Messages

Absolutely. The guys at the training school do a fantastic job, it's an intensive course but they know how to make a good driver and how to make sure drivers are fully equipped.

Although I don't post on here often, I felt I should, I'm now a top rate driver at BC at the age of 24, passed my test about a month after turning 19, (sept 13) and although I have my own personal opinions on the job itself, I think starting driving buses at that age has really helped my driving ability in general compared to other drivers of a higher age and more 'experience' who have only ever driven a car.

[94C]

94C.
Ward End, The Fox and Goose to John Henry Newman School - it serves Kingshurst Acadamy as well,
Usual afternoon allocation is E400 MMC Platinum. It then goes dead from the Fox and Goose to the Airport and onto the X1. X1/25.
@Eric Shaw

Also the 891 coleshill school bus.

2150 will be on the X1 soon for a limited time, 17:07 at the wheatsheaf city bound.

Thanks for the clarification, wish more drivers would use their noggins and follow that alternate route!

Most mornings the 58 and 957 leave Swan Island towards city at roughly the same time, but there's been occasions when both have got to Bordesley station at roughly the same time too! I've learned now that unless a 900/957 is 'due' or arriving within 2-3 minutes, I may as just get the first Small Heath bus (58/59/60) that comes instead of waiting.

Yeah the 957 is really pot luck weather it turns up on time in the mornings, most of the time it's a few minutes down, all depends on how well the driver got out of Solihull and through the wheatsheaf to be honest, I've noticed on times recently doing the 58/59, certain journeys in the morning seem to get 7/8 minutes to get from the Swan to Kings road, so the drivers tend to hold back so they don't have a 4minutes+ wait at kings road

Was a bit surprised on the 957 this morning, when the driver took us through Small Heath along the Coventry Road, then down Golden Hillock Road to rejoin Small Heath Highway.

Do the 900/957 still operate 'flexi-route' between Hay Mills and Digbeth? I remember seeing something about this when the 957 first launched (where the driver could take alternative routes if the traffic was bad), but thought that wasn't the case any more.

I don't think it was the case that the driver was lost, it seemed that going round Heybarnes Circus he didn't like the look of the stacked-up traffic on Small Heath Highway so carried on along the Cov Road instead!

Yes we are still allowed to use the Coventry road if we wish during peak hours or when traffic is bad on the bypass, the best route now I find is like you mentioned the driver did earlier as the second half of the bypass between poets corner and the watering hole doesn't seem to be too bad anymore

Although it's an Enviro, 4804 on the 61

Is there a problem with inbound 72's at the moment as I waited for over an hour on Chipperfield Road as the 08/28 & 48 buses from 1pm to 2pm never showed up eventually I walked home as much p'd off. I caught the 11:30 72 to town ok but none of the others turned up. the 3 to Solihull Station went past although the 01 & 21 were nearly 10mins late but the 41 was on time at the top.

There was an RTC on sheaf lane around that time, the whole area around Sheldon was gridlocked as police closed the road, more than likely the cause of the delays :)

Retarder light ?

You may be right about the airport, although having done late night duties on the 900, to and from the airport, the service does carry well, seeing some of the air hostesses at midnight is a good way to wake you up lol  :P
That said, I imagine even for the fact it serves the Coventry road would be a plus point for a 24hr service.

It actually nice that nxwm is introducing core night bus across birmingham. 97A, 50, 74 and now 63. Will the the N suffix return as more night services are introduced. I feel that 9 and one of the sutton lines will be next ones

I wouldn't be surprised if the 900 was also to go 24/7, seen as currently there is only a few hours between the last running board finishing in garage to the first running board starting, I imagine if they was to do it would only be a 900E that would run between them hours.

Hello :)