to Trans-Island Bus Services . The O405 and O405N were superseded by

975-566: Is the city railway in Cologne; in the mid-1990s, it was decided to divide that city's partially high-platform network into two separate networks: high-floor and low-floor. In contrast with some light rail underground lines, which are often provisionally equipped with low platforms or with tracks laid on raised ballast, there are new developments in the German cities of Düsseldorf (Wehrhahn line) and Dortmund (east–west line). In each of these cities,

1040-660: The Citaro , and the O405NH was superseded by the OC500LE . [REDACTED] Media related to Mercedes-Benz O 405 at Wikimedia Commons [REDACTED] Media related to Mercedes-Benz O 405 N at Wikimedia Commons [REDACTED] Media related to Mercedes-Benz O 405 NH at Wikimedia Commons High-floor High-floor describes the interior flooring of commuter vehicles primarily used in public transport such as trains , light rail cars and other rail vehicles, along with buses and trolleybuses . Interior floor height

1105-601: The Metro's Line One extension as 'Metro's Little Sister'. Following the awarding of the 2022 Commonwealth Games to Birmingham in 2016, it was announced that the Sprint network would expand with theee cross-city bus routes linking Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and Walsall with Birmingham City Centre. These services are to be operated by National Express West Midlands; it was originally envisaged that this route would be operated by 24 Van Hool ExquiCity articulated buses in time for

1170-654: The 260-line to Gorna Banya. They experienced hard turbulence on the Tsar Boris III avenue, but remained unbroken. In 2001 Sofia municipality bought 10 second hand single O405 buses from Germany. Those buses operated on various bus lines in the city and the villages around the city(such as 12, 16, 18, 21/22, 25, 26, 28, 53. 117, etc.). By 2017 all of them are withdrawn and most of them are scrapped. However, two buses are not scrapped yet and stay in Druzhba depot, but both are with huge amount of missing parts so their destiny

1235-588: The Commonwealth Games, however it was later announced in 2019 that construction of infrastructure related to the Sprint articulated buses would be delayed until after the Commonwealth Games. Phase 1 of the Sprint network was completed in May 2022, with bus lanes and priority junctions being introduced on commuter corridors on the A34 and A45 roads . As of June 2024, National Express West Midlands operates

1300-988: The Mobico Group's bus operations. Launched in 2014 using a converted Mercedes-Benz O405N single-deck bus, this scheme was upgraded in 2024 with the conversion of an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC for use as the group Health Bus; featuring two in-built consultation rooms and a waiting room, the bus is operated by a health coach and a health coordinator, providing physical health checks to employees for their body mass index , body and fat, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels. NXWM previously operated five travel shops located in Dudley , Coventry Pool Meadow bus station , West Bromwich bus station , Birmingham, Corporation Street and Walsall bus station . All offices sold all types of Travelcards, National Express coach tickets and assist customers with information and route planning. The travel shop at Wolverhampton bus station

1365-562: The NXWM fleet following funding from the Department for Transport . A total of 124 hydrogen buses are due to enter service by 2024, which will give Birmingham the largest hydrogen bus fleet in Europe. National Express West Midlands are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Mobico Group's 'Health Bus', an employee benefit scheme free to use for all employees that travels across

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1430-760: The National Express Group in April. In September 1996, WMT was rebranded to Travel West Midlands . This was followed in November 1997 with the sale of TWM's Central Coachways arm to the Flights Travel Group. In November 2002, Travel West Midlands' Coventry services were separated from the main TWM operation and rebranded to Travel Coventry . In February 2008, as part of a rebranding of all National Express subsidiaries, Travel West Midlands

1495-518: The O405N2 Camo Camus buses, originally from CCFL Carris between 2013 and 2014 and the second-hand Citaros in 2015-16. The only O405 still alive is the freight L-627, while the only O408 is the freight L-581. Some O405 buses changed the RL colors (Example: The O405N2 freight L-540 was originally a yellow RL color, now it changed to blue RL in 2015). A total of 365 O405s were built for operators in

1560-621: The O405NH discontinued after this order. The 300 Custom Coaches O405NH ordered by State Transit were delivered from Germany as a fully constructed frame and panels were fitted by Custom Coaches, so that as many of these buses could be on the road in time for the Sydney Olympic Games. They can seat 45 passengers and are 12.5 metres long. They have M447hG Euro 2 engines producing 175 kW. In Western Australia, Transperth took delivery of their O405NHs between 1999 and 2003 with 48 natural gas and 349 diesel buses delivered including

