I've noticed that most express buses has been removed. I can't quite remember most of them seeing my memory is bad.
I can only remember the ones that were on Bristol road, Coventry road (Was that 900?), and one on Washwood Heath road (590 probably?)
Also I can remember there was one non express bus on Coventry road that followed strange route, was it probably 560?
Any information on these routes and how popular was it?
For bonus question (I'm curious), was there any more buses on Coventry Road that's not 57, 57A, 58, 59, 59A, 60, 900 and 957 in back then?
Quote from: :D on July 21, 2013, 12:12:09 PM
For bonus question (I'm curious), was there any more buses on Coventry Road that's not 57, 57A, 58, 59, 59A, 60, 900 and 957 in back then?
There used to be a 56 to Marston Green Station in late 90s/early 00s. Ran by Birmingham Central using B10Ls. I'm sure that used to go down the Coventry Rd
Express buses used to have dual purpose, coach seated vehicles as standard, now its just any ordinary bus. Thats a bit of a decline....
Quote from: bob on July 21, 2013, 12:58:43 PM
Express buses used to have dual purpose, coach seated vehicles as standard, now its just any ordinary bus. Thats a bit of a decline....
X51? 997? 952?
Their not coach seats! Not even high backed unless your a shortarse, theyre just plastic backed bus seats with a bloody head rest slapped on, plus theyre not even comfy particularly the x51s. Im thinkin the metrobuses and the nationals, and the sort of buses midland red used to use
Quote from: bob on July 21, 2013, 02:14:11 PM
Their not coach seats! Not even high backed unless your a shortarse, theyre just plastic backed bus seats with a bloody head rest slapped on, plus theyre not even comfy particularly the x51s. Im thinkin the metrobuses and the nationals, and the sort of buses midland red used to use
I find the grey leather seats on the E400s quite comfortable, although the cream leather E400s and the fabric Geminis aren't really anything special. I agree with the fact they're not really too high though - being 6'3" the top of the seat comes up to about my neck.
Theyre not even padded that much
The 590 was never an express route. The route number may confuse some people, but it was given that number replacing the 59/90.
The question is, will these proper DP and express services make a return? I doubt it. Lovely soft seats on the Metros, you used to sink into the velour.
Quote from: JackC on July 21, 2013, 02:49:44 PM
Quote from: bob on July 21, 2013, 02:14:11 PM
Their not coach seats! Not even high backed unless your a shortarse, theyre just plastic backed bus seats with a bloody head rest slapped on, plus theyre not even comfy particularly the x51s. Im thinkin the metrobuses and the nationals, and the sort of buses midland red used to use
I find the grey leather seats on the E400s quite comfortable, although the cream leather E400s and the fabric Geminis aren't really anything special. I agree with the fact they're not really too high though - being 6'3" the top of the seat comes up to about my neck.
The grey and cream leather seats are identical (apart from the colour) so not sure why one is comfortable and one not!
I find 4680-6 the comfiest seats currently in the NX bus fleet
Quote from: Tony on July 21, 2013, 06:04:42 PM
The grey and cream leather seats are identical (apart from the colour) so not sure why one is comfortable and one not!
They seats are shaped differently aren't they? Either way, the grey leather just feels more comfortable.
Quote from: JackC on July 21, 2013, 07:38:24 PM
Quote from: Tony on July 21, 2013, 06:04:42 PM
The grey and cream leather seats are identical (apart from the colour) so not sure why one is comfortable and one not!
They seats are shaped differently aren't they? Either way, the grey leather just feels more comfortable.
4763-7 have standard blue plastic backed (Like all normal buses have a set of) and 4768-75 have cream brown coloured seats but with headrests
In 1990 s proper Timesaver/Limited stop network
900 Birmingham-Airport & NEC-Coventry
901 Birmingham-Lichfield
950 Birmingham-Walsall-Bloxwich-Cannock-Hednesford
951 Birmingham-Walsall-Bloxwich-Cannock-Hednesford
952 Birmingham-Walsall-Bloxwich-Cannock-Hednesford
953 Birmingham-Walsall-Bloxwich-Cannock-Hednesford
962 Birmingham-Chelmsley Wood
963 Birmingham-Gannow
966 Walsall-Sutton Coldfield-Erdington-Chelmsley Wood-Airport and NEC
979 Birmingham-West Bromwich-Wolverhampton
991 Walsall-Lichfield
995 Birmingham-Brownhill West
996 Birmingham-Sutton Coldfield
997 Birminghan-Walsall
998 Birmingham-Pheasey
19S Birmingham-Hasbury
You missed out the 994 Birmingham - chelmsley wood
Quote from: Steveminor on July 22, 2013, 09:49:18 AM
You missed out the 994 Birmingham - chelmsley wood
Wasn't there a 993 as well?
