For Britain's third largest conurbation by most measurements, I find the night bus provision in the West Midlands rather disappointing to say the least. In short, apart from some airport services, it doesn't really exist! The Cross City Line's last services are around 23.30 as well. Good thing that (pre-booked) taxi fares tend to be lower than in other big cities.
Put it this way, there were actually later scheduled buses and trains when I lived in semi-rural Lancashire.:-x
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It would be good if single fares weren't viewed by bus companies to be trade secrets. This attitude has no place in the 21st century.
Completely agree, although Stagecoach and independents have been happy to tell me the prices when asked, it seems First in particular enjoy withholding this information...:cry:
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As the London experience has shown, simplified and regulated fares are the way to make bus transportation more popular and not a free-for-all, as experience everywhere else in the country has shown.
Agreed, there's a reason why more bus journeys are made each day in London than in the rest of the country put together (source, "The Route Masters" BBC Documentary). It was circa. 6 million journeys IIRC in Greater London!
Birmingham bus fares are practically £2.00 single for all but the very shortest journeys (which are £1.70 for a few stops or £1.00 in the City Centre). Great for longer journeys, not so good for shorter ones IMO. Exact fare only using hoppers on NXWM and a few others as well. Of course, the take-up rates for bus passes are rather high...