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I'm sure some people who have difficulty making decent amount of money to pay food, rent, bills, etc do still pay there bus fare.
No excuse at all in my opinion.

The sort that I used to see not paying also used to be the sort that would go and sit on the top deck smoking, etc.

Excellent that some drivers don't allow people to get away with it I think, I remember a driver on the 55 who told someone (youth) to get off at the next stop as he was trying to use a dodgey ticket on his phone at the start of 2020, would have been around January.
Don't see why he should get away with it to be honest and doubt he had any bills to pay. Also saw similar on AG 4 route recently.

Everyone's situation varies, I just like to be mindful that they could be going through a hard period in their life to which I really don't want to add to and also do not want to be in the firing line if I do do something that agitates them like asking to pay, check ticket or bus pass again. They are very likely to remember my face than I am theirs, I don't want to get stabbed. So I just press the anomaly button and if needed the anti social button which let's revenue and safer travel do the policing through the data.

When you say fraud, are you referring to people not paying? I never understand why this is such an issue for some drivers. If somebody doesn't pay, surely the easiest thing to do is press the anomaly button. Why turn the engine off and throw a tantrum. Bus drivers talk about how stressful their job is... it's not stressful at all. A lot of drivers give themselves grief for no reason.

As a driver myself who's driven for NX on the 11A/11C, I never found the day to day driving stressful no matter how many passengers paid or didn't pay. The anomaly button is there for a reason! The only time I had an issue with a passenger is when he missed his stop and then got aggressive.

Was just asking Jeez, never asked for a lecture. Mind you, I do drive the 74 and 82/87 and have for the past 3 years so I am quite comfortable with people just walking past me everyday. But I do agree with you, some drivers do take it personally, I guess they just don't understand that some people have a hard time making decent amount of money with food, rent/mortgage, bills etc their main concern.

When I go on the 48 which is a great route with good reliability, people, fraud, I find it a breeze compared the 74, 82,87. Just like comparing.

Regarding stress, haven't had many drivers complain of this job being stressful. The ones that are still driving are okay with it and will probably exaggerate their situation as we all like complaining for a bit of fun. The ones that found it stressful have left.

Again I just wanted to know what are the best routes at WN garage because I just want to know. if I decide in future to move there I will have a bit of information about the areas and garage.

Anyway anyone else like to add their favoirite and/or best WN routes.

Nope, every now and then. I don't know if they're timed for certain points or every 20 mins or whatever, but maybe someone else can answer that.

For 87 I heard it 4 - 5 times from Dudley to City.

The 15 & the 16 are good routes, nice and scenic. They are allocated single deckers at the moment (mainly B7RLE's) which aren't bad buses from my POV as a passenger. Fraud/ant-social behavior wise I'm the wrong person to ask.

Asked a former WN driver and he also liked the route and the people. 👍 Didn't mention the reliability and fraud side of it though.

What about the 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10s?
Also which WB service is 529 most similar too in terms of how busy it is, reliability? I'm asking these questions as I am thinking of moving to WN from WB in the near future.

What are the best routes at WN garage?
Routes with low anti social behaviour, good reliability, low levels of fraud, good buses etc?

Stupid idea. How will staff working late get home?

On last journey on 87 to Oldbury (in garage at 1:52am) I see almost the same people every time, every time I do that duty numbering about 10 people from city and always have the same 2 persons get off at Oldbury from Smethwick High St. This was the same during the first lockdown. Cutting night services will have a bad impact on those hard working peoples lives.

Rumours are the 54 is transferring to West Brom any truth in this

Not got much information but currently a notice in WB garage looking for drivers to go on a separate rota for the Perry bar 54.

Well there is your first notes to write down
Clearer instructions on how to download or load it onto devices

Yes I shall do that.

So I'm taking part in the WMCA Swift Go NX staff trial which will be expanded to buses probably early next year. Don't have alot of information at the moment but today I have just been sent a 4 week Swift Pass which has been uploaded to my GPay app. Haven't uploaded it to the Swift on mobile app as I have no idea how to but waiting for instructions.

When they put that bus gate in, will that mean all traffic to Moor Street car park will need to enter via Allison Street, or are they reprofiling the road to allow right turns off Park Street into the car park?

A U turn by Moor Street Station.

https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/economy/msqbusgate_tro/supporting_documents/G_CA03129_S1_040%20rev%20TRO%20Overview%20Proposal%20Plan.pdf

The bike lane wasn't the cause of the problems last night. But it wouldn't have helped though. I believe it was the amount of traffic trying to use Park Street and Moor Street clogged everything up. Then people started using Dale End clogging up Old Square and Priory Queensway. Thats what I heard today anyway. Park Street really needs to be made bus only as its very dangerous as it is and get cars to uae the ring road instead of Moor Street as it will only get worse with people starting Christmas shopping soon

A bus gate will installed on MSQ before the start of CAZ.

Yes the one already happened, to provide spares to help keep the service as close to fully platinum as possible

Thank you for the answer, as an 87 driver I appreciate the effort in keeping the route as close to fully platinum as possible. Love them buses.

Yes, extra vehicle to cover the PVR increase on the 82/87

Just curious as to whether you mean the PVR increase that's already happened or is happening soon? Asking because there are 26 buses now for 25 R/B's, of which 2 R/B's are peak time boards. Morning peak 87/13 which comes back in garage at 10:38 and the afternoon peak 87/25 out at 13:05. Wouldn't the morning peak bus be back out on the afternoon peak board?

Is 6968 a permanent transfer?