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Is the 14 a nightmare to drive?

Never done it, but from other divers I've spoke to - it's a challenge along alum rock road but after that it's easy.

What's one route that gets used for new drivers at bc?

Isn't a set route anymore, you'll be placed where there's a need. If a driver joins with a PCV already there's normally a high chance that they will get the 14.

Noticed 6864 had working visual/audio NSA for 94/95, when I had it last night. Also when parked up, it worked for short journey dests.

Interworking is done to save resources, not because it would be nice to do.

 Do they interwork in Solihull, Birmingham or both?

X2/X12 interwork on Sundays in Solihull (they also have a couple in peak times on M-F)
X12/X13 interwork on every other day in Birmingham (bar a couple of journeys that interwork in Chelmlsey Wood)

How long have X2 and X12 interworked for? Wouldn't it make sense for the X12 and X13 to interwork?

It was trailed in the summer holidays, and since the October change Sundays have the X2/X12 interwork and the X13 run solo (as that only needs 2 buses at a time on Sundays)

The 63 still has night shorts to Rubery Flyover.

Although it's not a full 24/7 service has an hour gap 5 days a week.

97A

I'd say the 97A is also not a fully 24/7 service as it has a slight gap in it now. 

One thing that doesn't help with NSA are routes that interwork where the driver changes the display far too early.
The whole point of NSA is to be accessible for everybody. When you catch a 95 to Birmingham and all of a sudden you're hearing 94 to Chelmsley Wood when you've barely left Nechells and still three/four stops to go, it's not on. There's no need to change your display at the lights at the middleway.

Drivers change it there due to the short drop back in city, and as soon as you arrive at the stand you are instantly loading - When I was on 94/95 I'd normally change it at the lights around masshouse lane. Only a few times when I was running very late, I'd change it if I got caught out my the lights at the middleway, cause they have a long sequence. 

The Diamond Electric MAN's have made appearances on the 96.

I am pretty certain it did on the first couple of weeks when centros and urbans was the main allocation to that route.

I use late night 14/94/95. They're all generally fine. A fair few months old single tickets being used as daysavers and 'phone battery dead' excuses, but nothing extraordinarily bad.

Same with every route that is at night. I just don't think I could drive down Alum Rock Road yet, seems very daunting. 

The only buses that terminate on the old ring road are the Stratford Road services and the X21/2

and the 61/63?

Fair enough I just wondered because I was on an X21 the other day which struggled to get to the NS2 stop because 2 61/63 were parked there.

Yeah, as I can tell the relief point there is under review and might get moved to the moor street stop, similar to the Unis.

I see your signature has changed. Another driver who's moved from east Birmingham routes to the 61/63 rota. Is that through choice or just where you get put?

Originally when I started, I got put on the 94/95. But I kinda always wanted Bristol road (partially because of @BusDriverBosh). I was gonna do late nights on 94/95, but late nights for Stechford includes the 14 - and I am not that confident yet 😂. Finding the Bristol Road a lot more relaxing even when it gets screwed.

Had 5512 on the Bristol Road earlier, wasn't tracking.

I would like to see future Electric buses allocated to Wolverhampton and cascade some of the Volvo single deckers to PB for the 28, 64, 66, 71 and 96 services.

I'd prefer the 28 to be re-routed to become a double decker service.

Are the 61/63 supposed to terminate at MS9 or NS2? Surely MS9 makes more sense as there's more room.

Hope this helps:
Driver change (relief point) is at NS2
Last/First stop is MS9
Second stop is MS16

What I've noticed is there isn't a short journey blind for New Street anymore in case of no relief driver.