From Monday 9th to Friday 13th December free bus travel from 1900 to 0259
All cards will be disabled at this time so they get free travel in case they scan by accident
On nx buses and other operators
Quote from: karl724223 on November 21, 2024, 10:51:57 AMFrom Monday 9th to Friday 13th December free bus travel from 1900 to 0259
All cards will be disabled at this time so they get free travel in case they scan by accident
On nx buses and other operators
It's free travel on the nite any way
The question I have to ask is why?
If its late night shopping related, is there anywhere opening late anyway?
Be very surprised if its Walsall.
Plus you'll get all the p×××heads out & about.
Do you really want more ASB on the buses?
In short, thanks but no thanks.
Can Wmca afford it?
Quote from: karl724223 on November 21, 2024, 10:51:57 AMFrom Monday 9th to Friday 13th December free bus travel from 1900 to 0259
All cards will be disabled at this time so they get free travel in case they scan by accident
On nx buses and other operators
I have not seen any 'official' publicity regarding this yet.
Quote from: Stu on November 23, 2024, 05:43:57 PMI have not seen any 'official' publicity regarding this yet.
What a shame
Forgot yow Dow werk for nx dun ya
I have 😂
Quote from: karl724223 on November 23, 2024, 07:05:01 PMWhat a shame
I have 😂
So is the intention to not publicise this until the last minute to minimise how much this will end up costing the WMCA/TfWM?
Quote from: karl724223 on November 23, 2024, 07:05:01 PMWhat a shame
Forgot yow Dow werk for nx dun ya
I have 😂
Unnecessary smug comment !
Quote from: Steve3229vp on November 23, 2024, 07:38:56 PMUnnecessary smug comment !
Never mind thanks for the input
Quote from: karl724223 on November 23, 2024, 07:55:41 PMNever mind thanks for the input
But it's a valid point!
You work for NX, you know something about this promotion/offer, you've seen some communication about it, therefore drivers/staff are aware of this.
But my question is: when are the public going to be made aware of this?
Quote from: Stu on November 23, 2024, 08:06:10 PMBut it's a valid point!
You work for NX, you know something about this promotion/offer, you've seen some communication about it, therefore drivers/staff are aware of this.
But my question is: when are the public going to be made aware of this?
If standard TFWM communications apply we will know about it 3 weeks after it happens 😂
Oh ok I'll tell you stop you all crying in your cornflakes wk comm 25th November
All happy now
From what I've heard payment to NXWM from WMCA will depend on what's recorded on the init tablets, which I find hard to believe
Surely there's 2 people that can confirm or deny this?
Quote from: Westy on November 23, 2024, 10:31:02 PMSurely there's 2 people that can confirm or deny this?
Well I'm not making it up am i ffs
Quite astonishing how some people manage to turn a thread about some positive news into an antagonistic argument.
Is this just NX or on all operators that accept nbus
Quote from: Westy on November 23, 2024, 10:31:02 PMSurely there's 2 people that can confirm or deny this?
Doesn't affect you you have already posted your negative comment on the free travel
Quote from: karl724223 on November 24, 2024, 02:19:39 AMDoesn't affect you you have already posted your negative comment on the free travel
Still entitled to an opinion!
And its official!
Quote from: Westy on November 23, 2024, 10:31:02 PMSurely there's 2 people that can confirm or deny this?
There's several, but There's no need for anyone else as Karl has posted it
For any other people that don't believe anything
Mayor of the West Midlands unveils UK's biggest free bus travel offer this Christmas | NX Bus West Midlands (https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/news/mayor-of-the-west-midlands-unveils-uk-s-biggest-free-bus-travel-offer-this-christmas?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3IxFYT244llOeLQa1JmrVvGDQC3MQPight8o1G58JWBIBC9XnCcqs2x08_aem_oKU9RRLlHjWbBxkm4URgjA)
@Tony - When you get 5, can you look at the TfWm web version of the publicity, as there seems to be a bit of confusion about the X51 validlity, based on that, on Bloxwich Chit Chat Facebook?