1625-572: The Platinum Fleet is no longer providing free Wi-Fi. The reasoning for this is that despite pulling in an average of 600,000 passengers daily, only 1% (~6000 a day) used the Wi-Fi provided. The Sprint cross-city bus rapid transit service was first announced in July 2014, initially taking the form of a single service linking Birmingham city centre and Quinton via Hagley Road , connecting with

1690-528: The Platinum brand. The Platinum range of buses is a premium brand which offers passengers extra legroom, high backed seats, next stop announcements (on supported services), free Wi-Fi and USB charging on a select series of routes in the West Midlands. The Platinum brand uses Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMCs , Alexander Dennis Enviro400EVs and Wright StreetDeck Hydroliners , which are usually painted in

1755-757: The Transport Act 1985 to force its sale and government funding for the Midland Metro tram project being lost if the company was not sold, West Midlands Travel remained in public ownership under the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority. Plans for a management buyout through an Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) were first submitted to the WMPTA in June 1989 by WMT's management and employees in response to

1820-545: The United Kingdom, with Travel West Midlands purchasing 204. A sole O405Gs was bodied by Alexander for Grampian Regional Transport . A total of 204 O405Ns were built for operators in the United Kingdom, with Travel West Midlands purchasing 193. A total of 15 O405GNs were built for operators in the United Kingdom, with Travel West Midlands purchasing 11. Discovery Bay Transit Services of Hong Kong acquired four O405 single-decker buses between 1995 and 1998, two were fitted with locally-built bodywork by Asia Auto Body Works and

1885-828: The ageing Hino RK176, Nissan Diesel U31F and Hino HT228KA from 1994 to 1999. All Mercedes-Benz O405 with Hispano Carrocera bodywork had been retired by 25 September 2016. The Volgren-bodied O405s on the other hand were used as permanent training buses , only fully retiring by late February 2017. TIBS also procured various batches of bendy buses (Hispano Mark 1, Hispano Mark 2, Pininfarina -designed Hispano Habit and Volgren CR221) bodies between 1996 and 2004. All buses were retired on 1st December 2020, in line with LTA's directive of removing non-wheelchair accessible buses from revenue service. In 1993 BMTA bought about 38 Mercedes-Benz O405CNG buses. The O405CNG were withdrawn in 2011. In 1995 BMTA bought about 52 Mercedes-Benz O405G. These were withdrawn in 2011. Eridantrans EOOD bought many buses for

1950-545: The buses are not wheelchair accessible, as well as being somewhat difficult for passengers with reduced mobility and parents who may be carrying prams and pushchairs. Despite low-floor buses first being phased into the UK in 1994, a large number of step-entrance buses remained in use as well as being manufactured. However with the popularity of low-floor buses expanding by the late 1990's due to their easy accessibility for elderly passengers with reduced mobility, passengers with disabilities and parents carrying prams and pushchairs,

2015-537: The chassis has a horizontally-mounted engine, there's no room for a rear door. This low-entry concept has become very popular in Europe – many integral products using this concept have been released such as the Mercedes-Benz Citaro  LE. The suburban version was called O407 (or O407G/O405GÜ for the 3-axle articulated version), It had a single door at the front and a pair in the middle, with all of

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2080-828: The corresponding name of the depot the bus was based from, forming combinations such as WM Buses Acocks Green, amid moves by senior management to use the West Midlands Travel name as a holding company ahead of a possible floatation of WMT on the London Stock Exchange . In March 1995, the National Express Group purchased West Midlands Travel from employee ownership for £85 million (equivalent to £592,467,000 in 2023), with over 5,000 employee shareholders of WMT receiving windfall gains averaging £30,000 (equivalent to £73,000 in 2023). Operations were subsequently merged into

2145-665: The delivery of 72 more Enviro400 MMCs, some of which would be delivered to National Express Coventry for the city's first Platinum services, and the West Midlands buses operating on routes connecting Stourbridge , Druids Heath and Chelmsley Wood with central Birmingham. National Express West Midlands' first zero-emissions Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV buses were built to Platinum specification, and entered service in July 2020 on route 6 from Birmingham to Solihull via Shirley . The fuel cell electric Wright StreetDeck Hydroliner FCEVs that followed entered service on route 51 from Birmingham to Walsall via Perry Barr. As of January 2024,

2210-890: The end of their economic or maintainable life. To get around this, a wheelchair compliant step-entrance bus introduced by Wrightbus, the Eclipse SchoolRun was produced in 2006, fitted with a wheelchair lift to allow wheelchair-bound passengers onto the bus, but no further wheelchair compliant step-entrance bus designs were produced. Due to the Terms Of The Disability Discrimination Act requiring all buses in public service to be wheelchair accessible, non-compliant step-entrance single deckers and their low floor counterparts were outlawed after 31 December 2015, with non-compliant step-entrance double deckers and their low floor counterparts following suit after 31 December 2016, however exemptions apply for

