Having rode the 76 end to end on Friday - this got me thinking - other than the 11A/C what are the longest routes across the West Midlands
The x12 goes from Birmingham to Solihull via Chelmsley Wood, clocking up an average journey time of roughly 100 minutes.
The x51 from Birmingham to Cannock takes roughly that amount of time as well.
The x1 from Birmingham to Coventry is around 80-90 minutes. This service spends a bit of time at higher speeds so may be the longer of the three mentioned.
Stagecoach 148 Coventry to Leicester takes 2 hrs 17 mins
I know its outside West Midlands, 2 new First West of England routes starting on 7th April
374 Bristol - Taunton
375 Bristol - Bridgwater both 3h 10 minutes end to end
Quote from: fleetline6477 on March 27, 2024, 09:03:48 PMI know its outside West Midlands, 2 new First West of England routes starting on 7th April
374 Bristol - Taunton
375 Bristol - Bridgwater both 3h 10 minutes end to end
Will interesting to see how they go, gotta be near enough 50 miles each way from Bristol to Taunton. I've got the 376 from Bristol to Street before and that's about 30 miles but at least the scenery is nice for most of the route and it don't stop too much.
In terms of the Midlands I agree about the 76 but I haven't quite rode it end to end. Rode it between Solihull and Harborne and that was long enough. Some old routes were long like the 144 between Worcester and Birmingham, when the X20 ran between Stratford and Coventry via Solihull.
Certainly not the longest distance but must be the route that takes the longest and most convoluted way to go not very far - Kev's 55 takes 1 hour 49 to get from Quinton to Longbridge.
Quote from: BrumKev86 on March 27, 2024, 10:09:41 PMWill interesting to see how they go, gotta be near enough 50 miles each way from Bristol to Taunton. I've got the 376 from Bristol to Street before and that's about 30 miles but at least the scenery is nice for most of the route and it don't stop too much.
In terms of the Midlands I agree about the 76 but I haven't quite rode it end to end. Rode it between Solihull and Harborne and that was long enough. Some old routes were long like the 144 between Worcester and Birmingham, when the X20 ran between Stratford and Coventry via Solihull.
Even longer was the X50 which ran to Oxford. The 144 was even longer at one time as it ran to Malvern.
X8 Birmingham-Wolverhampton can take just under 90 minutes off peak, & up to 20 minutes longer in the peak
Outside West Midlands.
TrawsCymru have a load of routes that can take well over 3 hours, T2 Bangor-Aberystwyth takes nearly 4 hours, T4 Cardiff-Newtown takes around 4 hours too
Here's the new first 374/375 Bristol-Taunton/Bridgewater timetable
https://www.firstbus.co.uk/sites/default/files/public/maps/374_375_376_376a_Wells_Web.pdf
Stagecoach operate some monster routes in Scotland, but tend to allocate coaches, however 35 Aberdeen-Inverness uses standard buses & can take 5 hours 30 minutes, i believe the 35 is one of the most scenic routes in the UK too.
The 79 back in the day took nearly 2 hours to get from Wolverhampton to Birmingham at peak times. It takes about an hour to get from Wolverhampton to West Bromwich now. The 997 takes over an hour about 1 hour 10-20 minutes off Peak longer on Peak to get from Walsall to Birmingham.
I remember the 'old' 258 route that ran from Wolverhampton to Birmingham (before it was shortened to Merry Hill to Birmingham).
I'm pretty sure that took around two and half hours end to end.
Went via nearly everywhere lol
A full journey on the 25 Wolverhampton - Pendeford can take up to 1 hour 20-30 minutes
The original 966 route that ran Wolverhampton to Airport & NEC via Walsall, Sutton and Chelmsley Wood took circa 2hrs 20 mins, much longer in rush hour.
The predecessor to the current 76, the 69 was a very long route, particularly at the point it ran Weoley Castle to Heartlands Hospital via most of south Birmingham and the moon.
Looking in my WMPTE North Division timetable book, it has times for a X90 Midland Red service, Lichfield - Cannock - Wolverhampton - Bridgnorth which clocks in at around nearly 4.5 hours for a round trip, and a Midland Red service 154 Stafford - Cannock - Aldridge - Brum which takes a few hours round trip too
Quote from: Mike K on March 28, 2024, 08:08:58 PMThe predecessor to the current 76, the 69 was a very long route, particularly at the point it ran Weoley Castle to Heartlands Hospital via most of south Birmingham and the moon.
Don't forget the 49 which replaced the 69 by extending to terminate at Weoley Castle. Now that was a long route to Solihull too.
And the version of the 48 which took place after the network review in 2018. Where instead of going straight to Weoley Castle and Northfield after the QE it went round Hawkseley etc to replace the 84.
Quote from: Mike K on March 27, 2024, 10:34:03 PMCertainly not the longest distance but must be the route that takes the longest and most convoluted way to go not very far - Kev's 55 takes 1 hour 49 to get from Quinton to Longbridge.
Anyone out there actually done this route from end to end ?? :undecided:
If we're going historic, I remember catching the 192 Hereford - Leominster - Ludlow - Bewdley - Kidderminster - Halesowen - Birmingham in the mid-late 1990s, and that was a three hour trip one-way.