Going back to the leather seats on the Enviros, they are certainly very different to my eyes. The original 'Perry Barr 993' batch have seats that seems very much like the higher backed seats on standard buses, where as the '997' batch seem a lot flatter. Almost like ironing boards covered in leather. The head rests on these are also covered separately, where as the darker grey ones are all in one.
Neither are very comfortable, and the blue flooring/interior panels on the grey seated examples gives an almoat clinical look, doesnt exactly lend itself to a feel of luxury. Id say the old DP Nationals were even more comfy than the Metrobuses!
Quote from: bob on July 22, 2013, 04:30:22 PM
Neither are very comfortable, and the blue flooring/interior panels on the grey seated examples gives an almoat clinical look, doesnt exactly lend itself to a feel of luxury. Id say the old DP Nationals were even more comfy than the Metrobuses!
Personal opinion but I find the current leather seats on Enviros and Omnilinks reasonably comfortable, on a par with the Metrobus Timesavers just not as springy
I find the leather seats on Enviros and Omnilinks and the high backed seating on Geminis far more comfortable than the standard seats used on NXWM buses
Quote from: Winston on July 22, 2013, 10:42:48 AM
Quote from: Steveminor on July 22, 2013, 09:49:18 AM
You missed out the 994 Birmingham - chelmsley wood
Wasn't there a 993 as well?
That was after the Timesaver name had been discontinued.
I think the answer to the original question that started the thread, and this has been covered to an extent in parts in various threads in the past, is that in peak hours, from most parts of Birmingham, express buses aren't that much quicker than normal stopping routes. The notable exception being the Birchfield Road where you have flyovers, underpasses etc and decent bus priority measures. But look at the likes of the Hagley Road and the Bristol Road which are a complete crawl into city in the rush hour. A limited stop bus just sits in that picking up fewer passengers.
Over the years Birmingham has become choked by traffic rendering many of the former Timesaver routes obsolete. Not saying there isn't a place for some high quality Express services, just that if many were workable, they'd still be running now.
Quote from: Mike K on July 23, 2013, 09:51:43 PM
I think the answer to the original question that started the thread, and this has been covered to an extent in parts in various threads in the past, is that in peak hours, from most parts of Birmingham, express buses aren't that much quicker than normal stopping routes. The notable exception being the Birchfield Road where you have flyovers, underpasses etc and decent bus priority measures. But look at the likes of the Hagley Road and the Bristol Road which are a complete crawl into city in the rush hour. A limited stop bus just sits in that picking up fewer passengers.
Over the years Birmingham has become choked by traffic rendering many of the former Timesaver routes obsolete. Not saying there isn't a place for some high quality Express services, just that if many were workable, they'd still be running now.
That sums up this topic completely. Nothing more needs to be added.
--
But before it gets closed, even if 2013 express services existed using bypasses, the bypass roads are just as choked as the arterial route anyway.
Thanks for informative replies, I remember using some of those bus routes.
Quote from: Mike K on July 23, 2013, 09:51:43 PM
I think the answer to the original question that started the thread, and this has been covered to an extent in parts in various threads in the past, is that in peak hours, from most parts of Birmingham, express buses aren't that much quicker than normal stopping routes. The notable exception being the Birchfield Road where you have flyovers, underpasses etc and decent bus priority measures. But look at the likes of the Hagley Road and the Bristol Road which are a complete crawl into city in the rush hour. A limited stop bus just sits in that picking up fewer passengers.
Over the years Birmingham has become choked by traffic rendering many of the former Timesaver routes obsolete. Not saying there isn't a place for some high quality Express services, just that if many were workable, they'd still be running now.
Yup, thanks.
Quote from: John on July 21, 2013, 12:16:00 PM
Quote from: :D on July 21, 2013, 12:12:09 PM
For bonus question (I'm curious), was there any more buses on Coventry Road that's not 57, 57A, 58, 59, 59A, 60, 900 and 957 in back then?
There used to be a 56 to Marston Green Station in late 90s/early 00s. Ran by Birmingham Central using B10Ls. I'm sure that used to go down the Coventry Rd
When did this end? I can't remember using that bus, did it follow similar route to 59 currently running now?
I remember in the past 2 56 routes in the 90's.
One which was Birmingham - Olton via Coventry road. Did last very long because of protest in the Olton area using residential streets. Think it became the 56Y for a time when TWM bought smiths and based themselves out of Miller Street.
Then their was one that went Birmingham - Marston Green, i think to Sheldon, Brays Rd area to Radleys and then to Marston Green. That did not last long either.