This is a first! TfWM updating timetables at stops BEFORE any published changes have even been announced! :laugh:
IMG_20230613_081239.jpg
Noticed this morning at my bus stop on Trittiford Road that there is a new timetable effective from Sunday 2nd July for the 3 (YW).
Apart from some additional journeys during the peaks, the basic daytime frequency Monday to Saturday is being reduced to half-hourly.
IMG_20230613_081232.jpg
There's nothing on the NX Bus website about forthcoming service/timetable changes, though the new timetables for the 2 (also reduced to half-hourly) and 3 are on the TfWM website.
Seems a bit early for summer holiday timetable changes to be honest.
Anyone else seen any as-yet-unannounced timetable changes at stops yet?
Quote from: Stu on June 13, 2023, 07:18:44 PMThis is a first! TfWM updating timetables at stops BEFORE any published changes have even been announced! :laugh:
[url="https://wmbusphotos.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=4211;type=preview;file"]IMG_20230613_081239.jpg[/url]
Noticed this morning at my bus stop on Trittiford Road that there is a new timetable effective from Sunday 2nd July for the 3 (YW).
Apart from some additional journeys during the peaks, the basic daytime frequency Monday to Saturday is being reduced to half-hourly.
[url="https://wmbusphotos.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=4213;type=preview;file"]IMG_20230613_081232.jpg[/url]
There's nothing on the NX Bus website about forthcoming service/timetable changes, though the new timetables for the 2 (also reduced to half-hourly) and 3 are on the TfWM website.
Seems a bit early for summer holiday timetable changes to be honest.
Anyone else seen any as-yet-unannounced timetable changes at stops yet?
It is just the school holiday timetable, I believe September is planned for the same service levels as now.
Quote from: Tony on June 13, 2023, 07:28:33 PMIt is just the school holiday timetable, I believe September is planned for the same service levels as now.
Let's hope it deters YW from putting Omnilinks on it
Wonder what changes are going to happen in Coventry
QuoteLet's hope it deters YW from putting Omnilinks on it
What's Wrong with omnilinks?
Quote from: BBS on June 13, 2023, 08:19:23 PMWhat's Wrong with omnilinks?
They're too small, there's too many of them and there is nothing worse than been squashed standing a bus route that is normally operated double deckers.
Before anyone puts the comment 'better than no bus at all'! Believe me it is not !
QuoteThey're too small, there's too many of them and there is nothing worse than been squashed standing a bus route that is normally operated double deckers.
Before anyone puts the comment 'better than no bus at all'! Believe me it is not !
Well it is better than no bus, you rather get somewhere in a crowded bus rather than having to do something like Uber which prices have hicked up quite a lot
Can't understand why they don't transfer the omnilinks to Wolverhampton or Walsall where there is less demand & transfer the deckers to depots like Yardley Wood where ther is more demand
Quote from: woody38 on June 13, 2023, 08:58:47 PMCan't understand why they don't transfer the omnilinks to Wolverhampton or Walsall where there is less demand & transfer the deckers to depots like Yardley Wood where ther is more demand
WN and WA need the deckers they have and WN aren't type trained on them
Quote from: woody38 on June 13, 2023, 08:58:47 PMCan't understand why they don't transfer the omnilinks to Wolverhampton or Walsall where there is less demand & transfer the deckers to depots like Yardley Wood where ther is more demand
What makes you think Walsall or Wolverhampton have less demand? All garages have the problem of too many singles except BC, CV will be sorted by next month and hopefully all the others by this time next year when 300 more doubles will be available
Quote from: woody38 on June 13, 2023, 08:58:47 PMCan't understand why they don't transfer the omnilinks to Wolverhampton or Walsall where there is less demand & transfer the deckers to depots like Yardley Wood where ther is more demand
I can't speak for Wolverhampton as I don't use them routes. But I use the Walsall-Birmingham routes a good few times a week and I can assure you their peak time services X51/934-7/997 are rammed full and really do need doubles. I see single deckers on these routes too, to cover for not enough doubles, I was on a single a few weeks ago, standing room only on it. As mentioned before most garages have too many single decker buses, it is what it is for the time been, can't be helped. Hopefully we will see things start to change towards the end of the year/start of next year once new doubles start arriving.
Quote from: Tony on June 13, 2023, 07:28:33 PMIt is just the school holiday timetable, I believe September is planned for the same service levels as now.
Thanks, that's reassuring to know. I was just concerned there may be a number of service reductions due to cost-cutting or something like that. In the few years I have been using the 2 and 3 they've always retained a 20min daytime frequency during the holidays, just with reduced journey times.
Quote from: woody38 on June 13, 2023, 08:58:47 PMCan't understand why they don't transfer the omnilinks to Wolverhampton or Walsall where there is less demand & transfer the deckers to depots like Yardley Wood where ther is more demand
Have WN ever actually operated Omnilinks?
