Topics

OK there is an election coming and one party is proposing big changes for English railways.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68889345

Be interesting to see what happens to the value of shares in the existing train operator businesses

Popped in there and see they still have the open top decker on display as used by the CCFC cup final celebrations way back in time.

Got me thinking about buses used in Coventry and what looks like a lack of more recent ex Coventry buses.
Does NXC ever offer a retired Coventry bus to the museum? 
Would be good to see a more modern donation and a link to NXC who have been running Coventry services for quite some time now.

There is a red and white liveried Lodekka that seems to live at the far end of the SVR Kidderminster station car park.
Does the SVR use it?

[Nuneaton MegaRider:]

From 18th February we'll be making changes to our DayRider & MegaRider prices along with some fares which are less than £2. As with other businesses, we have seen our operational costs increase and we need to react.

The government £2 single 'Help for Households' scheme remains in place until at least 30th June and provides excellent value. This scheme is helping us make sure the maximum single fare continues to be £2.

Nuneaton MegaRider:
It's getting bigger! We're going to be including Atherstone, Hinckley, Arley & Ansley within the Nuneaton MegaRider zone from 18th February. you'll be able to travel further for less! Click here for the map

Nuneaton MegaRider Plus:
The Nuneaton Plus boundary has been moved. You will no longer be able to travel beyond Atherstone towards Tamworth or Mearsham, passengers will need to buy a Midlands Gold MegaRider or buy £2 single tickets if cheaper (any existing tickets will be honoured until expiry). Click here for the map

Tamworth 766Rider:
This ticket will no longer be available. Passengers should choose the ticket that covers the area they are travelling in or buy a £2 single

 

Below are details of the fare changes in each area:

More in this link 
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle 

An unusual question about down grading bus stop infrastructure in the TfWM zone.

The simplest design is simply a flag on a post and no shelter.
Cheapest solution and proven. OK but when the weather turns nasty not good and no seats.

UPGRADING
If residents want a shelter there is guidance on the TfWM site. Fine, no problem with the process. There is also a cost.

DOWNGRADING and this is the question -
Probably an unusual situation but are there ever cases of bus shelters being taken away and replaced with just a simple flag on a post?  What could be the reason for a down grade?

It would give a cost saving but no weather protection, no seats, no RTI (if fitted), etc. The locals wouldn't be happy though. I guess there would be discussion with the bus operator, the locals and the council on this?

The glorious TfWM and their Bus Disruptions web page seems not to be aware of major road works near the city centre. A number of buses being diverted for more than one week. I cannot see it mentioned.

NXC have done a good job in reporting this.
Haven't found any mention by SC or other operators.

Can someone give TfWM a nudge to wake up and include Coventry issues please? Happy to show TfWM where Coventry is on a map if they want some help? 

Started a new topic as saw their white decker heading out of town through Ball Hill, Coventry, yesterday.
Not heard of this operator so googled them and got this link 

https://www.kovacsgroup.co.uk/operators-licence/

I read the decker has 100 seats and used for workers transport?

Coventry council have resisted bringing in a ULEZ zones but may have to now have a rethink. Not a vote winner I reckon.

Coventry city centre road among UK's worst for air pollution, says the local paper 

`Coventry has one of the most polluted city centres in the UK, new research has shown. West Orchards Way was one of six high streets in the 25 largest towns and cities in the country where air pollution was said to be more than double the World Health Organisation's recommended level`.
 
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-city-centre-road-among-28253498

Could NXC and SC see more passengers due to this.

Also a large number of black cabs in Coventry are old dirty diesel cars. Surprised they haven't switched to electric just like the buses?

Terrible crash and condolences go out to all those who died.

BBC News - Venice tourist bus plunge leaves 21 dead
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67001518

Makes me wonder about something like that happening in the UK. Hope it never does but always wondered how strong the walls are on the high up parts of the Coventry ring road and other roads in the Midlands.

On Clifford Bridge Rd the south bound flags now show a service 42. No timetable found at the stop.
Eventually found a timetable on the TfWM site.
Appears to run once daily in a southbound direction only very early in the morning Keresley Village (0443) to Warwick Uni. (0540).
Appears to start 25 September.
Any more gen available please?

