Wolverhampton to Walsall

[dcd]

Is there any passenger traffic over the direct route between Wolverhampton to Walsall? The attached map from 2015 timetable seems to suggest that it should be covered in the 68 timetable, but there is no mention of Walsall in that timetable.

Thanks for any help, several people have it marked on their route coverage so maybe they can help me find out how to cover it.

 

[berneyarms]

Is there any passenger traffic over the direct route between Wolverhampton to Walsall? The attached map from 2015 timetable seems to suggest that it should be covered in the 68 timetable, but there is no mention of Walsall in that timetable.

Thanks for any help, several people have it marked on their route coverage so maybe they can help me find out how to cover it.

Saturdays only 06:38 Wolverhampton-Walsall - it's in table 70.

 

[bb21]

Yes, 0638 Wolverhampton - Walsall Saturdays only.

Previously was the 1936 weekdays in the opposite direction but now only once a week in this direction.

 

[dcd]

thanks

 

[PHILIPE]

Parliamentary. There was a service from Shrewsbury/Wellington 153 worked until several years ago. However, the DFT micromanaging decided the 153 would be better providing additional capacity elsewhere so withdrew the service.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Yes, Central Trains introduced the service experimentally but patronage was never high (there's a more frequent bus) and so it was cut back again.

 

[30907]

ISTR an hourly emu at some earlier stage, but can't remember when.

 

[dvboy]

Yes, Central Trains introduced the service experimentally but patronage was never high (there's a more frequent bus) and so it was cut back again.

The bus service was promoted on London Midland maps for a while when they cut the train service.

The bus is the 529 operated by National Express West Midlands, takes roughly half an hour but struggles with traffic in the peaks. Still quicker than the train via Birmingham though.

 

[40129]

Unfortunately iMHO the train could never realistically compete with the bus on this route for several reasons.

Frequency: IIRC was hourly at best and would have been difficult to make more frequent due to capacity constraints, particularly at WVH

Lack of intermediate stops meaning it was only ever suitable who wanted to go from town centre to town centre

Overall journey time: although the current service takes 12 minutes from station to station buses get closer to the main shopping area of Wolverhampton than trains - station is 5-10 minutes walk away - and I suspect that when operated by cl-153s the journey time would have been longer. The difference in overall journey time would be less were it possible to include intermediate stops on the train service

 

[dvboy]

I can't say there's much attraction for someone from Wolverhampton to go to Walsall or vice versa, for leisure reasons. Most people are only going to make that journey if they really have to.

 

[PHILIPE]

There's a frequent through service now but rather a long way round - via Birmingham.

 

[dvboy]

There's a frequent through service now but rather a long way round - via Birmingham.

Half hourly, and like I said earlier, it's quicker by bus.

It's essentially two local stopping services joined together. It provides good links between intermediate stations, but not much use for the full length.

 

[tnxrail]

I may be wrong but was there a Circular service at some point Walsall-Wolvermhampton-Birmingham-Walsall or was that just a possbility in the past I've heard off.

 

[dvboy]

I may be wrong but was there a Circular service at some point Walsall-Wolvermhampton-Birmingham-Walsall or was that just a possbility in the past I've heard off.

Never happened, but I think I've seen it suggested here. Wouldn't be a circle so much as it would still require a reversal at both Wolves and Walsall. At present it wouldn't be able to use platform 5 at Wolves, there isn't a crossover to the Walsall-bound line.

There has been talk of re-opening the line with a station at Willenhall, but more likely to happen is the planned Midland Metro 5Ws line which would run via a street section through Wednesfield. There is a metro stopped planned next to Wolverhampton station already.