Messages

It does seem to be only the few "tried and tested" routes that consistently have competition, i.e. 16/94/50/404. I would say certain other routes had benefited from competition while it existed, e.g. Diamond used to run a, from memory, well loaded 51E service to Scott Arms at a fairly regular frequency, but unfortunately it didn't last, and they used to do well on the 9 from memory as well.

I do feel that operators wanting to set themselves up on a corridor should look more at establishing a niche of some sort, e.g. Central buses on the 28 should run the full route to Scott Arms, as only half the NX buses do that, or when Diamond ran the 64 to Bromsgrove (shame that one didn't last). Preparing to be shot down for this particular one, but I would also say like on the Bristol Rd, with the 61/63 and the 98, I would personally see that as a kind of competition of sorts, as I do know of some people living in Selly Oak who prefer to catch the 98 than the 61/63 into the city center, it might have something to do with the 98 route being a bit nicer than all the traffic on the Bristol Road and the smoother ride (and the buses not being Tridents)

I like what Claribels have done if I'm honest, they've established themselves on some key routes in east birmingham that gets them well noticed (and from what I've seen by the loadings, fairly well loved/appreciated) in that one particular area, if they suddenly started up on the 16 or (randomly) the 24 I doubt they would be as successful

10 new routes - how many old routes will they replace ?, come on pull the other one !!!

Could be things like expanding out into Cannock etc....
...or finishing the half arsed job of the north birmingham review

You know what, I genuinely used to think it was always meant to be a car park underneath paradise circus.... I have learned something

I seem to recall that there were plans for four city bus stations in the early 1970s.   WMPTE quite rightly decided that buses needed better penetration into the city centre, and the plans were dropped.  Paradise Circus was the only one that was started as far as I know.

HA! Buses needed better penetration into the city centre (aside the obvious innuendo) I cant help but think of the situation we have now with various just-on-the-edge-of-the-city-centre "interchanges"

Handsworth based Hi-Ride who run about 6 journeys on the 40X Bearwood - Perry Barr and have done for many years with an interesting variety of vehicles across the years.

Ah, the world famous Ferdinand Pellington, whose devotion to observing the correct full route makes Sunny Travel look professional!

Yah
Though Ive been on it today
Got the radio on - music playing - 20mph down the lozells road - laid back :)

To this day I'm still impressed that route is still going. Is it always the same driver?

Any of the scutty minibus companies in WM that don't bother to paint their buses, they don't necessarily look bad in their own right just look lazy

Bearwood is the worst

Bearwood and Perry Barr in my view are half-arsed bus stations, only some of the routes in the vicinity stop there. Not entirely sure what the scope is at Bearwood to completely redesign the junction and bus station, but (using Perry Barr a lot) I hope one day they'll see sense, bulldoze the Crown and Cushion pub and rebuild the bus station above the rail station, with entrance from the roundabout and exits both by the one stop itself (wher it is at the moment) and back onto the wellington road - that way buses in both directions and the 11A/C can all stop there as well.... can but dream

Best bus station locally I'd say Wolves, even though it does seem a bit too big somehow, possibly because loads of services don't stop there.

What about the 66 & 66A?

The bridge under Erdington rail station

And just south of that on the 28

Saw the story about a bus at the same stop for 4 years and assumed it was nx taking the piss and refering to all the stop changes in the city centre "look, this one still stops at the same stop!"

It looks the same as the 51

That's my view too. Both routes operating into the city centre with the branding not too different as well as having similar numbers could cause some confusion to anyone whos not travelling with a brain!

Or someone who is drunk and waiting for the 16 home, seeing a blue branded 50 and thinking "didn't know the 51 came down here as well, ok, i'll get that home then"
(not guilty of that yet, but i see it happening....)

All they need to do re. conductors is what I've experienced in Holland - zero tolerance spot checks, far more often than you see them at the moment. Can be cruel to foreigners or people who are genuinely clueless and have no idea where theyre going etc, but by christ it works

Unfortunately people do this all the time, they get fined and give a real address that isnt theirs

Wonder how long this will go on for?

I'd assume permanent

Any of the preserved? I remember a few years ago there was one at Wythall doing trips

806 (99) > X64

This seems to be a regular sight now, E200's on the Great Park routes; since BC's lost 2122 & 2123.

Seen a fair few of an evening, wasnt sure if they were on all day or not

Yesterday evening - 1837 (i think) on the 902

And btw, wouldnt personally say 4493 on the 67 was unusual, Geminis fairly frequent on there, caught one to and from work this morning