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What's wrong with sandwell travels buses having to loan a bus to maintain a service

https://twitter.com/FatScottie/status/795563621891932160

This was one the other day

A 14 branded Trident on the 24. Didn't catch the number. On the way to Woodgate Valley.

Also one on the 60

E200s on 74 & 97 this evening (99 branded)

I hope the Birmingham Mail is just putting out one of its inaccurate and exaggerated articles! Can the Mail not find a more recent picture...

Going off-topic, but for a change the Mail can't really be blamed for the photo - it is taken from National Express Groups image library for the Media.

http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/media/image-library/

3 45s have not long arrived in Walsall together. 4265 left NIS, maybe the 1.45pm departure. 1936 and 4250 then both left together at 2.17pm

Presumably connected to this chain of tweets...

https://twitter.com/nxwestmidlands/status/723508593899782146

Not sure if it's going to be in both directions, but the stop city bound on Washwood Heath Road, Saltley gate, has a notice saying it will be closed from 7pm tonight until 6am on 30th April. Passengers advised to use Alum Rock Road stops instead.
Whilst road works and/or resurfacing is unavoidable, it's very short notice.

Perhaps it's been badly written, but I'm under the impression its shut nightly 1900-0600 up until the end of the month, rather than completely shut until the end of April.

http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/25/couple-have-sex-on-the-bus-in-front-of-children-to-celebrate-getting-out-of-jail-get-sent-back-to-jail-5775554/

Some indecent conduct on one of NX's buses. The image used irks me. It's of 6028, with the caption:

There's a possibility it could've been an Omnilink, I suppose.  ::)

Judging by the police in the picture, I'm tempted to say the image used is from when a bendy was in a fatal collision with a cyclist outside the fire station on Lancaster Circus probably around early 2010. Surely there's other single deck pictures available!

Its a recent thing put in place. The board states that a decker has to swap to an E200 (if avaliable) on the late night. If not avaliable, B7RLE's or Omnilinks. The 41 board (41/01) that goes onto late night 89's is usually a Single Decker too (Omnilink/B7RLE).

It actually was on the 41 board. The E200 was taken off the 301 and swapped around 1630, presumably due to an issue with/on the B7RLE on the board originally.

Old tram on the m6 junction 8 towards birmingham  (off for scrap?

Think the lorry has broken down or there is some issue, as it was still there when I went past an hour later.

For me, people find it easiest when buses run to 'clock-face' frequencies. Not a problem when frequent services run every few minutes, but for less frequent services, its easier to know that service X runs every 15 minutes (even at 3, 17, 33, and 47 minutes past the hour, every hour) or every 30 minutes (at 07 and 37 minutes past the hour). My local example of an 'irregular frequency' is Diamonds 36 service which runs every 45 minutes, unless I know the timetable off by heart, I couldn't tell you if it comes at 1, 16, 31 or 46 minutes past the hour, depending on the hour.

An irregular frequency such as every 40mins might be beneficial to the bus operator, but doesn't really help the passenger!

I'd argue that in this instance it does help the passenger - I assume the route would not be financially viable with three buses on the circuit, so if the operator can not run a 30-minute frequency reliably (which the information on the website suggests it can't and hasn't been), I'm sure the users of the route will just be grateful to know the bus is going to turn up when it says rather than what is presumably currently happening where they stand at the bus stop and can be waiting any length of time.

Its not ideal, but I suspect the majority of passengers will catch the bus at a particular time each day so will learn the relevant times fairly quickly.

A reliable 40 minute service is better than an unreliable 30 minute service or no service at all.

http://www.expressandstar.com/picture-galleries/news-pictures/2016/02/07/pictured-wolverhampton-firefighters-tackle-blazing-bus/

5401 on WN 2. Will leave Bus Station for Bushbury Hill at 1050.

Also B7s on both the 59 & 529.

I suspect the fire caused some issues this morning?

809 just started on the 73.

If possible for Thursday

BC - 4472 (last required unbranded Trident)
PB - 4257, 4276, 4285

@Ashley 60171 4472 is on the Bristol Road today.

4068 is on the 69. In Wednesfield now towards Walsall.

4065, 4072 & 4073 are on the 40/41.

For anyone looking for them 4032 & 4033 are also on the 69.