WM Bus Photos Forum

West Midlands Buses in Discussion => Rotala => Topic started by: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 02:02:35 PM

Title: Petition to save 56
Post by: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 02:02:35 PM
Councillor Steve Wade has st up an online petition to save the 56 here is the link, he wants as many people as possible to sign it
https://www.change.org/p/diamond-buses-centro-and-national-express-buses-keep-the-56-bus-service-route-in-brownhills?recruiter=392824674&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: jc on September 27, 2015, 02:25:52 PM
... yes because you can run a bus company on signatures! Not like the people signing actually need to use the service to make it run or anything ...
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 02:51:03 PM
People in Brownhills are very unhappy about losing there service, and I say good luck to Councillor Steve Wade, one of reasons why the 56 is not as profitable as,it was is because diamond have not bothered about this route, its very unreliable now, has old buses on it that regularly break down.

Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Tony on September 27, 2015, 02:54:34 PM
Quote from: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 02:51:03 PM
People in Brownhills are very unhappy about losing there service, and I say good luck to Councillor Steve Wade, one of reasons why the 56 is not as profitable as,it was is because diamond have not bothered about this route, its very unreliable now, has old buses on it that regularly break down.

Diamond say the route does not make any money but by the loads on some of the local routes in & 0ut of Walsall most off them are carrying single figure loads.

Councillor Wade knows what is going on and knows that there will be no-one left without a bus service, but as with all polititians, getting your name in the press is the most important thing
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 03:07:38 PM
Quote from: Tony on September 27, 2015, 02:54:34 PM
Councillor Wade knows what is going on and knows that there will be no-one left without a bus service, but as with all polititians, getting your name in the press is the most important thing

But at least he is trying to do something & he does care about Brownhills & the people that live there
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: BU07 LGO on September 27, 2015, 04:44:08 PM
They should have kept the versa's on there, I still always see them rammed during the peaks. I know it might sound cynical but could it be  a ploy to  see if centro offer a subsidy? I'm not too sure how these things work
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 04:59:19 PM
Quote from: BU07 LGO on September 27, 2015, 04:44:08 PM
They should have kept the versa's on there, I still always see them rammed during the peaks. I know it might sound cynical but could it be  a ploy to  see if centro offer a subsidy? I'm not too sure how these things work
that was the start of the end does anybody now  where the versa's are now
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: winston on September 27, 2015, 05:03:05 PM
Quote from: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 04:59:19 PM
that was the start of the end does anybody now  where the versa's are now

Redditch Garage on Solihull Signature work
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 05:14:31 PM
Cheers Winston always wondered what happened to them, have they still got the next stop announcer
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Westy on September 27, 2015, 06:37:14 PM
Quote from: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 03:07:38 PM
But at least he is trying to do something & he does care about Brownhills & the people that live there

When is the next election?
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Stu on September 27, 2015, 07:16:39 PM
Sorry to have to say this, but generally there are usually more signatures on a petition than there are 'bums on seats' on a bus.

You only have to look at the myriad of changes to services in the Old Hill/Rowley Regis area recently; the signatures on petitions outweigh the people that actually use the services. If there were so many people who 'badly needed' the 56 service, it's withdrawal wouldn't be in question.

Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Stuharris 6360 on September 27, 2015, 08:40:09 PM
Quote from: woody38 on September 27, 2015, 02:02:35 PM
Councillor Steve Wade has st up an online petition to save the 56 here is the link, he wants as many people as possible to sign it
https://www.change.org/p/diamond-buses-centro-and-national-express-buses-keep-the-56-bus-service-route-in-brownhills?recruiter=392824674&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

Not very ambitious is he, only asking for 100 signatures.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Steveminor on September 27, 2015, 09:12:47 PM
100 people is not going to convince any operator to commit 4 buses for 14 hours a day is it.
I agree about petitions don't ever equate to bums on seats anyone remember grosvenor coaches solihull to Earlswood service?
No well that's despite almost everyone in Earlswood asking for the bus it was hardly ever used & the registration/de registration process was 4 times longer than the service actually ran for.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Liberator9 on September 28, 2015, 04:52:24 PM
The next stop announcements are occasionally still used with the Versas are on the S3 - however only on the S3. Even then half the time it doesn't work.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Steveminor on September 28, 2015, 10:41:07 PM
100 supporters in 2 days on the petition.  Just shows how little the 56 is actually required. No wonder diamond are cutting it.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: woody38 on September 28, 2015, 11:31:42 PM
Quote from: Steveminor on September 28, 2015, 10:41:07 PM
100 supporters in 2 days on the petition.  Just shows how little the 56 is actually required. No wonder diamond are cutting it.

