West Midlands Bus Network Review(s)

[Alex 2901]

A slightly more correct version than the last list i posted, this is correct, as far as I'm aware, and is based off NXs own documentation.

1 - Five Ways to Fox Hollies
Via Edgbaston - Edgbaston Cricket Ground - Moseley Village - Hall Green - Shaftmoor Lane - Acocks Green Village
1A - QE Hospital to Fox Hollies
Via Bournbrook - Bristol Road - Edgbaston Cricket Ground - Moseley Village - Hall Green - Shaftmoor Lane - Acocks Green Village
New service 1A introduced every 20 minutes, replacing X61 between Aston Webb Boulevard and Edgbaston Cricket Ground, and service 31 along Shaftmoor Lane. One journey on 1A will also extend to Solihull, replacing school service 885. Service 1 will no longer serve Gospel Oak Terminus.

2 - Birmingham to Maypole
Via Digbeth - Coach Station - Camp Hill - Stratford Road - Sparkbrook - Stoney Lane - Yardley Wood Road - Wake Green - Billesley - Warstock - Highters Heath
Service will no longer serve Showell Green Lane in Sparkbrook, operating via Stoney Lane instead.

4 - Birmingham to Solihull Station
Via Digbeth - Coach Station - Deritend - Sparkbrook - Warwick Road - Tyseley - Acocks Green Village - Olton - Solihull Town Centre
4A - Birmingham to Gospel Oak
Via Digbeth - Coach Station - Deritend - Sparkbrook - Warwick Road - Tyseley - Acocks Green Village
New services replacing the 37 between City and Acocks Green, and the 31 between Acocks Green and Gospel Oak. Both will operate every 10 minutes, providing a bus every 5 minutes between City and Acocks Green.

5 - Birmingham to Solihull Town Centre
Via Digbeth - Camp Hill - Sparkbrook - Springfield - Sarehole Mill - Yardley Wood Station - Robin Hood Lane - Shirley - Monkspath - Widney Manor Station - Widney Road - Mell Square
Service will no longer setve Springfield, and will now operate via Wake Green Road. New route is Stratford Road, Showell Green Lane; Wake Green Road, Sarehole Mill.

6A - Birmingham to Solihull Station
Via Digbeth - Deritend - Sparkbrook - Sparkhill - Hall Green - Robin Hood Island - Shirley - Monkspath Business Park - Widney - Solihull Town Centre
Service withdrawn. See service 5 for alternative services around Monkspath.

10H - Birmingham to Quinton Tesco
Via Broad Street - Five Ways - Ladywood - Edgbaston - University - QE Hospital - Harborne - Court Oak Road - West Boulevard - Four Dwellings
10S - Selly Oak to Quinton Tesco
Via QE Hospital - Harborne - Court Oak Road - West Boulevard - Four Dwellings
Services rerouted around Four Dwellings. New route will be West Boulevard, Quinton Road West, Simmonds Drive, Highfields Lane, Dwellings Lane

19 - Maypole to Frankley, Holly Hill
Via Druids Heath - Pool Farm - Cotteridge - Northfield - Northfield Station - West Heath - Longbridge Station - Bristol Road - Rubery - Gannow
Service will no longer serve Gannow or Frankley. New route from Longbridge will be Bristol Road South, Lickey Road, Leach Green Lane, Cock Hill Lane, Bristol Road South, Parkway, Hollywood Bowl.

22 - Birmingham to Woodgate (Wood Ln)
Via Five Ways - Harborne - California - Bartley Green - Kitwell
Service withdrawn and replaced by new X22.

23 - Birmingham to Woodgate (Wood Ln)
Via Five Ways - Harborne - California - Bartley Green
Increased frequency of every 8 minutes. Amended route in and around Woodgate and Bartley Green, with a new terminus of Newman University. Route will now be Clapgate Lane, Wood Lane, Field Lane, Romsley Road, Jiggins Lane, Genners Lane - terminating at Cromwell Lane, junction with Genners Approach. Adams Hill will no longer be served.