2275-599: The engine was usually the Mercedes-Benz W3E110/2.2R or Mercedes-Benz W4E112/2.2R (the former being able to handle the more powerful 184 kW engine), although there have been other gearboxes such as the ZF 5HP 500 or Allison B300R coupled to the engine. The O405 Mark II was marketed from the early 1990s to the late 1990s and into the early 2000s in some parts of the world. It featured a Mercedes-Benz OM447hA turbocharged engine with an output of 184 kW (247 hp), although some examples feature either

2340-525: The examiners. West Midlands Travel also made a number of acquisitions during its employee ownership. In 1990, WMT partly owned minibus operator Merry Hill Motors, and that same year, WMT purchased a fleet of new Alexander bodied Scania N113 double-decker buses to compete with Your Bus of Alcester ; Your Bus would later be acquired by WMT in 1993. Retained as subsidiary companies of WMT, these operators were later rebranded to Travel Merry Hill and Travel Your Bus respectively before being absorbed into

2405-489: The freights L-533 and L-534, two months later as L-530, L-531, L-532 and L-535. The first O405N2 was delivered in July 2004 as the freight L-511. The first two O405G articulated buses were delivered in 2002, as more O405G buses were delivered in 2007 to replace the older Volvo B10MA buses. The first two UR95 O405 buses were delivered in 2004 which came from Vimeca Transportes as freights L-548 and L-549. Many O405 buses were dropped and scrapped in 2013 and it have been replaced by

2470-901: The gap between the platform and the floor of the track varies by no more than 76 mm (3 in) horizontally and 16 mm ( 5 ⁄ 8  in) vertically. Level boarding is also known as stepless entry since passengers do not have to negotiate a staircase to board the passenger car. For newly constructed routes, routes primarily located in tunnels, or routes with a dedicated right of way and enough space, high platforms are usually preferred, since high-floor vehicles are cheaper to manufacture, and have better operating characteristics. High platforms do have significant advantages beyond level boarding for wheelchair accessibility. Physically disabled passengers (e.g. those using wheelchairs or who have difficulties climbing stairs) also benefit, as do travelers pulling wheeled luggage or small folding shopping carts. Even physically non-disabled passengers can board

2535-580: The introduction of bus franchising and further hydrogen buses on the NXWM network. Previously garages in Stourbridge , Dudley , Merry Hill (part of Travel Merry Hill), Harts Hill, Sutton Coldfield , Hockley , Cotteridge , Selly Oak , Wolverhampton (Cleveland Road), Washwood Heath and Quinton have been operated. The Dudley garage closed on 28 August 1993 to make way for the Dudley Southern By-Pass (which opened in 1999) and

2600-550: The limited use of non-compliant heritage buses on vintage bus services, as well as Transport For London's Heritage Routemasters due to their service being overlaid on the high-frequency low-floor Route 15. In San Francisco , the Muni Metro light-rail system, which has both on-street and underground stations, uses a combination of high and low platforms, and the vehicles feature retractable stairs to accommodate both platform types. For on-street stations, stairs are deployed within

2665-495: The main Travel West Midlands operation by 2001. A further competitor purchased by WMT in August 1993 was Metrowest Omnibus of Dudley, which was also retained as a separate subsidiary of WMT after founding director Keith Danks left the company a month prior. In April 1994, West Midlands Travel made its first out-of-area acquisition by purchasing former London Buses subsidiary Westlink from its employee owners, followed in October by

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2730-543: The original WMT headquarters located in a building on Summer Lane, Birmingham that was shared with Centro . Bordesley Green garage closed in 2022 following the sale of the land in and around the depot for redevelopment, resulting in the head office relocating to the National Express Group headquarters in Digbeth, and Walsall bus garage was sold to the West Midlands Combined Authority ahead of

2795-450: The other two had Hispano Carrocera bodywork. Sydney Buses took delivery of 247 Pressed Metal Corporation bodied O405s between 1987 and October 1990. The last were retired in early 2016. In January 1997 it received two Ansair bodied O405Ns. It also inherited four Custom Coaches bodied O405s when it purchased North & Western Bus Lines . Between October 1999 and December 2001 it received 300 Custom Coaches bodied CNG O405NHs with

2860-489: The popularity of the Mercedes-Benz O405 MkII chassis that it replaced. The chassis was derived from a combination of the rear modules of an O405 MkII chassis and the front modules of an O405N²/O405GN² chassis. Because of the difference in height between the front and rear modules of the chassis, there are one or more steps leading up from behind the centre door position to a standard O405 floorline. Because