Personally I think no to the Cannock section of the X51, but it's the wording ref Nx thats causing confusion.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1VBjSwPuTE/
Quote from: Westy on November 25, 2024, 06:47:01 PM@Tony - When you get 5, can you look at the TfWm web version of the publicity, as there seems to be a bit of confusion about the X51 validlity, based on that, on Bloxwich Chit Chat Facebook?
Personally I think no to the Cannock section of the X51, but it's the wording ref Nx thats causing confusion.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1VBjSwPuTE/
Nothing confusing on there. It just states 'hop on any bus within the Bus West Midlands Boundary' and the map omits Cannock
Quote from: Tony on November 25, 2024, 06:50:45 PMNothing confusing on there. It just states 'hop on any bus within the Bus West Midlands Boundary' and the map omits Cannock
But on the TfWM website, under "What operators are included" it does state "valid on all buses" for NX West MIdlands & Coventry, which is what some people might be questioning.
Screenshot 2024-11-25 at 19-16-37 Free Bus Travel Transport for West Midlands.png
Quote from: Stu on November 25, 2024, 07:19:06 PMBut on the TfWM website, under "What operators are included" it does state "valid on all buses" for NX West MIdlands & Coventry, which is what some people might be questioning.
Screenshot 2024-11-25 at 19-16-37 Free Bus Travel Transport for West Midlands.png
That is the same question being asked by a certain former member of this site, who has connections with that area.
I have just had it clarified that the TfWM facebook post is not correct and the free travel applies to All National Express West Midlands / Coventry services including outside the County Boundary
Just been looking at the Transport for West Midlands Facebook page and some people think it's a kick to the balls.
1) people would have brought monthly tickets and free travel is given but they don't benefit from free travel
2) here's free travel but we're cutting services in the new year.
Quote from: Tony on November 25, 2024, 08:13:36 PMI have just had it clarified that the TfWM facebook post is not correct and the free travel applies to All National Express West Midlands / Coventry services including outside the County Boundary
So like going to rugby from Coventry ?
Quote from: wembley86 on November 26, 2024, 04:07:20 PMJust been looking at the Transport for West Midlands Facebook page and some people think it's a kick to the balls.
1) people would have brought monthly tickets and free travel is given but they don't benefit from free travel
2) here's free travel but we're cutting services in the new year.
There's multiple ways of looking at this.
Me personally, while I pay for a monthly pass, I rarely use buses after 7pm anyway, so there's no benefit to me. I'm still paying for the journeys I make during the daytime.
Quote from: wembley86 on November 26, 2024, 04:07:20 PMJust been looking at the Transport for West Midlands Facebook page and some people think it's a kick to the balls.
1) people would have brought monthly
post removed because of abusive language
might help reduce the costs of my friday radio show, by £15 it will be hard getting home afterwards but by making it free, if i can get a lift there it means i actually save a fortune its the downside to volunteering lets hope the 22:15 isnt early that day
Eager to see how the 74,87,outer circle is gonna be like on those days during that period
Quote from: BBS on November 29, 2024, 02:27:18 PMEager to see how the 74,87,outer circle is gonna be like on those days during that period
I'm not quite sure I like what you're insinuating there. :undecided:
Quote from: Stu on November 29, 2024, 08:28:15 PMI'm not quite sure I like what you're insinuating
Rammed. Glad I quit late nites a few years back I just do my own rota late nite line every 6 weeks, I've noticed huge differences in patterns there no let up some times, no wonder drivers can't get there lates covered now.
Quote from: BBS on November 29, 2024, 02:27:18 PMEager to see how the 74,87,outer circle is gonna be like on those days during that period
I'm not as I'm going to need the 74 on those evenings, and the 74 can be unpleasant at times as it is.