24 - Birmingham to North Woodgate
Via Five Ways - Harborne - Worlds End - Four Dwellings
Increased frequency of every 8 minutes. Amended route in North Woodgate, no longer serving Four Dwellings, Dwellings Lane or Highfields Lane. Route will now be Quinton Road West, Simmonds Drive, Quinton Road West.

27 - Maypole to Hawkesley (Shannon Rd)
Via Highters Heath - Yardley Wood - Bournville - Stirchley - Kings Heath - Northfield - Northfield Station - West Heath - Rednal (Man on the Moon) - Pool Farm
Service will no longer operate between Northfield and Hawkesley, which will become part of the 48.
Service will now operate to Harborne, replacing the 29 in this area.

29 - Birmingham to Frankley, Holly Hill
Via Five Ways - Harborne - California - Barnes Hill - Quinton Road - Weoley Castle - Shenley Fields - Northfield - Frankley Beeches - Allens Cross
Service will be withdrawn. See 27 and 49 for replacements.

31 - Birmingham to Solihull Town Centre
Via Digbeth - Camp Hill - Sparkbrook - Hall Green - Shaftmoor Lane - Fox Hollies Road - Acocks Green - Gospel Oak - Robin Hood Island - Shirley - Sharmans Cross - Solihull Station
Service will be withdrawn between City Centre and Acocks Green Village. See new services 1A for a replacement between Hall Green and Acocks Green, or new service 4A between City and Gospel Oak.

37 - Birmingham to Solihull Station
Via Digbeth - Deritend - Sparkbrook - Warwick Road - Tyseley - Acocks Green Village - Olton - Solihull Town Centre
Service withdrawn, see new services 4 and 4A for services along Warwick Road.

39 - Worlds End to Longbridge Station
Via Quinton Road West - Weoley Castle - Shenley Fields - Northfield - Hawkesley Mill Lane
39A - North Woodgate to Longbridge Stn
Via Quinton Road West - Weoley Castle - Shenley Fields - Northfield - Hawkesley Mill Lane
Amended route around Shenley Fields, To replace the 48 in this area.

45 - Birmingham to Longbridge, Bristol Rd
Via New Street Station - Chinatown - Pershore Road - Edgbaston Cricket Ground - Stirchley - Cotteridge - Kings Norton - Pool Farm - West Heath - Longbridge Station
Service amended in the West Heath area, new route will replace the 49 in this area.

47 - Birmingham to Cofton Hackett
Via New Street Station - Chinatown - Pershore Road - Edgbaston Cricket Ground - Stirchley - Cotteridge - Kings Norton - Turves Green - Groveley Lane
Service withdrawn between Turves Green and Cofton Hackett. See new service X20 for services to Cofton Hackett. New routing will operate to Longbridge, Bristol Road. Route will now be Turves Green, Longbridge Lane, Longbridge Station and Bristol Road.

48 - West Bromwich to Northfield
Via Spon Lane - Smethwick - Londonderry - Warley - Bearwood - Harborne - QE Hospital - Gibbins Lane - Weoley Park - Weoley Castle - Shenley Fields - Bell Hill.
Service will no longer operate via Gibbins Lane, Weoley Park, Weoley Castle, Shenley Fields or Bell Hill. New route will operate via Selly Oak, Bournville, Cotteridge, Pool Farm, Hawkesley, Rednal & West Heath, replacing services 84 between QE Hospital and Hawkesley, and service 27 between Hawkesley and Northfield.

49 - Solihull Station to Northfield
Via Solihull Town Centre - Sharmans Cross - Shirley - Shirley Station - Solihull Lodge - Maypole - Druids Heath - Pool Farm - Kings Norton - Cotteridge - West Heath - Longbridge Station - Longbridge - Great Park - Rubery - Frankley Holly Hill - Gannow - Frankley Beeches - Allens Cross
All journeys will now operate through to Northfield. An amended route will be taken in the West Heath area, following the current 45 route.

50A - Birmingham to Wythall
Via Digbeth - Camp Hill - Highgate - Moseley Road - Moseley Village - Kings Heath - Alcester Lanes End - Maypole - Hollywood - Becketts Farm
Service withdrawn. See Johnsons 150 or Diamond S3W for alternative services.