2925-541: The production of step-entrance buses slowed, with the last ever non-compliant step-entrance bus design being the double-decked East Lancs Pyoneer in 1997. The production of step-entrance buses in the UK almost fully ceased by 31 December 2000, with the legal requirement for new buses produced to be wheelchair accessible, which forced bus manufacturers to concentrate on making low-floor buses, however bus operators were still allowed to order secondhand non-compliant step-entrance buses and run them on their services until they reach

2990-660: The purchase two Essex-based companies from the Lynton Group: County Bus & Coach , a bus operator formed from the split of London Country North East that consisted of over 240 vehicles, as well as Sampson Coaches. Westlink was sold by WMT to fellow former London Buses subsidiary London United a year later, while County Bus & Coach was later sold to the Cowie Group . West Midlands Travel underwent another rebrand during 1994. Buses had their West Midlands Travel fleetnames replaced with "WM Buses" and

3055-549: The region, as well as one of the single largest in Britain. NXWM operates services in Birmingham , Dudley , Sandwell , Walsall , Wolverhampton and Solihull , as well as express services from Birmingham to areas such as Cofton Hackett , Bromsgrove , and formerly to the city of Coventry (now operated by National Express Coventry ). In August 1986, prior to the deregulation of bus services , West Midlands Travel (WMT)

3120-675: The regular O405 was known as the O405N (or O405GN for the 3-axle articulated version) was released in September 1989, later a further developed version was also built, it was known as the O405N²/O405N2 (or O405GN²/O405GN2 for the 3-axle articulated version). The O405(G)N do not have steps at the entrances and exits, but the seats are mounted on "platforms". The GN2 type addressed this problem. These buses are usually fitted with ZF transmissions, but some are fitted with Voith examples. It has

3185-503: The rest of them were scrapped; one unit, SBS468K, was converted into a "Molly" mobile library registered as XD2037B by the National Library Board but has since been replaced by an ex-SBS Transit Volvo B10M in 2012. Trans-Island Bus Services bought Mercedes-Benz O405 with Hispano Carrocera (both with and without air-con, although the latter was retrofitted with air-con later on) and Volgren CR221 bodies to replace

3250-550: The retrofitting of high platforms on existing routes, while still providing improved accessibility. Although low-floor vehicles began to be developed in the 1920s, the first low-floor tram is generally recognized as the Duewag / ACM Vevey design of 1984 deployed in Geneva, providing a floor height of 480 mm (19 in) ATOR. Tourist coaches generally have very high floors, sometimes greater than 1,000 mm (39 in) above

3315-709: The road surface, in order to have ample room for luggage under the floor. Since boarding must be allowed directly from flat ground, long and steep staircases are needed. Transit buses also use high floors to provide mechanical clearances for solid axles, but the use of dropped axles has enabled the creation of low-floor buses and by 2008 in the United States, the majority of new transit bus orders were for low-floor types. Today, in Germany, all rapid transit railways, most commuter trains , and many light rail vehicles operate as high-floor networks. A notable exception

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3380-493: The seats facing towards the front of the bus. It featured a Mercedes-Benz OM447h naturally aspirated engine with output 177  kW (237  hp ) and 6-speed manual Mercedes-Benz gearbox. In 1995, the first six O405 buses were delivered to Rodoviária de Lisboa (former Rodoviária Nacional) as the freights L-774 to L-779. More O405 buses were delivered between 1996 and 2003. The first 2 O405N were delivered in February 2003 as

3445-565: The six for Perth CAT services before being replaced by its successor, the OC500LE. Other customers of the O405s included Busways , Quince's Scenicruisers and Westbus , Clarks Bus Service and Surfside Buslines . In 2000, the city of Berlin donated Mercedes-Benz O405, O405G and O405N. The O405G was scrapped in 2012, the O405N in 2017, and the O405 in 2019 along with the FAP A-537 bus that

3510-610: The splitting threat, which were approved by the PTA and submitted to Minister of State for Transport Michael Portillo in early 1990; after a competing bid by Stagecoach Group owner Brian Souter to buy WMT for £85 million (equivalent to £230,493,000 in 2023) was rejected by ths PTA, the ESOP offer was finally approved in December 1991, with WMT sold to its management and employees for £70 million (equivalent to £189,818,000 in 2023). In November 1992, West Midlands Travel

3575-440: The stations or stops are in the streets. The high construction/conversion cost of high platforms and the difficulty of making high platforms compatible with other features of the urban landscape are a significant obstacle to converting tram networks these into urban or commuter rail networks with high platforms. These problems were a major motivation for the development of low-floor trams , which allow transit operators to avoid

