X529 a is a great idea I personally think, running it limited stop from Walsall to j10, then along black country express way to Portabello island then limited stop into Wolverhampton! if I was to start a bus company this would be my first route I would start on!
Quote from: dannygill on August 25, 2013, 09:19:18 PM
X529 a is a great idea I personally think, running it limited stop from Walsall to j10, then along black country express way to Portabello island then limited stop into Wolverhampton! if I was to start a bus company this would be my first route I would start on!
This i think has been discussed on here before and the conclusion was it wouldn't work as at peak times its actually quicker to take the 529 route than down the Black Country route.
Plus WN don't really have enough buses to operate another route
Quote from: Trident 4609 on August 25, 2013, 09:23:24 PM
Quote from: dannygill on August 25, 2013, 09:19:18 PM
X529 a is a great idea I personally think, running it limited stop from Walsall to j10, then along black country express way to Portabello island then limited stop into Wolverhampton! if I was to start a bus company this would be my first route I would start on!
This i think has been discussed on here before and the conclusion was it wouldn't work as at peak times its actually quicker to take the 529 route than down the Black Country route.
Plus WN don't really have enough buses to operate another route
It could be run PVR 2 and the 529 PVR -1 so WN only need 1 extra bus which could even be a B6LE.
Quote from: NXWM Spectra on August 25, 2013, 09:47:09 PM
Quote from: Trident 4609 on August 25, 2013, 09:23:24 PM
Quote from: dannygill on August 25, 2013, 09:19:18 PM
X529 a is a great idea I personally think, running it limited stop from Walsall to j10, then along black country express way to Portabello island then limited stop into Wolverhampton! if I was to start a bus company this would be my first route I would start on!
This i think has been discussed on here before and the conclusion was it wouldn't work as at peak times its actually quicker to take the 529 route than down the Black Country route.
Plus WN don't really have enough buses to operate another route
It could be run PVR 2 and the 529 PVR -1 so WN only need 1 extra bus which could even be a B6LE.
PVR 2 so need one extra bus? - launch a new route with a B6? - don't think so!
Quote from: Tony on August 25, 2013, 09:51:08 PM
Quote from: NXWM Spectra on August 25, 2013, 09:47:09 PM
Quote from: Trident 4609 on August 25, 2013, 09:23:24 PM
Quote from: dannygill on August 25, 2013, 09:19:18 PM
X529 a is a great idea I personally think, running it limited stop from Walsall to j10, then along black country express way to Portabello island then limited stop into Wolverhampton! if I was to start a bus company this would be my first route I would start on!
This i think has been discussed on here before and the conclusion was it wouldn't work as at peak times its actually quicker to take the 529 route than down the Black Country route.
Plus WN don't really have enough buses to operate another route
It could be run PVR 2 and the 529 PVR -1 so WN only need 1 extra bus which could even be a B6LE.
PVR 2 so need one extra bus? - launch a new route with a B6? - don't think so!
Everyday there are Tridents on the 11 which are more suited to a B6LE, so the Trident can go on the 529.
Not as thick as you think.
I just think there is a gap for it!
Wouldnt buses get held up on the approach to junc10 as well? 529 doesnt generally take all that long does it anyway?
Tbh if there was room for a X529 or any other express/Limited stop WN route i think it would have been done same goes for an Express 126 or 255. At peak times it wouldn't be much quicker as the 529 route and the keyway/Black Country route become clogged with traffic.
The 529 doesn't really take that long anyway to get from Wolverhampton-Walsall
There used to be a 926 years ago. And the x1 was a total flop werent it? Plus it wasnt all that much quicker than the other wolves to merry hill routes and they used bloody mercs lol
As Nathan as said, I can't see there being demand for it. There was a regular direct train service between Wolverhampton and Walsall (calling at these stations only) in 2008, but it got cancelled due to low passenger usage. Hopefully in 2017, when the new franchise takes over from London Midland (god forbid their franchise gets extended again) it can be re-introduced
Really do hope the train gets reintroduced, takes what half the time of the 529?
Quote from: Kevin on August 25, 2013, 11:30:50 PM
Really do hope the train gets reintroduced, takes what half the time of the 529?
The Saturday morning parly takes 12 minutes. Leaving Wolverhampton at 06:38 and arriving in Walsall at 06:50, so it takes almost 1/3 of the time of the 529
The 966 service covered Walsall - Wolverhampton in it's early years (late 80s/early 90s), I think it followed the 529 route under limited stopping??, so it seems such a bus service has already been tried out.