61 - Birmingham to Frankley, Holly Hill
Via O2 Academy - Bristol Road - Selly Oak - Northfield - Frankley Beeches - Gannow - Tessall Lane
New service, replacing X61. Service will operate up to every 10 minutes.

63 - Birmingham to Frankley, Holly Hill
Via O2 Academy - Bristol Road - Selly Oak - Northfield - Longbridge - Great Park - Rubery - Gannow
Service reduced to every 10 minutes.

84 - QE Hospital to Hawkesley
Via Selly Oak - Bournville - Cotteridge - Pool Farm
Service withdrawn. See amended 48 for a replacement service

98 - Birmingham to Rubery, Great Park
Via Bath Row - Five Ways Station - Edgbaston Park Road - University - QE Hospital - Selly Oak - Bristol Road - Northfield - Longbridge - Cofton Hackett - Leach Green Lane
Service withdrawn. See new service X20 for a replacement between Birmingham & Cofton Hackett, or Igo service 19 between Longbridge and Rubery, Great Park.

X20 - Birmingham to Cofton Hackett
Limited Stop Service - via Bath Row - Edgbaston Park Road - University - QE Hospital - Selly Oak - Northfield - Longbridge - Lickey Road
New service, replacing the 98 between Birmingham and Cofton Hackett, and the 47 around Cofton Hackett. Frequency will be every 15 minutes throughout.

X21 - Birmingham to Woodcock Hill
Limited Stop Service - via Bath Row, Edgbaston Park Road - University - QE Hospital - Weoley Park - Weoley Castle
New service, replacing the X64 between Birmingham and Woodcock Hill. Frequency will be every 15 minutes throughout.

X22 - Birmingham to Woodgate, Wood Ln
Limited Stop Service - Via University - QE Hospital - California - Bartley Green - Kitwell
New service, replacing the 22 between Birmingham and Woodgate. Frequency will be every 20 minutes throughout.

X61 - Birmingham to Frankley, Holly Hill
Limited Stop Service - via O2 Academy - Belgrave - Bristol Road - Bournbrook - Selly Oak - Northfield - Frankley Beeches - Gannow
Service withdrawn. See new service 61 for a replacement throughout.

X64 - Birmingham to Woodgate, Wood Ln
Via Bath Row - Five Ways - Edgbaston Park Road - University - QE Hospital - Selly Oak - Weoley Park - Weoley Castle - Woodcock Hill - Newman University - Bartley Green - Kitwell
Service withdrawn. See new service X21 between Birmingham and Woodcock Hill, or service 23 between Newman University and Woodgate. Kitwell will now be derved by new service X22.

 

[Alex 2901]

Looks like its Dudley's turn to get shafted now:
These are changing 2nd September.

Renumbering of routes:

222 - 2/2A
289 - 3
205 - 5
246 - 6
276 - 7
X96 - 8
13 - 11A
120 - 12
128 - 13
255 - 15
255A - 15A
256 - 16
257 - 17
243 - 18
244 - 19

Changes to routes

120A/121 - Routes withdrawn. New services 3A (West Bromwich to Blackheath) and 12A (Birmingham to Dudley) will replace these routes.

126 - Wolverhampton to Dudley section withdrawn. Dudley to Birmingham section to be renumbered.

127 - Between Dudley and Blackheath, most of the 127 will be replaced by new service 14. Between Blackheath and Birmingham, the current 127 route will be served by new service 13A.

129 - changes not currently known, rumour suggests this will be renumbered as 13B between Birmingham & Blackheath. Blackheath to Merry Hill will likely be served by amendments to tendered services.

140 - Extended to Wolverhampton from Dudley. Renumbered as X8.

X10 - Between Merry Hill Centre and Russells Hall Hospital, the X10 will now serve Brierley Hill. Will also extend to Gornal Wood, via Stallings Lane, from Pensnett Trading Estate.

Changes to the 81, 82 are also registered, although these could just be timetable related.

New services:

14 - Dudley to Halesowen
Via Kates Hill - Oakham - Portway - Blackheath - Quinton Stag
Will operaare every 30 minutes throughout. Replaces services 127 and 241.

X7 - Wolverhampton to Birmingham
Via Parkfields - Roseville - Priory Road - Dudley - Birmingham New Road - Oldbury - Smethwick
Will operate every 20 minutes throughout. Replaces 126 between Wolverhampton and Dudley.