From the 9-13th I think I'll stick to the trains or Metro after 7pm. If I'm lucky I might even get a seat on a tram
Now that the Christmas timetables are starting to appear, can I confirm, as the formatting on the web page is slightly to cock, that there's no Nx services operating outside the WM county, with the X51 only operating Walsall to Birmingham, on Boxing Day & New Years Day & presumbly, this will have to wait until the TfWM version pops up, no Walsall service 19 either on both days?
(The 19 hasn't operated in previous years either!)
Quote from: Westy on December 01, 2024, 01:37:59 AMNow that the Christmas timetables are starting to appear, can I confirm, as the formatting on the web page is slightly to cock, that there's no Nx services operating outside the WM county, with the X51 only operating Walsall to Birmingham, on Boxing Day & New Years Day
It says on the NX site X51 is running Birmingham to Walsall only.
In terms of services outside the WM county boundary I imagine the 11 to Leamington and X13 via Coleshill will be running at least. Maybe the only bus services running in Warwickshire on boxing day as Stagecoach aren't running anything,
Quote from: 2206 on December 01, 2024, 02:40:50 AMIt says on the NX site X51 is running Birmingham to Walsall only.
In terms of services outside the WM county boundary I imagine the 11 to Leamington and X13 via Coleshill will be running at least. Maybe the only bus services running in Warwickshire on boxing day as Stagecoach aren't running anything,
Yes indeed. NX Coventry say that the 11 will run on Boxing Day. The 20 has run to Nuneaton on Boxing Day (but not New Year's Day) in the past couple of years, so I am waiting to see what will happen this time.
That does leave the Turnberry in Bloxwich without a service on those 2 days.
Didnt the X51 operate to Cannock last year?
Quote from: Westy on December 01, 2024, 10:13:39 AMThat does leave the Turnberry in Bloxwich without a service on those 2 days.
Didnt the X51 operate to Cannock last year?
Nothing else is running in cannock on boxing day so do they need to run the X51
Quote from: Lukeee on December 01, 2024, 10:18:07 PMNothing else is running in cannock on boxing day so do they need to run the X51
Yes, but did they run the Cannock bit of the X51 last year?
Sure there was one year they did!
Quote from: Westy on December 02, 2024, 04:38:03 AMYes, but did they run the Cannock bit of the X51 last year?
Sure there was one year they did!
I'm not sure, if there's no demand for it then they won't run it, other than runs past shopping centres and retail parks I can't imagine boxing day services being particularly busy
Quote from: Lukeee on December 02, 2024, 01:34:03 PMI'm not sure, if there's no demand for it then they won't run it, other than runs past shopping centres and retail parks I can't imagine boxing day services being particularly busy
Don't go to Cannock don't use the X51 don't really care
Quote from: Mike K on November 23, 2024, 11:20:40 PMQuite astonishing how some people manage to turn a thread about some positive news into an antagonistic argument.
Totally agree
@Mike K - whatever the mechanics of payment/reimbursement are, NXWM are looking to encourage increased passenger numbers, "sell" bus travel instead of driving into already over congested towns, yet some are hell-bent on knocking it, then complaining that NXWM fares are too high and do nowt to encourage bus use!
I'm off for a Bailey's and a lie down in a dark room!
Quote from: karl724223 on December 02, 2024, 02:10:56 PMDon't go to Cannock don't use the X51 don't really care
And a merry christmas to you as well!
Quote from: Westy on December 02, 2024, 02:46:50 PMAnd a merry christmas to you as well!
And a happy new year!
Quote from: Lukeee on December 02, 2024, 01:34:03 PMI'm not sure, if there's no demand for it then they won't run it, other than runs past shopping centres and retail parks I can't imagine boxing day services being particularly busy
Boxing Day Sales maybe?, but aren't most people apart from younger people who are gifted money usually skint anyway
Quote from: BlackCountryBusSpotter on December 02, 2024, 02:56:33 PMBoxing Day Sales maybe?, but aren't most people apart from younger people who are gifted money usually skint anyway
What about Macarthur Glen?