Quote from: Sh4166 on August 25, 2013, 11:48:26 PM
Quote from: Kevin on August 25, 2013, 11:30:50 PM
Really do hope the train gets reintroduced, takes what half the time of the 529?
The Saturday morning parly takes 12 minutes. Leaving Wolverhampton at 06:38 and arriving in Walsall at 06:50, so it takes almost 1/3 of the time of the 529
Ok, so if some stations were added along the way (Willenhall, Darlaston) then still under half the time of the 529. Still cannot believe they haven't introduced a decent train service
I tried catching the train from Walsall to Telford once.
The 'direct' train was cancelled so they told us to catch the train via Birmingham.
On the way back, direct train cancelled again, so caught train as far as Wolves.
Funny thing was, at Wolves, there was a train advertised to Walsall, which never turned up, so caught bus back to Walsall.
And they wonder why no one caught the service!
Did it ever run as advertised?
Personally X numbered services should be confined to The Likes of the X51/X56/9xx services
If they ever ran it ( doubtful) , X529 sounds abit daft, 929 would be better
Quote from: Nathan on August 25, 2013, 10:58:38 PM
Tbh if there was room for a X529 or any other express/Limited stop WN route i think it would have been done same goes for an Express 126 or 255. At peak times it wouldn't be much quicker as the 529 route and the keyway/Black Country route become clogged with traffic.
The 529 doesn't really take that long anyway to get from Wolverhampton-Walsall
There has been recently an X529 it was called the 529 run by Travel Express but is now an 'EX' 529 as in they used to run it :D
TBH the route really is in 2 parts where most passengers get on or off Wton - Willenhall, Willenhall - Wton, running time approx 20mins each way, only 40 mins one end to the other..Verdict an X529 would not be much quicker whichever route it did and would not be profitable and will never be done :P
Quote from: Nathan on August 25, 2013, 09:23:24 PM
Quote from: dannygill on August 25, 2013, 09:19:18 PM
X529 a is a great idea I personally think, running it limited stop from Walsall to j10, then along black country express way to Portabello island then limited stop into Wolverhampton! if I was to start a bus company this would be my first route I would start on!
This i think has been discussed on here before and the conclusion was it wouldn't work as at peak times its actually quicker to take the 529 route than down the Black Country route.
Plus WN don't really have enough buses to operate another route
Would it work at pensnett even though it's a wn route as pensnett have quite a lot of busses
Are you having a laugh? Why would you operate the X529 (Even though it wouldn't work anyway imo) from PE. You have to think how much dead mileage there would be
Quote from: Nathan on April 13, 2014, 08:51:29 PM
Are you having a laugh? Why would you operate the X529 (Even though it wouldn't work anyway) from PE. You have to think how much dead mileage there would be
There was the equivelent of an X529 for a few years from 1986, and it has been looked at again in the last couple of years. No reason why it couldn't work
Quote from: Tony on April 13, 2014, 08:53:13 PM
Quote from: Nathan on April 13, 2014, 08:51:29 PM
Are you having a laugh? Why would you operate the X529 (Even though it wouldn't work anyway) from PE. You have to think how much dead mileage there would be
There was the equivelent of an X529 for a few years from 1986, and it has been looked at again in the last couple of years. No reason why it couldn't work
I suppose it could use the Black Country Route and The Keyway? Anyway the point I'm trying to make is what would be the point of operating it from PE? There would be lots of dead mileage involved
I think the days of the X route are dead now, i know we have the X96 but that isn't an X route anymore, they just can't be bothered to renumber it.
Traffic conditions these days means that Limited Stop services struggle to be much quicker than the normal service.
we saw what a flop the X1 was, it was limited stop for such a small percentage of the route and didn't even follow the 1 for parts of the .
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on April 13, 2014, 10:01:48 PM
I think the days of the X route are dead now, i know we have the X96 but that isn't an X route anymore, they just can't be bothered to renumber it.
Traffic conditions these days means that Limited Stop services struggle to be much quicker than the normal service.
we saw what a flop the X1 was, it was limited stop for such a small percentage of the route and didn't even follow the 1 for parts of the .
I do still think there is capacity for an X9, limited stop along the Hagley Road, expressway then stopping all stops after Halesowen
Quote from: Matt on April 14, 2014, 08:29:30 AM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on April 13, 2014, 10:01:48 PM
I think the days of the X route are dead now, i know we have the X96 but that isn't an X route anymore, they just can't be bothered to renumber it.