 

[Statto]

Got to love the NXWM route constellations, what's the point having these constellations when NXWM then go ahead & implement the changes anyway?

 

[bussnapperwm]

Got to love the NXWM route constellations, what's the point having these constellations when NXWM then go ahead & implement the changes anyway?

I know. I used to work in Dudley and, getting the bus home took 32 minutes one way, 45 the other way, and was able to use a twm faresaver. The 2008 network review shafted that so it was either 45 minutes, plus a change of bus of which was a different operator, or 45 minutes on a local independent.

Got a promotion which meant I had to change sites to an office Stourbridge, and since then I've only used the bus when I've had half day finishes (and risk it going up in flames/wheels falling off/crashing into things/trying to wipe out pedestrians - there again that's diamond) because of the unreliability of one of the main routes by my office, especially after bonfire night to New Year's due to it being a direct route to Merry Hell.

And now these changes are going to partly shaft me again.

Thank goodness I've learnt to bend over and take it like a man.

 

[Statto]

Should have said route consultations not constellations, that's what posting on a late Friday night after a few pints does to you.

 

[Statto]

One effect of the South Birmingham changes are buses X20/X21/X22 now go in one direction, Southbound down Wheeleys Road & Arthur Road between City Centre & The Vale, apparently a passenger complained about this on NXWM facebook site, that whilst they can get a bus from Wheeleys Road & Arthur Road to the QE Hospital, they can't get a bus back, only to be advised catch the Northbound bus to Smallbrook Queensway in the City Centre, & cross over & wait for a Southbound bus there which is barmy when buses operated in both directions down Wheeleys Road & Arthur Road until last Saturday.

 

[Alex 2901]

One effect of the South Birmingham changes are buses X20/X21/X22 now go in one direction, Southbound down Wheeleys Road & Arthur Road between City Centre & The Vale, apparently a passenger complained about this on NXWM facebook site, that whilst they can get a bus from Wheeleys Road & Arthur Road to the QE Hospital, they can't get a bus back, only to be advised catch the Northbound bus to Smallbrook Queensway in the City Centre, & cross over & wait for a Southbound bus there which is barmy when buses operated in both directions down Wheeleys Road & Arthur Road until last Saturday.

That is supposed to change when the bus gate at Bath Row opens, with the X21 serving that area, i believe.

 

[Aictos]

One issue I hate is the 80/80A used to head down Broad Street but they decided to divert the service so it no longer calls on Broad Street, I did ask and it was due to engineering works with no idea when it's going to be reinstated to its original route.

I hope it's not a result of any consultation that resulted in this?

The other thing that would be nice is to have a second but faster service emulate the existing 11C/11A route calling at the main stops on route with the 11C/11A continuing to be a all stops service, the faster service could be called X11.

 

[Statto]

That is supposed to change when the bus gate at Bath Row opens, with the X21 serving that area, i believe.

$64,000 question, any ideas when that is likely to open?

 

[bussnapperwm]

One issue I hate is the 80/80A used to head down Broad Street but they decided to divert the service so it no longer calls on Broad Street, I did ask and it was due to engineering works with no idea when it's going to be reinstated to its original route.

I hope it's not a result of any consultation that resulted in this?

The other thing that would be nice is to have a second but faster service emulate the existing 11C/11A route calling at the main stops on route with the 11C/11A continuing to be a all stops service, the faster service could be called X11.

There used to be a different, faster version of the 11, but diverted via the QEHB between Bearwood and Selly Oak...

...the South West Link

 

[Aictos]

No its not.

The 80/A and 98/X64 were rerouted of Bath Row and Holloway Head ages ago in March 2017 via Broad Street inbound only for several months, with both using the Priory Queensway as the terminus. It was a diversion but due to it being long term the route numbers were put up on the flags. It was due to engineering works at Holloway Circus and was only ever going to be temporary.