[Coventry and Leicester DayRider and MegaRider ticket prices will remain the same]

As with many parts of the economy we continue to see our operational costs increase. From the 30th April it is necessary for us to introduce some changes to fares and ticketing across the region.

The government £2 single 'Help for Households' scheme remains in place until 30th June and provides passengers excellent value. Only our 1 day, 7 day, 28 day and xtra tickets will increase on the 30th April.

The changes are broken down by region below. See link 
Coventry and Leicester DayRider and MegaRider ticket prices will remain the same

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-22/11/2022-13:39:34:166

Are there any West Mids operators involved in getting the punters from Cheltenham station to the race course this week?

This looks like causing some fun in Coventry?
https://www.coventryobserver.co.uk/news/coventry-automated-shuttles-project-secures-funding/

A PIONEERING new project bringing automated shuttles to the city which will take passengers between Coventry rail station and Coventry University campus has secured government and industry funding.
This route forms part of a wider project which is being overseen by a regional consortium led by Conigital.

The Multi-Area Connected Automated Mobility (MACAM) project will also see a route between Birmingham International rail station and Birmingham Business Park through the National Exhibition Centre rolled out.

A mixed fleet of 13 automated shuttles will serve the two new routes, and the scheme will be supported by a new centralised Remote Monitoring Teleoperation (RMTO) centre.

Operated by Transport for West Midlands, the RMTO centre will monitor the automated vehicles, and using 5G connectivity it will be able to control them when required.


The project aims to make self-driving vehicle operations commercially viable and to reduce technology and operator costs.

Coventry City Council's cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, Coun Jim O'Boyle said: "We are extremely pleased to be involved in this project which will further develop the way connected and autonomous vehicles will help revolutionise the way we travel in the future.

"This is an emerging sector which will create jobs and opportunities for local people, supporting the economic success of the city.

"Working with our partners, the city and region are really leading the way here, not least because we have the industry expertise to drive this forward much like our other pioneering projects including Very Light Rail."

Q. How are the public - who may not have used a bus for a while - supposed to know if a road on a bus route is a hail and ride section?

It's that time of year when the road crumbles. Can anyone beat this one?

Found a massive pothole in Coventry at the Warks Shopping Park NXC 3 & SC 60 stop. It's on the drivers side and about a foot square and guess more than 6 inches deep right where the bus front wheels pulls up at the shelter. Buses sit in the hole! There is another pothole but not quite so deep on the passenger side. Guess the potholes will get bigger still.

[A9, 41, 46, 169 routes in Birmingham and Solihull and the 7 and 51 in Coventry]

Transport for West Midlands | Journey planning, tickets and help (tfwm.org.uk)

There are 77 disruptions across all of the West Mids this morning!

The second one down from the top is for the current shambles of 'Stagecoach in Birmingham' and the header only shows it affects the 169 service(?). Open it up and then get the full story. Very confusing - is this deliberate or what?


 "Due to driver availabity, some of the new Stagecoach services may be subject to short notice cancellations.

These are mostly affecting the A9, 41, 46, 169 routes in Birmingham and Solihull and the 7 and 51 in Coventry

Stagecoach will be updating their social media channels regularly with the latest service updates. Please refer to their Twitter feed for the very latest information.

Stagecoach Midlands Twitter Feed"

Can the daysaver paper ticket bought on an Coventry area NXC bus also be used on NX buses in Birmingham & Wolves?

The Bbc have looked at a 16 Perth - Dundee service in Scotland saying the whole Uk System is in crisis. Not good.
Bus cuts: The UK's hidden transport crisis – seen from the number 16 bus
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-63345158

From the 29th October there will be a small number of changes to bus services in Warwickshire.

 

The changes are necessary to better reflect customer travel patterns that have changed over the last 2 years and ensure that the networks operated are sustainable. The changes come after a period of consultation with Warwickshire County Council as part of both parties' commitment to review the bus networks and work in partnership to deliver improvements to the network in the future.

 

These changes reflect the way customers now travel as well as the cost of running bus routes and the availability of staff to drive and maintain them. Following the changes buses will run more reliably helping us to deliver a better service.

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-27/09/2022-11:38:51:491

I have never thought about this before. Is this allowed? A passenger got on an NXC decker this week with a folding bike. Looked quite big to me and I think it fell over inside when the bus was going round a corner. What do the rules say?