Traffic conditions these days means that Limited Stop services struggle to be much quicker than the normal service.
we saw what a flop the X1 was, it was limited stop for such a small percentage of the route and didn't even follow the 1 for parts of the .
I do still think there is capacity for an X9, limited stop along the Hagley Road, expressway then stopping all stops after Halesowen
Good idea as it is a waste of time stopping evrey stop after Halesowen
Quote from: Nathan on April 13, 2014, 08:57:01 PM
Quote from: Tony on April 13, 2014, 08:53:13 PM
Quote from: Nathan on April 13, 2014, 08:51:29 PM
Are you having a laugh? Why would you operate the X529 (Even though it wouldn't work anyway) from PE. You have to think how much dead mileage there would be
There was the equivelent of an X529 for a few years from 1986, and it has been looked at again in the last couple of years. No reason why it couldn't work
I suppose it could use the Black Country Route and The Keyway? Anyway the point I'm trying to make is what would be the point of operating it from PE? There would be lots of dead mileage involved
Couldn't Walsall run it instead?
966 used to the express Walsall - Wolverhampton route ages ago from memory. Apologies if already mentioned in this thread not read the whole thing.
Quote from: Kevin on August 26, 2013, 12:10:09 AM
Quote from: Sh4166 on August 25, 2013, 11:48:26 PM
Quote from: Kevin on August 25, 2013, 11:30:50 PM
Really do hope the train gets reintroduced, takes what half the time of the 529?
The Saturday morning parly takes 12 minutes. Leaving Wolverhampton at 06:38 and arriving in Walsall at 06:50, so it takes almost 1/3 of the time of the 529
Ok, so if some stations were added along the way (Willenhall, Darlaston) then still under half the time of the 529. Still cannot believe they haven't introduced a decent train service
That would be easier said than done, Willenhall doesn't have a train station anymore and hasn't since about the late 80's, i think, cause it used to run under the bridge on the 25/28/41 route, and there's no tracks there anymore, because hooligans nicked them
Quote from: ARJ2901 on September 30, 2014, 06:28:49 PM
Quote from: Kevin on August 26, 2013, 12:10:09 AM
Quote from: Sh4166 on August 25, 2013, 11:48:26 PM
Quote from: Kevin on August 25, 2013, 11:30:50 PM
Really do hope the train gets reintroduced, takes what half the time of the 529?
The Saturday morning parly takes 12 minutes. Leaving Wolverhampton at 06:38 and arriving in Walsall at 06:50, so it takes almost 1/3 of the time of the 529
Ok, so if some stations were added along the way (Willenhall, Darlaston) then still under half the time of the 529. Still cannot believe they haven't introduced a decent train service
That would be easier said than done, Willenhall doesn't have a train station anymore and hasn't since about the late 80's, i think, cause it used to run under the bridge on the 25/28/41 route, and there's no tracks there anymore, because hooligans nicked them
Willenhall Station site still has tracks there, or I hope it does because Deltic D9009 went through there today (photo of it at Walsall on main site later!)
Isn't that the line that the Walsall to Wolverhampton non stop parly service uses?
Quote from: the trainbasher on September 30, 2014, 06:59:04 PM
Isn't that the line that the Walsall to Wolverhampton non stop parly service uses?
Correct. There is lots of freight on it and a couple of LM empty stock runs as well
Quote from: Tony on September 30, 2014, 06:46:20 PM
Quote from: ARJ2901 on September 30, 2014, 06:28:49 PM
Quote from: Kevin on August 26, 2013, 12:10:09 AM
Quote from: Sh4166 on August 25, 2013, 11:48:26 PM
Quote from: Kevin on August 25, 2013, 11:30:50 PM
Really do hope the train gets reintroduced, takes what half the time of the 529?
The Saturday morning parly takes 12 minutes. Leaving Wolverhampton at 06:38 and arriving in Walsall at 06:50, so it takes almost 1/3 of the time of the 529
Ok, so if some stations were added along the way (Willenhall, Darlaston) then still under half the time of the 529. Still cannot believe they haven't introduced a decent train service
That would be easier said than done, Willenhall doesn't have a train station anymore and hasn't since about the late 80's, i think, cause it used to run under the bridge on the 25/28/41 route, and there's no tracks there anymore, because hooligans nicked them
Willenhall Station site still has tracks there, or I hope it does because Deltic D9009 went through there today (photo of it at Walsall on main site later!)
