Messages

The old 689 route from Smith's Wood to I think it was Sheldon Wheatsheaf (correct me if I'm wrong) always seemed quite popular and then just slowly fizzled out. Started as the 98 when East Brum had the 9* number theme, then became the 89 then the 689. Now I think it's operated by iGo or Diamond as the 99,  not quite sure.

Same can be said for the 663 now the 53, when Pete's travel used to operate it it had very healthy loadings and now its barren.

There was a 99 branded e200 on either the 45, 47, 61 or 63 earlier - saw it leaving Carrs Lane via Albert St.
Also a President went past me about 17:00 on the X51! Shortage of buses at Walsall?

4728 (Enviro400) on a 72E in Marston Green atm, I had to do a double take!!

I think rather than this silly and long winded extension of the 904 to Minworth bring back a 915 running alongside the 914 but following the 116 route to Minworth after the expressway and then either take it to Sutton from there via Walmley or maybe even have a route going into Kingsbury to compete fully with the 116 (maybe a 916). Or could have a new route from city via saltley, washwood heath, turn left at fox and goose down Bromford Lane, to the Fort shopping park, through to castle vale, then to minworth asda, then walmley and terminate at Sutton. Creates new links and a faster alternative to minworth than the 904.

Just seen 4231 on WB 46 to Queslett

I'm guessing now that omnilinks are being repainted the next lot after PB may be Walsalls ones, or Bordesley might start re-repainting there's all over again

http://wmbusphotos.com/NXWM/4700-4879/4779.html

Can someone explain what this picture is all about?

Please tell me the 97 is getting new buses this year. Baffles me that one of NXWMs most frequent and heavily used (and 24 hour) routes is operating on tatty looking 11-14 year old buses.

Has there ever been a TWM or NX route between Brum City Centre & The Fort?

Never known one.

The only way I've got to The Fort in the past is the 966 from Erdington.

(Wasn't the 11 diverted there at one point?)

Not too sure if the old TWM express routes to Chelmsley made a stop at the Fort. If not, then no I don't think there has been from what I can remember anyway. And yeah the 11 used to go down there and stop at the shelters by the roundabout before turning round back up to Bromford Lane. the 68A/C used to go in there too.

We need a proper express service to Chelmsley Wood to make a comeback! The 97 is supposed to be the quickest route from the City Centre to Chelmsley Wood and it takes me close to - if not more than - an hour sometimes to travel into the city. If there was a much quicker alternative straight from the City to Chelmsley then people could connect onto other services at Chelmsley Wood to other parts of East Brum, but it would still be much quicker than having to sit on a 97.

It could go down the Nechells Parkway with the Washwood Heath services, turn onto the Heartlands Parkway before Saltley Viaduct, come off that onto Bromford Lane and then the Fort Parkway, stop at the Fort (also providing a direct NXWM link from Birmingham to The Fort), then right onto the A452, then onto the Collector Road direct into Chelmsley.

There could even be another service that has more stops in between to run alongside it - it could use the Heartlands Parkway and then turn right onto Bromford Lane, following the 11 route to the Fox & Goose, with a stop by the old Bromford pub to have an express connection to Bromford. Then another stop at the Fox & Goose where it would turn left and follow the 70/94 route to the Clock Garage roundabout, turn left down Newport Road and join the Collector Road into Chelmsley. Or, because of traffic issues, it could stay on the Bradford Road with the 94 and then just carry on straight down the Chester Road into Chelmsley, not stopping though except maybe a stop for the Timberley shops and for Kingshurst.

In my opinion, having 3 or 4 different liveries floating about, all in differing states of disrepair with graffiti and etching and different mismatched seating and those damn awful connection bars, looks incredibly tatty and unorganised. NXWM need to pick a livery and stick to it, and refurb ALL their buses to their most recent spec, which I understand will take a long time but I hate the idea of having ANOTHER different livery on the roads.

There was a new Enviro400 on the 82 and 87 today (14th) and a 99 branded Enviro on the 14 - saw it driving back to garage around 6:40pm

Saw 1889 on the 936 earlier.

4008 on the 529 earlier

I've just thought of one.

When the 73 stop was moved to Selfridges to share with the 126, and has now been moved back to share with the 17. Having two services that follow such a similar route at complete opposite ends of Moor St. and one of them being a 30 minute frequency, who is going to choose to stand and wait for a 73 other than someone who lives around the little roads in Sheldon and Yardley that are only served by that route? I have noticed better loadings since it moved.