The 80/A and 98/X64 returned back to the orriginal line of route using Bath Row and Holloway Head and the 80/A returned to its original terminus at the Markets around February 2018, the 98/X64 were later last week replaced by new services X20/X21/X22 to the QE and University last week

Damn, NXWM told me that the 80/80A would return to Broad Street but not sure when, no idea why they can't keep the 98/X64 and now the X20/X21/X22 via Bath Row and the 80/80A via Broad Street as I've used the 80/80A when it was using Broad Street and it was quite handy.

 

[Aictos]

The lower end of Broad Street is that the end nearest to Five Ways or the end nearest to the Library of Birmingham?

 

[Aictos]

The end nearest to the Library Of Birmingham.

Ahh, thanks I wasn't sure hence I wanted to check - Is that likely to impact on the 80/80A?

 

[318266]

• From UKTransport Wiki, here are the... DUDLEY SERVICE CHANGES!!!!!!
• 9–Birmingham to Stourbridge:- The timetable will be changed to improve reliability. & Buses will be timed to coordinate between Birmingham and Bearwood with the X10 and new X8 to provide a bus every 5 minutes along Hagley Road as far as Quinton.
• X10–Birmingham to Merry Hill and Pensnett:- Buses will be extended every hour from Merry Hill to Brierley Hill High Street, Russells Hall Hospital, Pensnett and Gornal Wood with financial support from TfWM., This extension will reinstate the direct link between Gornal Wood, Russells Hall Hospital and Merry Hill, something that many customers asked for in our initial consultation., The extension to Gornal will provide direct, regular links between Halesowen and Russells Hall Hospital on weekdays and Saturdays, also something that was asked for in the consultation., Buses will be timed to coordinate between Birmingham and Bearwood with the 9 and new X8 to provide a bus every 5 minutes along Hagley Road as far as Quinton., Stopping places along Hagley Road will be changed. Fountain Road will no longer be served between Bearwood and Birmingham but Clive Road will additionally be served between Quinton and Bearwood. & Service X10 will be extended to Gornal Wood.
• 11 Walsall-Dudley via Wood Green & 13 Walsall-Dudley via Myvod:- These services will be re-numbered 11 & 11A respectively.
• X96 Wollaston Farm-Wrens Nest:- This service will be re-numbered to service 8
• 120–Dudley to Birmingham:- The 120 will be renumbered to service 12 and will combine with the new 12A to provide an improved frequency of a bus every 10 minutes between Dudley, Oakham, Oldbury and Birmingham. & The route will remain unchanged. The 12 will run along City Road and the 12A along Tower Road.
• 120A–Blackheath to Birmingham:- Between Blackheath and Oldbury, the 120A will be replaced by new services 3 and 3A. The 3 and 3A will also replace the 289., The 3 and 3A will provide buses every 15 minutes between West Bromwich, Oldbury, Lion Farm and Blackheath. The 3 will then continue every 30 minutes to Merry Hill., Between Oldbury and Blackheath, the 3 and 3A will both run along Portway Road, Newbury Lane, Martley Road, Shelsey Avenue and Throne Road. The 3 will then serve Portway Road and Hanover Road. The 3A will serve Stuart Road., Between Oldbury and Birmingham, the 12 and 12A will continue to provide buses every 10 minutes. & This service will be replaced in part by services & in part by services 3, 3A,12 & 12A.
• 121–Dudley to West Bromwich:- The 121 will be partly replaced by new service 12A., The new 12A will run every 20 minutes between Dudley, Oakham, Oldbury and Birmingham. Between Dudley and Oldbury, buses will run along Oakham Road, City Road and Tower Road., Darbys Hill Road and Wheatsheaf will no longer be served directly due to problems with parked cars and low trees (the 12A would use double decker buses). However, both the 12 and 12A will serve stops on Oakham Road and City Road for access to Wheatsheaf Road and Darbys Hill Road. If trees on Darbys Hill are pruned to allow access by double deck buses, the 12A would serve Darbys Hill Road instead of Oakham Road., The frequency of buses along Tower Road will increase from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes with new links to Birmingham. Passengers travelling to West Bromwich will need to change buses in Oldbury from the 12 or 12A to the 3, 3A, 4, 4H or 4M. & All the above services will be re-numbered either 12 (120) or 12A (120A & 121) respectively.