They'd be open surely?
Quote from: Westy on December 02, 2024, 02:57:57 PMWhat about Macarthur Glen?
They'd be open surely?
Just checked there website and is open
Quote from: Westy on December 02, 2024, 02:57:57 PMWhat about Macarthur Glen?
They'd be open surely?
Yeah the shops are open on Boxing Day, but other than young people like myself although my Birthday is in January so I wait who get money for Christmas Most people are skint, full, with family to go out for boxing day sales. And it will also be quieter as the Boxing Day Football will be on I myself will be in Willenhall watching a non league Black Country Derby
Quote from: BlackCountryBusSpotter on December 02, 2024, 06:12:43 PMYeah the shops are open on Boxing Day, but other than young people like myself although my Birthday is in January so I wait who get money for Christmas Most people are skint, full, with family to go out for boxing day sales. And it will also be quieter as the Boxing Day Football will be on I myself will be in Willenhall watching a non league Black Country Derby
I know our company operates on Boxing Day, but I normally book it off as I cant get in early enough.
The buses I usually catch in the late evening, seem quieter than normal. Not sure what earlier ones are like. Even the amount of Omnilinks on PB services look quite empty on arriving and departing city centre.
Quote from: Gareth on December 11, 2024, 11:03:33 PMThe buses I usually catch in the late evening, seem quieter than normal. Not sure what earlier ones are like. Even the amount of Omnilinks on PB services look quite empty on arriving and departing city centre.
Those omnilinks are likely used at that time of day because of the quieter loads I would guess?
Early evening journeys I've seen and have caught (approx 19:00-21:30) on the 14 and 94/95 still seem busy but they normally are and don't seem any busier than normal.
I noticed a homeless man with several bags making use of the free travel on the 14 as well.
Though some of the very late evening ones I've seen around midnight seem fairly dead with only a handful of people on.
The other thing I thought is it's also winter and freezing cold out, maybe it might have made more sense or been better received had this offer been done in the spring or summer when the weather is a bit warmer?
Apparantly sister is taking advantage of the offer, as she's meeting up with friends after work, so I suppose I'll get chapter & verse if things dont work!
Free travel paid for by the taxpayer
Quote from: Jay71 on December 12, 2024, 11:07:57 AMFree travel paid for by the taxpayer
Yep. I may be wrong but the funding came from the compensation money for cancelling the northern leg of HS2.
Quote from: Rachvince53 on December 12, 2024, 11:37:04 AMYep. I may be wrong but the funding came from the compensation money for cancelling the northern leg of HS2.
One of us right & one of us is wrong
Quote from: Westy on December 12, 2024, 07:06:07 AMApparantly sister is taking advantage of the offer, as she's meeting up with friends after work, so I suppose I'll get chapter & verse if things dont work!
Ain't you got any mates to take you out after 1900 to say you had a free ride
Or can't ya sister take you out for one trip
Quote from: karl724223 on December 12, 2024, 09:31:25 PMAin't you got any mates to take you out after 1900 to say you had a free ride
Or can't ya sister take you out for one trip
I have a 5am start, so dont go out during the week & for the record, sister got back before 7pm, so didn't take advantage!
Quote from: karl724223 on November 21, 2024, 10:51:57 AMFrom Monday 9th to Friday 13th December free bus travel from 1900 to 0259
All cards will be disabled at this time so they get free travel in case they scan by accident
On nx buses and other operators
Can't find it on Google but I'm sure I saw somewhere the weeks free travel cost Mr Parker £1m and 250,000 passengers took part?
If so that's £4 each by my reckoning?
Quote from: Sandy Lane on December 20, 2024, 01:26:19 PMCan't find it on Google but I'm sure I saw somewhere the weeks free travel cost Mr Parker £1m and 250,000 passengers took part?
If so that's £4 each by my reckoning?