I thought that was a lot for just 2 days, Bus petition's as,a whole do not get that many  signature's, don't forget they got over 300  in Brownhillls Saturday, a lot of shops have the petition as well so I would say that figure for the internet is just a small proportion of people who have signed the petition.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Sh4318 on September 29, 2015, 12:22:20 AM
I saw this day coming since the introduction of the 936
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Westy on September 30, 2015, 11:37:47 PM
Quote from: Sh4318 on September 29, 2015, 12:22:20 AM
I saw this day coming since the introduction of the 936

Why did TWM come off the Brownhills to Brum corridor in the first place?

Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: BU07 LGO on October 01, 2015, 10:31:10 AM
The thing is though in still seeing packed 56's during the peaks
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: winston on October 01, 2015, 12:07:22 PM
Quote from: BU07 LGO on October 01, 2015, 10:31:10 AM
The thing is though in still seeing packed 56's during the peaks

But most of the passengers travelling in the peaks will be commuters that travel end to end, so will be paying one fare to travel a large distance. Obviously the packed peak journeys still don't generate enough money to cover all the costs of the quieter daytime journeys & it's not practical / worthwhile to continue with a peak service only.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Steveminor on October 01, 2015, 12:16:07 PM
Plus most commuters have nbus passes which pays only a fraction of a single fare, so it's possible to have a full bus & only £10 worth of revenue on board. Now that's not much for an hour long journey.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: winston on October 01, 2015, 12:18:37 PM
Quote from: Steveminor on October 01, 2015, 12:16:07 PM
Plus most commuters have nbus passes which pays only a fraction of a single fare, so it's possible to have a full bus & only £10 worth of revenue on board. Now that's not much for an hour long journey.

Blimey, I didn't realise Nbus paid so little.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Steveminor on October 01, 2015, 06:20:53 PM
Yep the amount depends on a number of factors. The amount of cards sold the mileage each operator covers in the west midlands the amount of journeys claimed by each operator.
The amount has gone up slightly now we are 2 operators shorter but as new routes go on then the amount will reduce again. That's why some operators opt out of the nbus scheme as it's not worth while for them.
Put it another way when we break down our figures we get more for charging the nx passes than nbus gives us.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Westy on October 01, 2015, 11:39:10 PM
Quote from: Steveminor on October 01, 2015, 06:20:53 PM
Yep the amount depends on a number of factors. The amount of cards sold the mileage each operator covers in the west midlands the amount of journeys claimed by each operator.
The amount has gone up slightly now we are 2 operators shorter but as new routes go on then the amount will reduce again. That's why some operators opt out of the nbus scheme as it's not worth while for them.
Put it another way when we break down our figures we get more for charging the nx passes than nbus gives us.

So if an operator gets more money charging 60 / 70p for use of an NX Bus pass than a Nbus pass, why isn't more operators doing the NX concession instead?

Lets put it like this.

The weather's shite.

Nx is nowhere to be seen.

Up pops Arriva, displaying a notice '60p to use your NX pass' & it's going the same way.

You're fed up & cold.

Do you wait & hope NX turns up & freeze ones unmentionables, or for the sum of 60p, you're on a warm bus, on your way home.

I know which option I'd use.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Tony on October 02, 2015, 07:15:07 AM
Quote from: Westy on October 01, 2015, 11:39:10 PM
So if an operator gets more money charging 60 / 70p for use of an NX Bus pass than a Nbus pass, why isn't more operators doing the NX concession instead?

Lets put it like this.

The weather's shite.

Nx is nowhere to be seen.

Up pops Arriva, displaying a notice '60p to use your NX pass' & it's going the same way.

You're fed up & cold.

Do you wait & hope NX turns up & freeze ones unmentionables, or for the sum of 60p, you're on a warm bus, on your way home.

I know which option I'd use.

Because there is the other way of looking at it.

Doing that makes the NX pass even more attractive encouraging more people to buy them leaving less cash payers along the route to pick up
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Steve3229vp on October 05, 2015, 05:27:59 PM
I spoke to a NXWM inspector on Lower Bull Street late this afternoon about replacement for Diamond 56, he said "there will be a service" and it was "still under debate". There's only 3 weeks left .....!!!!!
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Westy on October 05, 2015, 05:40:01 PM
How much of the 56 is covered route wise by the 936 (& maybe the 935a)?