• 126 – Wolverhampton to Birmingham:- Between Birmingham and Dudley, the 126 will be replaced by service 15. The 15 will run to the same route as the 126 between Birmingham and Dudley but will be renumbered to fit with other services along Hagley Road. Buses will run every 15 minutes., Between Wolverhampton and Dudley, the 126 will be replaced by new services X7 and X8. The X7 and X8 will combine to run every 10 minutes., The X7 and X8 will both continue from Dudley to Birmingham along different routes and will not serve every bus stop to improve journey times., The X7 will provide new express links between Dudley, Oldbury, Smethwick, City Hospital and Birmingham with through journeys to and from Wolverhampton. From Dudley, buses will run via New Birmingham Road, Portway Road, Oldbury Interchange, Birmingham Road, Oldbury Road, Crocketts Lane (for Smethwick High Street), Soho Way, Cranford Street and Spring Hill to Birmingham (Colmore Row)., The X8 will run via New Rowley Road, Springfield, Blackheath, Long Lane, Quinton and Hagley Road to Birmingham (Colmore Row)., The X7 and X8 will both be operated by ‘Platinum’ specification vehicles, bringing Platinum to Oldbury, Blackheath and Smethwick. & Please do not that the change of number will not happen now as service 15 will replace the 255 service. Between Birmingham & Dudley this service will stay as service 126.
• 127–Dudley to Birmingham:- The 127 will be renumbered 13A to fit better with other services along Hagley Road., The frequency of buses between Birmingham and Blackheath will be increased from every 30 to every 20 minutes., Between Blackheath and Dudley, the 127 will be replaced by changes to the 241. The 241 will run between Halesowen, Blackheath, Oakham and Dudley, replacing the 127 to Dudley, although Mincing Lane and Bell End will no longer be served., The route will change in Blackheath to cover parts of the 129. Buses will run along Hurst Green Lane, Narrow Lane, Masters Lane, Nimmings Road, Station Road and Oldbury Road., Between the new 13 and 13A, buses will continue to run every 10 minutes between Warley, Bearwood and Birmingham. & This service is also replaced by services 13 & 13A.
• 128–Oldbury to Birmingham:- The 128 will be renumbered 13 to fit better with other services along Hagley Road., The frequency of buses between Oldbury and Birmingham will be increased from every 30 to every 20 minutes., Between the new 13 and 13A, buses will continue to run every 10 minutes between Warley, Bearwood and Birmingham. & This service will be replaced by services 13 & 13A.
• 129 – Merry Hill to Birmingham:- The 129 will no longer run but will be replaced between Warley and Birmingham by the 13 and 13A (every 10 minutes) and partly replaced by the 13A between Blackheath and Warley., The 13A will run along Hurst Green Lane, Narrow Lane, Masters Lane, Nimmings Road, Station Road and Oldbury Road to cover parts of the current 127 and 129., Between Merry Hill and Cradley Heath, the 4M and X10 provide buses every 10 minutes., Between Merry Hill and Blackheath, the 4M and new service 3 provide up to 5 journeys every hour. & National Express West Midlands will no longer provide a service along Perry Park Road or Codsall Road. TfWM are considering options to provide a replacement service in this area.