What a good use of the TfWM budget
Quote from: LD713821 on December 20, 2024, 03:16:13 PMWhat a good use of the TfWM budget
I believe the money came from the compensation fund following cancellation of the northern bit of HS2.
Quote from: Rachvince53 on December 20, 2024, 03:28:34 PMI believe the money came from the compensation fund following cancellation of the northern bit of HS2.
Still TfWM budget.
The HS2 budget is a usual politician's lie. That money wasn't due to be spent for several years, but magically appeared in 2024
Quote from: Sandy Lane on December 20, 2024, 01:26:19 PMCan't find it on Google but I'm sure I saw somewhere the weeks free travel cost Mr Parker £1m and 250,000 passengers took part?
If so that's £4 each by my reckoning?
I think it was also on the local news.
Quote from: Sandy Lane on December 20, 2024, 01:26:19 PMCan't find it on Google but I'm sure I saw somewhere the weeks free travel cost Mr Parker £1m and 250,000 passengers took part?
If so that's £4 each by my reckoning?
More than £4 each. A proportion of people travelling after 7pm will already have paid for travel cards, day tickets or have concessionary passes.
Quote from: Sandy Lane on December 20, 2024, 01:26:19 PMCan't find it on Google but I'm sure I saw somewhere the weeks free travel cost Mr Parker £1m and 250,000 passengers took part?
If so that's £4 each by my reckoning?
How do they know how many took part? There wasn't any TfWM staff counting at every stop and drivers weren't pressing any buttons on the ticket machine to count how many were boarding. Or at least they weren't on the buses I caught all week.
Quote from: Gareth on December 20, 2024, 05:27:07 PMHow do they know how many took part? There wasn't any TfWM staff counting at every stop and drivers weren't pressing any buttons on the ticket machine to count how many were boarding. Or at least they weren't on the buses I caught all week.
Found the link now
BBC News - Free bus scheme is good value for money - West Midlands mayor - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kvglep72vo
Quote from: Rachvince53 on December 20, 2024, 03:28:34 PMI believe the money came from the compensation fund following cancellation of the northern bit of HS2.
It was stated in the TfWM publicity that this was paid for from BSIP (Bus Service Improvement Plan) funding.
QuoteThe initiative is part of the £20 million Passenger Incentive Programme which is funded from the West Midlands Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). It aims to encourage people to try bus travel for the first time or return after a period of absence, to support a passenger-led recovery of the local bus network.
https://wmbu.org.uk/2024/11/mayor-of-the-west-midlands-unveils-uks-biggest-free-bus-travel-offer-this-christmas/
Quote from: Gareth on December 20, 2024, 05:27:07 PMHow do they know how many took part? There wasn't any TfWM staff counting at every stop and drivers weren't pressing any buttons on the ticket machine to count how many were boarding. Or at least they weren't on the buses I caught all week.
This was a major flaw in my opinion. I don't normally travel in the evening, but on the last Friday (13th) I happened to be out in the Jewellery Quarter for our works Xmas meal. I left just after 9pm, got the 8A round to Sparkbrook, from where I picked up the 3 back home. Neither bus was particularly busy, though I can't make any comparison from previous experience.
On both buses, the card scanner and fare chute were covered over, and the drivers were just waving people on, didn't see them pressing anything on the Init unit.
Personally, while I enjoyed free travel that evening, I had a monthly pass anyway, so there was no benefit to me.
If a majority of passengers were travelling after 7pm with paid-for weekly/monthly passes or even day-tickets bought earlier in the day, there's no way you could measure how successful this scheme actually was, without accurately counting passengers who intended to buy a ticket on-bus, and then comparing against historical usage data.
This is probably a controversial opinion, but I suspect that the bus operators benefitted most from this, depending on how they were reimbursed by TfWM - declare more passengers than actually carried etc.