(Unless conditions change, I cant see Diamond putting up for the evening & sunday contract again either!)
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Tony on October 05, 2015, 06:07:52 PM
Quote from: Steve3229vp on October 05, 2015, 05:27:59 PM
I spoke to a NXWM inspector on Lower Bull Street late this afternoon about replacement for Diamond 56, he said "there will be a service" and it was "still under debate". There's only 3 weeks left .....!!!!!

It's not 'under debate' It will be registered this week as a short notice registration to start on the day Diamond finish. I believe the Councillor who did the petition had spoken to NXWM and been told that before he did the petition which is why I was so sceptical about his motive.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: BK63 YWP on October 05, 2015, 06:13:15 PM
Will the 56s replacement be a platinum service too, if theres enough spares?
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Adam 404 on October 05, 2015, 06:15:04 PM
Quote from: Tony on October 02, 2015, 07:15:07 AM
Because there is the other way of looking at it.

Doing that makes the NX pass even more attractive encouraging more people to buy them leaving less cash payers along the route to pick up
Obviously wants the publicity and the glory for NXWM's work.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Tony on October 05, 2015, 06:24:16 PM
Quote from: Chris on October 05, 2015, 06:13:15 PM
Will the 56s replacement be a platinum service too, if theres enough spares?

Yes it will be Platinum
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: the trainbasher on October 05, 2015, 06:24:30 PM
@Adam 404 would you expect less from a politician!
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: domino.99 on October 05, 2015, 07:13:21 PM
Quote from: Tony on October 05, 2015, 06:24:16 PM
Yes it will be Platinum

Branding alteration then...
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Tony on October 05, 2015, 07:19:58 PM
Quote from: Dom on October 05, 2015, 07:13:21 PM
Branding alteration then...

why? Plenty of Generic branded buses
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: domino.99 on October 05, 2015, 07:23:06 PM
Quote from: Tony on October 05, 2015, 07:19:58 PM
why? Plenty of Generic branded buses

Fair do, guess they are probably bound to.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Steve3229vp on October 05, 2015, 07:35:38 PM
so is it going to be 936a, 937...........not 956 surely !!!
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: winston on October 05, 2015, 08:08:14 PM
Quote from: Steve3229vp on October 05, 2015, 07:35:38 PM
so is it going to be 936a, 937...........not 956 surely !!!

Hadn't someone posted about a 933 at some point?
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: BU07 LGO on October 05, 2015, 08:58:17 PM
latest rumour is:

993 - current 934
994- current 56
995 - current 935
995a - current 935a
996- current 936
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Alex on October 05, 2015, 11:26:54 PM
Quote from: Steve3229vp on October 05, 2015, 07:35:38 PM
so is it going to be 936a, 937...........not 956 surely !!!

If anything, I would imagine it being some form of 935 derivative, as the 56 doesn't serve Pheasey or Barr Beacon as far as I'm aware, so wouldn't be classed as a 936 derivative, maybe a 935B? As (correct me if I'm wrong) doesn't the 935 serve most of, or at least, a similar route to the 56's route up to Foley Arms? I know the 935 serves Hundred Acre Rd, and the 56 doesn't, but are there any other major differences between the two routes to Streetly?
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Kevin on October 06, 2015, 01:20:42 PM
Quote from: Alex on October 05, 2015, 11:26:54 PM
If anything, I would imagine it being some form of 935 derivative, as the 56 doesn't serve Pheasey or Barr Beacon as far as I'm aware, so wouldn't be classed as a 936 derivative, maybe a 935B? As (correct me if I'm wrong) doesn't the 935 serve most of, or at least, a similar route to the 56's route up to Foley Arms? I know the 935 serves Hundred Acre Rd, and the 56 doesn't, but are there any other major differences between the two routes to Streetly?

George Frederick Road in Kingstanding is served by the 935/A whereas the 56 goes straight up from the Circle
Only real issue (if you can class it as an issue) is the link from Streetly to Aldridge (which the 997 now does anyway) and along Erdington road in particular, ergo my thought about just re-routing the 997
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Tony on October 06, 2015, 03:42:00 PM
Quote from: Adam 404 on October 05, 2015, 06:15:04 PM
Obviously wants the publicity and the glory for NXWM's work.