Quote from: Stu on June 14, 2023, 07:33:18 AMThanks, that's reassuring to know. I was just concerned there may be a number of service reductions due to cost-cutting or something like that. In the few years I have been using the 2 and 3 they've always retained a 20min daytime frequency during the holidays, just with reduced journey times.
The good news is this isn't happening. It is now staying 20 min frequency for each service
Quote from: Steve3229vp on June 13, 2023, 08:17:11 PMLet's hope it deters YW from putting Omnilinks on it
Unfortunately at the present time, they really don't have much of a choice, they've got all these OmniLinks at YW and they need to use them somewhere. While not ideal, they're probably better off on the 2 and 3, than on the 18, 35, 49 or 76.
Quote from: Steve3229vp on June 13, 2023, 08:26:10 PMBefore anyone puts the comment 'better than no bus at all'! Believe me it is not !
Quote from: BBS on June 13, 2023, 08:50:18 PMWell it is better than no bus, you rather get somewhere in a crowded bus rather than having to do something like Uber which prices have hicked up quite a lot
When you're waiting at a stop for a bus which sails straight past because it is rammed full, then the feeling is much the same as if a bus didn't turn up.
Quote from: Tony on June 14, 2023, 03:59:16 PMThe good news is this isn't happening. It is now staying 20 min frequency for each service
OK well that is good news for passengers, but someone better tell TfWM because they have now wasted a good load of money printing off new timetable posters and getting stops updated!
Looking at some of the changes from start of July and they are absolutely horrific. That isn't passing judgement of whether they should be made, we have to accept NXs judgement on that. They are massive though. Look at the 29 Walsall which will have a higher Sunday frequency (for the part trip) than the Mon-Sat when buses run through. Every 20 minutes down from every 7-8 on the shorts section. OUCH.
There are clear errors on some of the timetables such as the 11/11A Dudley to Walsall on a Saturday. The timetable says no service between 0920 and 1707 in the Walsall direction but a reduction to 30 minutes/combined 15 in the opposite. If the timetables are right, the 39 loses its Sunday service completely- could be an error if the reduction to 20 minutes from 15 is the 34 shorts going rather than the 39 going. I assume it is right though.
However, the end is nigh for the 10. One of the few non Brum bound services to get a 30 minute in the evening for 7 days a weeks until recently. Sunday's hourly service starting super early now and other days losing their 30 minutes too.
The favoured 4 in Brum, down to every 15 minutes from every 6-12 minutes. Pretty brutal. As I say, no saying it shouldn't happen only wow that it is.
QuoteLooking at some of the changes from start of July and they are absolutely horrific. That isn't passing judgement of whether they should be made, we have to accept NXs judgement on that. They are massive though. Look at the 29 Walsall which will have a higher Sunday frequency (for the part trip) than the Mon-Sat when buses run through. Every 20 minutes down from every 7-8 on the shorts section. OUCH.
There are clear errors on some of the timetables such as the 11/11A Dudley to Walsall on a Saturday. The timetable says no service between 0920 and 1707 in the Walsall direction but a reduction to 30 minutes/combined 15 in the opposite. If the timetables are right, the 37 loses its Sunday service completely- could be an error if the reduction to 20 minutes from 15 is the 34 shorts going rather than the 37 going. I assume it is right though.
However, the end is nigh for the 10. One of the few non Brum bound services to get a 30 minute in the evening for 7 days a weeks until recently. Sunday's hourly service starting super early now and other days losing their 30 minutes too.
The favoured 4 in Brum, down to every 15 minutes from every 6-12 minutes. Pretty brutal. As I say, no saying it shouldn't happen only wow that it is.
The WA37 timetable is showing on the PDF on Sundays
A permanent change to the 45 in amongst all the temporary adjustments.
45 | Birmingham - Longbridge: (https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/services-timetables/45-birmingham-longbridge) The Monday - Friday frequency will be reduced to every 15 minutes all day. There will be a permanent change to the 45, which will terminate at West Heath after 9pm and no longer serve Longbridge. The frequency will also be reduced to every 20 minutes, combined with the 47 service.
Apologies, I meant the 39 not the 37. Schoolboy error. Sorry
Quote from: Budgie on June 21, 2023, 06:16:44 PMThe favoured 4 in Brum, down to every 15 minutes from every 6-12 minutes. Pretty brutal. As I say, no saying it shouldn't happen only wow that it is.
4A also reduced to every 15 minutes, but still a combined 7/8 minute frequency between city centre and Acocks Green. So not that 'brutal' really.
Good win for the 822, which has now regained its route back into the city centre instead of terminating at Harborne.