A bit closer to home, there used to be a route 98 that went from Asda at Hay Mills to Sheldon, Wheatsheaf, via most of East Birmingham. It took at least an hour to do the journey, and you ended up 10 minutes further down the road from where you started (both the terminus were on the Coventry Road).
QuoteIf we're going historic, I remember catching the 192 Hereford - Leominster - Ludlow - Bewdley - Kidderminster - Halesowen - Birmingham in the mid-late 1990s, and that was a three hour trip one-way.
A bit closer to home, there used to be a route 98 that went from Asda at Hay Mills to Sheldon, Wheatsheaf, via most of East Birmingham. It took at least an hour to do the journey, and you ended up 10 minutes further down the road from where you started (both the terminus were on the Coventry Road).
Or in 1983 that would have been the X92 (according to my WMPTE Feb 1983 North Division timetable book) :smiley:
iirc the 98 was a merger of two individual routes, the 661 Ward End - Pool Way and 662 Shard End - Sheldon
Quote from: the trainbasher on March 29, 2024, 07:08:45 PMOr in 1983 that would have been the X92 (according to my WMPTE Feb 1983 North Division timetable book) :smiley:
Or on Sundays in 1988 the 92 operated by Birmingham Central. I have a photo of Metrobus 2359 climbing to the top of Clee Hill, heading to Hereford!
Quote from: ellspurs on March 29, 2024, 06:28:33 PMA bit closer to home, there used to be a route 98 that went from Asda at Hay Mills to Sheldon, Wheatsheaf, via most of East Birmingham. It took at least an hour to do the journey, and you ended up 10 minutes further down the road from where you started (both the terminus were on the Coventry Road).
Reminds me of the old 41 service, from memory it ran from Springfield to Hall Green Church, which were practically ten minutes apart if that, but went via much of east Birmingham and Solihull in a big loop, I believe the route actually crossed itself somewhere near Fox Hollies Road.
Old 966 airport to wolves
Made the mistake once of catching the 258 in Brum city centre to Merry Hill. Never again! That route went on for ever. Was even longer still when it went to Wolverhampton.
Quote from: Mike K on March 28, 2024, 08:08:58 PMThe predecessor to the current 76, the 69 was a very long route, particularly at the point it ran Weoley Castle to Heartlands Hospital via most of south Birmingham and the moon.
For a brief period in Autumn 1993 it was even longer, running through to Frankley and interworking with a shortened 49 route.
Anyone remember De Courcey's 360A & 360C 31 mile circular route around Coventry?
Not sure what the journey time was though but reckon it ran every 30 mins?
For one that never left the West Midlands county, the 900 when it ran Hasbury - Birmingham - Coventry was another long route.
Quote from: MasterPlan on March 28, 2024, 11:49:29 PMDon't forget the 49 which replaced the 69 by extending to terminate at Weoley Castle. Now that was a long route to Solihull too.
And the version of the 48 which took place after the network review in 2018. Where instead of going straight to Weoley Castle and Northfield after the QE it went round Hawkseley etc to replace the 84.
I do remember getting the 49 Solihull-Northfield end to end a load of times very long route that took 90 minutes.
35 Birmingham-Kings Heath which did a long convoluted loop from Kings Heath via Hawksley & Northfield to Kings Heath think took 90 minutes, may have taken longer, & had to be operated by single deckers because it went under the low bridge at Bournville
Quote from: Sandy Lane on March 29, 2024, 09:35:15 PMAnyone remember De Courcey's 360A & 360C 31 mile circular route around Coventry?
Not sure what the journey time was though but reckon it ran every 30 mins?
Yep. It didn't last long as it suffered badly from traffic congestion.
X64 Birmingham to Corby run by Stagecoach United Counties took over 3 hours. Normally operated by coaches, the odd Leyland Olympian also was used on it.
During peak times a full journey on the 54/54A can take around an hour and 40 minutes
diamond or nx?
WA 8 is a long route takes an hour or over depending on traffic from Walsall to Lichfield as it goes through Rushall, Pelsall, Clayhanger, Brownhills, Chasetown and Burntwood there was many signs that say Lichfield A461 the 8 turns off down Back Streets.
That's what it is there for - to serve those communities in the "back streets". If you want a quicker route you can get the 36, which either takes 51 or 56 minutes depending on which one you get.
Quote from: BlackCountryBusSpotter on May 05, 2024, 04:27:08 PMWA 8 is a long route takes an hour or over depending on traffic from Walsall to Lichfield as it goes through Rushall, Pelsall, Clayhanger, Brownhills, Chasetown and Burntwood there was many signs that say Lichfield A461 the 8 turns off down Back Streets.
A lot of routes do that you know... to serve estates and streets that are further out from the main road and where's there is more passengers waiting in these area's that have a far walk to a main route.
The WB 45 is another example it completely goes off the main route to Walsall (4 follows) to serve estates and back streets that are a very long walk for some to the main road. Any passengers wanting to get from Walsall to West Brom would get the 4's, wouldn't be sitting on the 45 etc which takes double the time. Same with the West Brom to Wednesbury services, people catch the 79, whereas the 40 and 47 cater for the estates and keeping them linked...
Not moaning the 8 is a decent route you go from Urban areas to Staffordshire Countryside the bus was well used and I like that was fun I would do that route again happily.