The main line still has tracks cause it runs past the ASSA Abloy, and i thought Willenhall only had the one station, which i don't think is there although i could be wrong, as where i think it is seems strange, especially as the line would run through the park, but i could be wrong
Is this the Station you are talking about?
Temple Bar, Willenhall:
http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/Willenhalls-age-steam/story-20146792-detail/story.html
And Recent(ish) picture:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/retroscania/11506135614/in/pool-2401247@N23/
Quote from: 4006 on October 01, 2014, 01:35:31 AM
Is this the Station you are talking about?
Temple Bar, Willenhall:
http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/Willenhalls-age-steam/story-20146792-detail/story.html
And Recent(ish) picture:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/retroscania/11506135614/in/pool-2401247@N23/
There were two stations in Willenhall.
Willenhall Bilston Street railway station was a built on the Grand Junction Railway in 1837. It served the town of Willenhall, and was located just to the south of the town centre.
The Bilston St station closed in 1965, and there is little evidence of the existence at the site. The lines through the station are in use today as part of the Walsall to Wolverhampton Line.
There were proposals within the West Midlands Local Transport plan to reopen the station for passenger traffic, but these have been shelved.
Willenhall Stafford Street railway station was a station built by the Wolverhampton and Walsall Railway in 1872, and was operated by the Midland Railway from 1876 onwards. It was located to the north of the town centre and originally named Willenhall Market Place.
The station closed in 1931. It was used as Temple Bar goods depot until 1st November 1965 when the M6 motorway construction severed the line. A single platform remains in situ at the site.
Quote from: monkeyjoe on April 14, 2014, 05:19:36 PM
966 used to the express Walsall - Wolverhampton route ages ago from memory. Apologies if already mentioned in this thread not read the whole thing.
966 originally ran Wolves - Walsall and on to Airport at 00 and 30 past. It took only 23 minutes and usually kept time too. It stopped at only Willenhall, The Dale before Walsall
IIRC, there were also slightly higher Timesaver fares.
Quote from: Wumpty on October 01, 2014, 05:55:14 PM
Quote from: monkeyjoe on April 14, 2014, 05:19:36 PM
966 used to the express Walsall - Wolverhampton route ages ago from memory. Apologies if already mentioned in this thread not read the whole thing.
966 originally ran Wolves - Walsall and on to Airport at 00 and 30 past. It took only 23 minutes and usually kept time too. It stopped at only Willenhall, The Dale before Walsall
IIRC, there were also slightly higher Timesaver fares.
Used to catch the 966 as a kid..great route but cant remember most of it..we used our 75p scratch off daysavers (how behind the times are we now ...we still have scratch off daysavers DOH!) usually we would go to Walsall, Bristol VR Spotting and then to Bham where you could jump off and get on a 900 Timesaver (I think it Was) to Coventry
Reluctant to give away my age but this pic is how I remember Walsall...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/walsall1955/12463716475/in/faves-retroscania/
Quote from: 4006 on October 10, 2014, 01:47:59 AM
Quote from: Wumpty on October 01, 2014, 05:55:14 PM
Quote from: monkeyjoe on April 14, 2014, 05:19:36 PM
966 used to the express Walsall - Wolverhampton route ages ago from memory. Apologies if already mentioned in this thread not read the whole thing.
966 originally ran Wolves - Walsall and on to Airport at 00 and 30 past. It took only 23 minutes and usually kept time too. It stopped at only Willenhall, The Dale before Walsall
IIRC, there were also slightly higher Timesaver fares.
Used to catch the 966 as a kid..great route but cant remember most of it..we used our 75p scratch off daysavers (how behind the times are we now ...we still have scratch off daysavers DOH!) usually we would go to Walsall, Bristol VR Spotting and then to Bham where you could jump off and get on a 900 Timesaver (I think it Was) to Coventry
Reluctant to give away my age but this pic is how I remember Walsall...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/walsall1955/12463716475/in/faves-retroscania/
Route went: Wolverhampton, Willenhall, Walsall, Aldridge, Little Aston, Mere Green, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, Eddington, Kingsbury Road, Past Castle Vale, Collector Road, Chelmsley Wood, International Station, Airport.
