Messages

I know the frequencies, route maps and via points are often wrong on the NX site, but it's a bit poor that the frequencies are wrong on a brand new service:

http://nxbus.co.uk/routes/west-midlands/BX61/?timetable[day]=&tab=

Not ideal, but couldn't evening X61s run as 61s do as now, serving all stops (including through Selly Oak) and combine with the 63 to give a bus every 15 minutes?

http://wmbusphotos.com/NXWM/5001-9959/6760.html

That branding looks spectacular. I appreciate the extra effort gone into designing those graphics; it looks phenomenal. :o

Quite literally..

Just had a little think considering the plans to introduce a Platinum Bristol Road express service (although I imagine it'll follow the 63 route):

- Keep the 98 as it is between town and Northfield, but then send it via the current 29/49 route through Merritts Brook and along Holly Hill Road, to terminate at Frankley (or possibly Great Park).

- Curtail all 29s to Northfield (Lockwood Road), and all 49s to Longbridge (Sunbury Road - possibly A38 Longbridge Island if Longbridge Lane is ever sorted  ::) ) Frankley-Northfield on these routes is covered by the 98 every 20 minutes, Longbridge-Rubery-Frankley can make do with the 63 every 10.

- Reintroduce the X62 (Platinum) every 15 minutes. Actually express along the Bristol Road (Inner Ring Road; Priory Road; Selly Oak between Dawlish Road and Oak Tree Lane; Bournville Police Station and Royal Ortho), then all stops from the grosvenor to Rednal and Great Park.

Little bro phoned NX customer services today, because the 45 had been shown on real time and scheduled times on the app, along Lickey Road in Rednal. They put him through to BC, who told him the 45 would be extended to Rednal Island from this weekend. Eh?

Even just an A4 paper notice on the bus stops, until the timetables are printed, would be better than nothing and pretty easy to do. Doesn't help that even the NX website still show the 48 as going to Bartley Green

Pulling onto my drive earlier and noticed that they've changed the flag outside.. the 62's not coming back is it?

I agree with Kevin. Buses are only better than taxis at night for those travelling alone, or long distances. Us students tend to travel in groups, and most students live in Selly Oak, so they'd just share a taxi back together. Plus it's not far enough out for a tickets to be cheaper than chipping in for a taxi. Night buses won't properly take off until they reach the estates (i.e. Longbridge and maybe even Rednal, Rubery and Frankley) where taxis can cost £20/£25...

Bristol Road is fun tonight - a 61, 63, 61E Northfield, 63E Longbridge and three full 98s just passed in convoy. The only other buses I've seen are running outbound not in service or setdown only.

Not sure if this is because I'm quite broad and tall, but I found the Platinum's seats really uncomfortable, the height of the headrest and the padding on the sides seemed to squash my upper body in a bit. Maybe they could have some 'Big Boy' seats like at Drayton Manor haha

Is there any timescale on the new MMCs getting adverts on the sides? Could NX not use this space to advertise the new buses until then?

Sorry to say that I'm really disappointed in the branding on this, what a waste. NX's chance to completely reinvent its image and it looks like something straight out of 2003. Also 'every 7 minutes along the Hagley road' - bit stupid, it's certainly more frequent than that! (Well, if you include the other services, as previous 'every...along...' branding has)

What I'm not a fan of is only running part routes at night time. I think NX need to be riskier/braver and run full (or even extended) journeys on the routes that they run, even if it does require another bus (or if you interwork, maybe only half a bus extra). Living in Rednal, I'd use a nightbus over a taxi if I could, as it's a good £25 on an unbooked taxi out to here of a night, but when I stay over at mate's houses in Bearwood, Selly Oak, Harborne etc., we don't even consider getting a bus because taxis are cheaper and much more convenient. I personally think nightbuses need to branch out further away from the city centre(s), where taxis become less feasible, to become attractive enough for people to use them.

Haha yeah, Rednal island then, but I find people get confused with Longbridge island if I call it by its real name. Actually I name quite a few places by the pubs there lol

NX45 went past the Oak Tree Island a couple of minutes ago - should still be in West Heath at that point!