Quote from: Budgie on June 21, 2023, 06:16:44 PMLooking at some of the changes from start of July and they are absolutely horrific. That isn't passing judgement of whether they should be made, we have to accept NXs judgement on that. They are massive though. Look at the 29 Walsall which will have a higher Sunday frequency (for the part trip) than the Mon-Sat when buses run through. Every 20 minutes down from every 7-8 on the shorts section. OUCH.
There are clear errors on some of the timetables such as the 11/11A Dudley to Walsall on a Saturday. The timetable says no service between 0920 and 1707 in the Walsall direction but a reduction to 30 minutes/combined 15 in the opposite. If the timetables are right, the 39 loses its Sunday service completely- could be an error if the reduction to 20 minutes from 15 is the 34 shorts going rather than the 39 going. I assume it is right though.
However, the end is nigh for the 10. One of the few non Brum bound services to get a 30 minute in the evening for 7 days a weeks until recently. Sunday's hourly service starting super early now and other days losing their 30 minutes too.
The favoured 4 in Brum, down to every 15 minutes from every 6-12 minutes. Pretty brutal. As I say, no saying it shouldn't happen only wow that it is.
Worth noting that these are just summer timetables
Quote from: Sh4318 on June 22, 2023, 11:41:38 AMWorth noting that these are just summer timetables
With the exception of the 45 after 9pm. Looking at these timetable changes, anyone would think hardly anyone works during July and August.
It also says there will be further changes on the 23rd July.
Quote from: MasterPlan on June 22, 2023, 02:32:09 PMIt also says there will be further changes on the 23rd July.
School holiday timetables until September.
Quote from: Rachvince53 on June 22, 2023, 12:54:06 PMWith the exception of the 45 after 9pm. Looking at these timetable changes, anyone would think hardly anyone works during July and August.
Probably less children/students going to school, college etc.
The main City - Acocks Green section seems to be going from every 6 to 7/8 minutes, so not a great change as well. And the whole route still has a very frequent service;
Also maybe they will use more deckers on the 4 while the schools are off.
Quote from: Rachvince53 on June 22, 2023, 12:54:06 PMWith the exception of the 45 after 9pm. Looking at these timetable changes, anyone would think hardly anyone works during July and August.
With the schools being off, many people do like to go away on holiday or have time off from work.
Normally I agree with everything that is said by the admin on here. I'm not sure I do in this case. I stand by my comment that the cuts to the 4 are brutal. I accept they are not if you travel within the core section where it interworks with the 4A. However, the independent running part of the 4 is only slightly less the time frame as the whole of the WA31. When I used to use the Birmingham end of the 4 route, I'm sure it went up to a 5 minute frequency throughout when a rival pulled off it. I don't think there was any splitting at Olton in those days. I'm getting old and maybe forgetting what actually happened. I did look at the map before making that comment and didn't think the 4 and 4A necessarily ran that close together after the split, if they do the cuts are not so brutal.
I am not a fan of the cuts to extremities of routes on the grounds that the core parts keep a decent service (whilst respecting NX Management will be doing what they need to). The reduction to a 40 minutes service on the 37 and 39 on a Saturday for example. Yes the core is still every 10 minutes but not everyone uses only the core sections. Didn't the 39 used to run every 20 minutes in the near past?
Are we sure all the cuts are for the summer only (but the 45 after 9pm) ? I'm sure most are. The day time reductions I do get being summer only, that makes sense. Does a Sunday evening service see that much reduction over the summer compared to the standard? Not all the changes seem to be showing on the changes page on Bus Times so it is hard to tell what is for 8-9 weeks and what might be more permanent.
Quote from: Budgie on June 22, 2023, 09:06:05 PMI did look at the map before making that comment and didn't think the 4 and 4A necessarily ran that close together after the split, if they do the cuts are not so brutal.
You'd think the service was being scrapped completly, the way you go on. Rather than a regular bus 4 times an hour. And its only a temporary reduction anyway.
And if you need to look at a map to know the differece between the 4 and 4A, I take it another armchair spotter, moaning about something they don't even use.
Some of the other changes such as the 28 going to every 15 minutes tend to happen every time the schools are off.
Quote from: Budgie on June 22, 2023, 09:15:22 PMAre we sure all the cuts are for the summer only (but the 45 after 9pm) ? I'm sure most are. The day time reductions I do get being summer only, that makes sense. Does a Sunday evening service see that much reduction over the summer compared to the standard? Not all the changes seem to be showing on the changes page on Bus Times so it is hard to tell what is for 8-9 weeks and what might be more permanent.
Bustimes.org relies on accurate and up to date information being received from the operator so presumably NX haven't sent the full details.
Although normally reliable, there are long-term inaccuracies on the website such as Diamond Bus service 26A shown as departing from STAND L in Wolverhampton but in reality this evening and Sunday service has departed from STAND A for about 10 years.