3640-597: The street surface. Since low-floor designs generally were developed after high-floor vehicles, the older high-floor design is sometimes also known as conventional or the “traditional” design. A rail vehicle of conventional or high-floor design usually has a flat floor ranging between 760 and 1,370 mm (30 and 54 in) above the top of the railhead (ATOR). To enhance accessibility and optimize dwell times , railway platform heights at stations are sometimes standardised to allow level boarding for commuters on high platforms. According to one definition, level boarding means

3705-536: The three bus washes on site, replaces the 90-year-old original Perry Bar garage, which was deemed unsuitable for modernisation and housing charging infrastructure. Prior to the construction of the new Perry Barr garage, Bordesley Green garage was the newest location, having opened in 2005. Bordesley Green was also the headquarters for National Express West Midlands, which replaced a freehold office site in St Paul's Square that WMT moved to in 1994; this office replaced

3770-477: The vehicle to allow boarding from low platforms; as the trains move underground, the stairs rise until they are flush with the floor to allow boarding from high platforms. National Express West Midlands National Express West Midlands (NXWM) is bus operator in the West Midlands of England. It is a subsidiary of Mobico Group (formerly National Express Group) and is the largest bus operator in

3835-544: The year. The Platinum brand would be extended out into the Black Country in 2016 with the delivery of a further 96 Platinum Enviro400 MMCs resulting in Platinum buses being cascaded from Birmingham Central garage to Pensnett for the Merry Hill to Birmingham X10 service, and then would expand to Harborne in December 2017 with the delivery of 38 new buses. The Platinum brand would further expand again in 2018 with

3900-921: Was formed out the bus operations of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive . The PTE ceased to be a bus operator as a result of the Transport Act 1985 , but both the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority and successor organisation Transport for West Midlands retain a co-ordinating role, tendering bus services and funding concessionary fares and infrastructure such as bus stations. West Midlands Travel faced its first major deregulation challenge in March 1987 when London Regional Transport (LRT) pulled out of its 'London Liner' London to Birmingham express coach service. Operated jointly by both LRT's London Coaches subsidiary and WMT's Central Coachways subsidiary using

3965-488: Was on the same chassis. Singapore Bus Services ordered 700 Mercedes-Benz O405 to replace its first batch of Mercedes-Benz OF1413s between 1990 and 1992. They were bodied by Alexander PS and Duple Metsec (OAC (original air-con) and NAC (non-aircon)). The non air-con buses were later converted to air-con buses in 1998–99. All were withdrawn from 1 March 2008 to 3 June 2011 with all replaced by Scania K230UB . A few O405s were shipped to Thailand and were rebodied whereas

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4030-597: Was ordered to have its entire fleet of over 1,800 buses given MOT tests by July 1993 after 108 fleet vehicles were found by the Vehicle Inspectorate to be poorly maintained, with faults including faulty brakes, broken lights and bell pushes, oil leaks, and damaged passenger seating. In an examination of 343 WMT fleet vehicles, inspectors immediately prohibited 66 from running services and marked 42 as being in need of repair; twelve WMT buses found to have faults so serious that they were classified as "neglected" by

4095-496: Was renamed National Express West Midlands, with the adopted red and white livery being the sixth livery to be used by the company. The Travel Coventry operation was also rebranded as National Express Coventry . National Express West Midlands aimed for their whole fleet to be low floor by March 2010, a goal that was achieved in July of that year with the withdrawal of the final MCW Metrobuses in public service at Acocks Green garage. In 2015, National Express West Midlands launched

4160-466: Was replaced, along with the former Travel Merry Hill depot, by a depot at Pensnett . In July 2010, Lea Hall depot closed. On 4 February 1998, Travel West Midlands were poised to become the first bus operator in the United Kingdom to operate a double-decker low-floor bus in service, with Birmingham Central garage having taken delivery of one of two Optare Spectra bodied DAF DB250LFs in October 1997. However, Abus of Bristol , who had also bought

4225-626: Was used on some buses such as the Dennis Dart , Leyland Lynx , MAN NL262 and the MAN SL202 . The O405 Mark I was marketed between mid-1980s and early 1990s. It was unveiled in September 1983. It featured a Mercedes-Benz OM447h naturally aspirated Diesel engine with outputs of either 157  kW (211  hp ) or 184 kW (247 hp). Optionally available was a naturally aspirated compressed natural gas (CNG) engine model M447hG with 150 kW (201 hp) output. The gearbox coupled to

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