• 140–Dudley to Birmingham:- The 140 will be replaced by new service X8. To provide faster journeys, buses will not stop at every bus stop along Hagley Road., The X8 will run up to every 20 minutes, meaning more buses for passengers between Springfield, Blackheath and Birmingham., The X8 will continue from Dudley to Wolverhampton, providing new through journey opportunities., The X8 will be operated by our ‘Platinum’ specification vehicles, offering free wifi and USB charging points., Between Quinton and Birmingham, the X8 will coordinate with the X10 to provide a limited stop service every 10 minutes for most of the day. & The X8 will combine with the 9 and X10 to provide a bus every 5 minutes along Hagley Road as far as Quinton.
• 205 - Dudley to Kingswinford:- The route of the 205 will be unchanged but the frequency will be reduced to every hour due to very low usage., The X10 will be extended from Merry Hill to Russells Hall Hospital and Gornal Wood and will be timed to coordinate with the 205 between Pensnett Trading Estate and Russells Hall Hospital to provide a bus generally every 30 minutes on this section of route. & Please note that this service will also be renumbered to service 5
• 222 – Dudley to Merry Hill:- Off peak journeys will divert between Pensnett and Brierley Hill to serve Wallows Road on a trial basis following customer requests. The whole length of Pensnett Road will not be served on affected journeys., The 255 will continue to serve the affected section of Pensnett Road at all times of day., Certain evening journeys may no longer run due to poor usage. TfWM are considering the implications of this possible change. & Service 222 will be re-numbered 2 & 2A.
• 241–Dudley to Halesowen:-The route of the 241 will change between Dudley and Blackheath to cover most of the current 127. Buses will now run via Kate’s Hill, Regent Road, Oakham Road, Throne Road and Oldbury Road to Blackheath. Mincing Lane and Bell End would not be served., We are considering whether alternate journeys on the 241 would divert along City Road, Poplar Road and Elm Terrace (which may replace the 208)., Between Dudley, Springfield and Blackheath, the current 241 will be replaced by new service X8, running every 20 minutes through to Wolverhampton and Birmingham with ‘Platinum’ specification buses featuring free wifi and USB phone charging., Certain evening and Sunday journeys may no longer run due to poor usage. TfWM are considering the implications of this possible change. & This service will be re-numbered to service 14.
• 246 Stourbridge-Dudley:- This service will be re-numbered to service 6.
• 243 Merry Hill-Dudley & 244 QE Hospital-Dudley:- These services will be re-numbered 18 & 19 respectively.
• 255 Merry Hill-W’ton via Wombourne, 255A Merry Hill-W’ton via Himley, 256 S’bridge-W’ton & 257 S’bridge-Dudley:- These services will be re-numbered 15/15A (255/255A), 16/16S (256/256S) & 17 (257)
• 276 Wollaston Junction-Dudley:- This service will be re-numbered 7
• 289–West Bromwich to Merry Hill:- The 289 will be replaced by new services 3 and 3A.,The 3 and 3A will provide buses every 15 minutes between West Bromwich, Oldbury, Lion Farm and Blackheath. The 3 will then continue every 30 minutes to Merry Hill., Between Oldbury and Blackheath, the 3 and 3A will both run along Portway Road, Newbury Lane, Martley Road, Shelsey Avenue and Throne Road. The 3 will then serve Portway Road and Hanover Road. The 3A will serve Stuart Road.,To improve reliability, the 3 will not serve the double run along Moor Lane to Rowley Regis Hospital. However, the 4M will continue to serve Rowley Hospital every 20 minutes., In Oldbury, the 3 and 3A will always stop on the library side of Church Street towards Blackheath. This will mean that all buses towards Lion Farm and Blackheath serve the same bus stop in Oldbury. & This service is replaced in part by service 3A & in full by service 3A.
• 301Walsall-Mosley & 302 Walsall-Lower Farm:- Theses service will now be re-numbered 31 & 32 respectively.