See

http://brownhillsbob.com/2015/10/06/56-bus-service-travel-west-midlands-to-fill-the-gap/
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Steve3229vp on October 06, 2015, 06:00:50 PM
Less buses going to Pheasey then
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: BK63 YWP on October 06, 2015, 06:25:57 PM
Quote from: Steve3229vp on October 06, 2015, 06:00:50 PM
Less buses going to Pheasey then

Still got the 33, 934, 997 :)
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Mike K on October 06, 2015, 09:04:46 PM
So the new Platinum 934/5/6 branding could be even more short lived than the original orange 935 branding?
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: arrifirststage on October 07, 2015, 10:08:51 AM
Quote from: Tony on October 06, 2015, 03:42:00 PM
See

http://brownhillsbob.com/2015/10/06/56-bus-service-travel-west-midlands-to-fill-the-gap/

Certainly not meant as a criticism,but what is the difference between a 9xx route and an Xxx route?
Given the proposed future changes to the 9xx Streetly group,would it not be more logical and consistent to renumber the routes as X34/X35/X36/X37 etc as with the X51 especially given the mythical public aversion to the use of three digit numbers.
The 900/957 would become the X1/X2 and the X96 would also fit in easily.
Can someone otherwise explain the (if any) subtle difference between the X and the 9 series.
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Sh4318 on October 07, 2015, 10:35:38 AM
Quote from: arrifirststage on October 07, 2015, 10:08:51 AM
Certainly not meant as a criticism,but what is the difference between a 9xx route and an Xxx route?
Given the proposed future changes to the 9xx Streetly group,would it not be more logical and consistent to renumber the routes as X34/X35/X36/X37 etc as with the X51 especially given the mythical public aversion to the use of three digit numbers.
The 900/957 would become the X1/X2 and the X96 would also fit in easily.
Can someone otherwise explain the (if any) subtle difference between the X and the 9 series.

'X' is limited stop along the whole/part of the route
'9**' is express (not stopping) service, which means only part of the route is express, in this case between Birmingham and Perry Barr
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Bob on October 07, 2015, 11:02:02 AM
Is the X96 limited stop across the whole route? ???
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: the trainbasher on October 07, 2015, 11:02:53 AM
@Bob it used to be part limited stop but now it's all stops
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Bob on October 07, 2015, 11:07:27 AM
Then sh4318  is totally incorrect lol
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Mike K on October 07, 2015, 06:13:00 PM
And the X64 should be the 964!
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Sh4318 on October 07, 2015, 06:37:44 PM
Quote from: Bob on October 07, 2015, 11:07:27 AM
Then sh4318  is totally incorrect lol

I am actually correct, I just couldn't be bothered to be pedantic and mention the X96 as an exception
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: 2206 on October 07, 2015, 06:43:17 PM
Quote from: Sh4318 on October 07, 2015, 06:37:44 PM
I am actually correct, I just couldn't be bothered to be pedantic and mention the X96 as an exception
The X64 is not express along the whole route either @Sh4318
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Sh4318 on October 07, 2015, 06:47:48 PM
Quote from: 2206 on October 07, 2015, 06:43:17 PM
The X64 is not express along the whole route either @Sh4318

Please re-read my post
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: BU07 LGO on October 07, 2015, 06:50:53 PM
so will pheasey only have the 997 to Aldridge then? As my brother uses the 936 to get to work
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Sh4318 on October 07, 2015, 06:53:31 PM
Does anyone have access to the new timetable?
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: 2206 on October 07, 2015, 06:54:55 PM
Quote from: Sh4318 on October 07, 2015, 06:53:31 PM
Does anyone have access to the new timetable?
The new timetable for the 934/5/6/7 timetable are all here
http://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/information/service-changes/56-replaced-by-service-937-from-25th-october-2015
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Tony on October 07, 2015, 06:55:04 PM
Quote from: BU07 LGO on October 07, 2015, 06:50:53 PM
so will pheasey only have the 997 to Aldridge then? As my brother uses the 936 to get to work

936 still runs in peaks
Title: Re: Petition to save 56
Post by: Stu on October 07, 2015, 06:56:06 PM
Quote from: Sh4318 on October 07, 2015, 06:53:31 PM
Does anyone have access to the new timetable?

They're on the NX website:
http://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/information/service-changes/56-replaced-by-service-937-from-25th-october-2015