Quote from: Sandy Lane on December 20, 2024, 05:43:09 PMFound the link now
BBC News - Free bus scheme is good value for money - West Midlands mayor - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kvglep72vo
£1m for approx. 25 hours of free travel to a limited number of passengers without travel cards, day tickets or concessionary passes does not sound like good value for money to me.
Quote from: jamesX4 on December 20, 2024, 06:40:54 PM£1m for approx. 25 hours of free travel to a limited number of passengers without travel cards, day tickets or concessionary passes does not sound like good value for money to me.
The Mayor is good at stuff like this like all politicians PR is all they do, they don't actually know if it worked or not
It seems quite a few people are waiting round aimlessly at bus stops and bus stations this evening with the early shutdown. With a number of services finishing around 18:00 and the more major services finishing early at around 23:00.
A number of people on the 49 stand at West Brom Bus Station and an elderly lady with a shopping trolley waiting on the 48 stand who when I told her, told me "But that's the only bus I can get home".
Makes you wonder why these people don't check the time of the last bus before they travel
To be honest at a bus station like that you could at least do with a note on the affected stands or get the bus station guard to tell people as your probably going to get the same thing with the early shutdown on New Year's Day.
QuoteIt seems quite a few people are waiting round aimlessly at bus stops and bus stations this evening with the early shutdown. With a number of services finishing around 18:00 and the more major services finishing early at around 23:00.
A number of people on the 49 stand at West Brom Bus Station and an elderly lady with a shopping trolley waiting on the 48 stand who when I told her, told me "But that's the only bus I can get home".
Makes you wonder why these people don't check the time of the last bus before they travel
To be honest at a bus station like that you could at least do with a note on the affected stands or get the bus station guard to tell people as your probably going to get the same thing with the early shutdown on New Year's Day.
If only there was a medium or three which people often viewed or listened to where TfWM or the ops could advertise on... like ITV, social media or... erm... Hits Radio?
Given that boxing day bus services have been like this for years (and before that didn't run at all) yet some people lack the common sense to check beforehand...sadly doesn't surprise me at all.
Harsh but it's on them, not the bus companies.
The Walsall Community Transport Hub(the old newsagents in the bus station) had made an effort on their window, I noticed the other day, with fine detail on the last buses, when & where.
Doesnt West Bromwich have a similar facility in their old Travel Shop?
To be honest I remember when Boxing Day buses didn't run when I was a kid but I assumed that was because at the time you could only get Arriva or Sandwell Travel from Darlaston to the Lodge Farm Estate where me and my dad would get off to walk my Nans residence on Sandbeds Road and they ran Sunday Service, I couldn't tell you if the 34 would go past our house at that time. But we walked it anyway, now the local routes 34/37 stopped at five past six from Walsall and Bilston I think, it might have even been 25 past five for one of them. Even the 79 which usually finishes about midnight on a normal Monday to Saturday and I think about 11PM/11:30 on a Sunday finished at about 22:30/22:45, what annoys me was last year I was watching Darlaston play at home on Boxing Day and these two older chaps about late 50's early 60's one lives in Pleck and the other in Aldridge were moaning at the buses not running until late, I didn't know that they didn't run until late as I always thought it was normal Sunday Service, but surely they both should have known and shouldn't moan because one of the blokes is into buses so he is probably aware that buses never ran on Boxing Day as to is his mate, People though will bash buses for anything these days, despite the Birmingham and Black Country having frequent buses, late finishing buses, buses to most places, if you put some of these people over the border in Staffordshire, Warwickshire or Worcestershire they would have meltdowns as they don't have buses at all. If people know they can't get back home why stay out late enough to miss your last bus, why not leave early, most shops on Boxing Day close at 5/6PM the Asda by me closed at 6 usually on Sunday it closes at 4. I looked to see what time the clothes shops and those closed in Walsall and they were around the same time, so what I would do and most normal people is leave at 4 or 5 to get my last bus home, or drive or get a cab if I had been having a Boxing day family meal and had no choice but to miss the last bus