 

[Aictos]

• From UKTransport Wiki, here are the... DUDLEY SERVICE CHANGES!!!!!!
• 11 Walsall-Dudley via Wood Green & 13 Walsall-Dudley via Myvod:- These services will be re-numbered 11 & 11A respectively.

Pardon for stating the obvious but is that not going to be confusing numbering the 13 as the 11A especially as there already exists a 11A in the Birmingham area ie the 11A and 11C circular routes?

Why not renumber both as the 10 and 10A respectively?

 

[bussnapperwm]

Pardon for stating the obvious but is that not going to be confusing numbering the 13 as the 11A especially as there already exists a 11A in the Birmingham area ie the 11A and 11C circular routes?

Why not renumber both as the 10 and 10A respectively?

Because there is already a 10/A in the Walsall area.

 

[DJames]

82 Birmingham to Bearwood via Spring Hill. City Hospital & Summerfield Park and Cape Hill.
82 Dudley to Wolverhampton via Bilston.

There is a tiny bit of overlap with those, as there are E400 Tridents branded for the 82/87 routes into Birmingham, which run into Dudley on the 87. There, they meet the Wolverhampton 82, so it can be a bit confusing seeing one 82 advertised and then catching another.

 

[Statto]

I don't get the renumberings, route changes fine, but renumberings get confusing trying to remember the new number, the 11 & 13 Dudley-Walsall were renumbered from 311 & 313 not too long ago, they'll be 11/11A from September, same with the 246 Dudley-Stourbridge which was created when the 311/313 were cut to Dudley, will be 6 but same route, seems to be renumbering things for the sake of it rather than keeping as is.

 

[Aictos]

I've also used the Platinum buses a few times but never seem to get any with the advertised USB sockets, do they actually exist????

 

[Alex 2901]

I've also used the Platinum buses a few times but never seem to get any with the advertised USB sockets, do they actually exist????

Yes... 134 of the 192 in the fleet do, and all of the ones (bar the X10 ones) that use Broad Street do.

 

[Aictos]

I've used the X services from Erdington to City Centre as well as the X10, never have I come across any of these 134 fitted buses.

 

[Alex 2901]

I've used the X services from Erdington to City Centre as well as the X10, never have I come across any of these 134 fitted buses.

They're in a box under the row in front. Given all 28 of that batch have them, they are there...

 

[Aictos]

They're in a box under the row in front. Given all 28 of that batch have them, they are there...

Like I said, I've never come across any in 6 months so either I'm unlucky or they're avoiding me!

 

[duncanp]

Timetables for the new services in the Dudley and Sandwell review, starting 2nd September, are available at www.traveline.info, but not on the National Express West Midlands site yet.

 

[JordyWM]

I’ve seen quite a few platinum buses on the 255 recently, plus crimson ones. Have all the old ones been withdrawn?

Plus the 1 also now seem to be crimson. Are they different buses or just repainted?

 

[bussnapperwm]

I’ve seen quite a few platinum buses on the 255 recently, plus crimson ones. Have all the old ones been withdrawn?

Plus the 1 also now seem to be crimson. Are they different buses or just repainted?

The hybrids on the 1 and 22/23 have been repainted crimson. The 22/23 ones are now allocated to the 61/63.

 

[Alex 2901]

I’ve seen quite a few platinum buses on the 255 recently, plus crimson ones. Have all the old ones been withdrawn?

Now allocated. Along with Wolverhamptons hybrids. 6/6/6 split on there now, 6 Platinums, 6 hybrids and 6 Tridents.
Saturdays see Tridents replaced by B7RLEs.

Plus the 1 also now seem to be crimson. Are they different buses or just repainted?

Same buses, repainted.

 

[winston270twm]

Now allocated. Along with Wolverhamptons hybrids. 6/6/6 split on there now, 6 Platinums, 6 hybrids and 6 Tridents.
Saturdays see Tridents replaced by B7RLEs.
Same buses, repainted.

Only at present due to the reduced pvr's as a result of Summer Timetables, I expect the 255 to be back to majority Trident's from 2nd Sept

 

[Aictos]

The platinums on the X1, X2, X20, X22, 23, 24, 126, 529, X3, X4 and X5, all have USB Sockets.
The platinums on the X10, X12, X51, 997, 934, 935, 936 and 937 don't.

I've used the X4 and the X5 for three weeks last month and never saw a single USB socket at all, the only thing that they seem to have over the regular routes is wifi and a audible next stop announcement.

Which brings me to my next question, when will or is NXWM likely to roll out the audible next stop announcement technology onto their Red buses?

 

[Alex 2901]

Next lot of tender changes, from October 28th:

Diamond
Lose - 12, 14, 19*, 250, 251, 287, 303 (Bilston)
Gain - 64 (West Brom)
Retain - 74 (Walsall)

Igo
Lose - 64 (West Brom)
Gain - N/A

Midland Classic
Lose - N/A
Gain - 53 (Erdington)

Travel Express
Lose - N/A
Gain - 303 (Bilston)

NXWM
Lose - Unconfirmed
Gain - 3A (Walsall), 19*, 287
New Routes - 23 (replacing 14, 250, 251)

Arriva Midlands
Lose - 3A (Walsall)
Gain - N/A

All in all, this has turned out to be one of the most interesting tender rounds yet, with some very surprising results, especially with Travel Express going onto one of my locals, which i am not happy about, and Midland Classic making an entrance into the West Midlands...