I think it would as rerouted to serve Castle Bromwich at some point - the Oracle Tony could put us right in that ;)
Quote from: 4006 on October 10, 2014, 01:47:59 AM
Quote from: Wumpty on October 01, 2014, 05:55:14 PM
Quote from: monkeyjoe on April 14, 2014, 05:19:36 PM
966 used to the express Walsall - Wolverhampton route ages ago from memory. Apologies if already mentioned in this thread not read the whole thing.
966 originally ran Wolves - Walsall and on to Airport at 00 and 30 past. It took only 23 minutes and usually kept time too. It stopped at only Willenhall, The Dale before Walsall
IIRC, there were also slightly higher Timesaver fares.
Used to catch the 966 as a kid..great route but cant remember most of it..we used our 75p scratch off daysavers (how behind the times are we now ...we still have scratch off daysavers DOH!) usually we would go to Walsall, Bristol VR Spotting and then to Bham where you could jump off and get on a 900 Timesaver (I think it Was) to Coventry
Reluctant to give away my age but this pic is how I remember Walsall...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/walsall1955/12463716475/in/faves-retroscania/
The 966 did not start until deregulation day in October 1986. The last WM VRTs were withdrawn before deregulation.
Quote from: busfan2847 on October 10, 2014, 06:02:23 PM
Quote from: 4006 on October 10, 2014, 01:47:59 AM
Quote from: Wumpty on October 01, 2014, 05:55:14 PM
Quote from: monkeyjoe on April 14, 2014, 05:19:36 PM
966 used to the express Walsall - Wolverhampton route ages ago from memory. Apologies if already mentioned in this thread not read the whole thing.
966 originally ran Wolves - Walsall and on to Airport at 00 and 30 past. It took only 23 minutes and usually kept time too. It stopped at only Willenhall, The Dale before Walsall
IIRC, there were also slightly higher Timesaver fares.
Used to catch the 966 as a kid..great route but cant remember most of it..we used our 75p scratch off daysavers (how behind the times are we now ...we still have scratch off daysavers DOH!) usually we would go to Walsall, Bristol VR Spotting and then to Bham where you could jump off and get on a 900 Timesaver (I think it Was) to Coventry
Reluctant to give away my age but this pic is how I remember Walsall...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/walsall1955/12463716475/in/faves-retroscania/
The 966 did not start until deregulation day in October 1986. The last WM VRTs were withdrawn before deregulation.
Maybe I'm getting mixed up I was only young lol but my info shows later VR's being withdrawn in 1987 if what you say is true then would it have been the 529 I caught to Walsall from Wolverhampton?
I never saw Walsall's Vrs in service after deregulation.
The allocation would've have been Metrobus supplemented by Vrs & Alisa Volvos.
( Walsall did have some Nationals but seemed to be rarely in normal service. How come?)
When the Alisas came, Vrs were dropped from Sundays.
When deregulation came, besides the Vrs going, wasn't the Alisas transferred to Perry Barr before being sold to London Buses?
Quote from: Westy on October 11, 2014, 12:01:05 AM
I never saw Walsall's Vrs in service after deregulation.
The allocation would've have been Metrobus supplemented by Vrs & Alisa Volvos.
( Walsall did have some Nationals but seemed to be rarely in normal service. How come?)
When the Alisas came, Vrs were dropped from Sundays.
When deregulation came, besides the Vrs going, wasn't the Alisas transferred to Perry Barr before being sold to London Buses?
4714 passed, withdrawn, to WMT all the remainder did not.
Yes you are correct all production Ailsa's moved from WA to PB at deregulation before being sold to London. The prototypes passed to WMT as withdrawn vehicles.
Why did walsalls nationals rarely get used after deregulation? I do remember a timesaver one on the 301 about 1989 just before the lynxes came. How many nationals were allocated there in 1988/9 & what were they used on if anything?
Quote from: Bob on October 13, 2014, 09:00:14 AM
Why did walsalls nationals rarely get used after deregulation? I do remember a timesaver one on the 301 about 1989 just before the lynxes came. How many nationals were allocated there in 1988/9 & what were they used on if anything?
In March 1987 1008-10 and 1012 were at Walsall. By April 1989 only 1012 and 1822 were in service at Walsall (1494/5, 1509/18/25, 1837/45 were in reserve at Walsall at that time).
The timesaver one I caught on the 301 in 1989 must have been a super duper rare working then!!! It mustve been 1822. Im guessing its normal haunt wouldve been the lichfield service? ??