If you had the chance to modify or add any service, what would you do?

[JosephR]

What new links would that create that the 96, 71, 64 don't serve today?

Lots. Who wants to change onto 3 or more buses. Simplify them all with some rerouting re evaluation then maybe some services won't be needed. 

[2206]

Lots. Who wants to change onto 3 or more buses. Simplify them all with some rerouting re evaluation then maybe some services won't be needed.

Because everyone who used the 68 travelled all the way round the whole circle on it? And got off exactly where they started?
Which journey is this where you need to travel on 3 or more buses?

[Lukeee]

Because everyone who used the 68 travelled all the way round the whole circle on it? And got off exactly where they started?
Which journey is this where you need to travel on 3 or more buses?

The 68A/C was well used and many links have been lost. Remember it was withdrawn as the running times where unachievable but adding an extra bus each way would of made the route unprofitable. 

[B7RLE]

I would extend the PN 7 into Wollaston Farm. Would give greatly needed links to Norton and Lye, its very common for Wollaston Farm people to walk into Wollaston village to get the 7 to these places, or change in Stourbridge from the 8. It would also reduce the standing time the 7 has at the roundabout in the village, even though I believe drivers aren't actually supposed to do their time there, they do, and it blocks the 8 and 242 from accessing the main stop in Wollaston.

[JosephR]

Whoevers 'good' idea it was to invent the X8 was wrong. The 126 is more direct. There is only one service to Wolverhampton and it takes a very indirect route. I would bring back the 140 to Blackheath and send the 13A to Dudley. Only because the Hagley road already has a good frequency. So the 140 wouldn't need to be so regular.

[2206]

Whoevers 'good' idea it was to invent the X8 was wrong. The 126 is more direct. There is only one service to Wolverhampton and it takes a very indirect route. I would bring back the 140 to Blackheath and send the 13A to Dudley. Only because the Hagley road already has a good frequency. So the 140 wouldn't need to be so regular.

There's probably not much difference in it between the X8 and 126. Minutes if that.
Who exactly do these proposed changes benefit. Taking away a direct service from Rowley Regis, if there wasn't demand for an every 20 minute direct service from Rowley to Quinton and onto Birmingham NX probably wouldn't run it.

If you want a fast service to Wolverhampton thats what the train and the metro do.

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

There's probably not much difference in it between the X8 and 126. Minutes if that.
Who exactly do these proposed changes benefit. Taking away a direct service from Rowley Regis, if there wasn't demand for an every 20 minute direct service from Rowley to Quinton and onto Birmingham NX probably wouldn't run it.

If you want a fast service to Wolverhampton thats what the train and the metro do.

When the Tram is running that is, but yes the only reason the 79 is probably still run is to link Darlaston and areas not on the tram route to West Bromwich or Wolverhampton and to provide a cheaper method for the people of Moxley, Bilston and Wednesbury who don't want to get the Tram or can't walk to the Tram to get to the shops in Bilston or Wednesbury or Asda Darlaston or get to Wesr Bromwich or Wolverhampton where they could connect to Birmingham on the Tram. 

[JosephR]

There's probably not much difference in it between the X8 and 126. Minutes if that.
Who exactly do these proposed changes benefit. Taking away a direct service from Rowley Regis, if there wasn't demand for an every 20 minute direct service from Rowley to Quinton and onto Birmingham NX probably wouldn't run it.

If you want a fast service to Wolverhampton thats what the train and the metro do.

The tram, the 126 and X8 take completely different routes. All this change would do is leave long lane with a lesser frequency. 

[JosephR]

Bring back the 116 Tamworth to Birmingham. 

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

Bring back the 116 Tamworth to Birmingham.

The 110 exists and does the same journey Tamworth to Birmingham 

[Steve3229vp]

The 110 exists and does the same journey Tamworth to Birmingham

No it doesn't, the 116 was a completely different:

110 via Fazeley, Whitehouse Common, Sutton Coldfield and Erdington
116 via Kingsbury, Curdworth and Minworth

[j789]

Having got to know the Stourbridge network quite well in recent years, I'd make changes to the tendered routes running from there, particularly the 17, 25 and 57.

The 25 seems to carry fresh air on the Stourbridge and Wollaston section so I'd get rid of that service altogether (seems to run a crazy 30 min frequency too which is far too high on that section).

I'd replace it by re-routing the 17 along the 25 route from Stourbridge via Wollaston back to the a491 at Audnam (there's no need for the 17 to run direct along that section of a491 from Stourbridge as it is served by the pretty regular commercial services 6 and 16).

I would then also send the 17 along the current 25 route by turning right up Bretell Lane and current route off that up to Swan Lane. However instead of then continuing the 25 to Dudley, run via Swan Lane and the 226 route to get back onto the a491 to serve Wordsley. The 226 can cover the 25 route over most of those lost sections up to Brierley Hill and Merry Hill.

I'd also get rid of the 57 which also rarely sees high passenger numbers. Most of the route up to Wall Heath and Kingswinford is covered by the 16 and doesn't need replication against a commercial route. The missing bits of the 57 through estate roads aren't a million miles away from other routes either.

The missing bit in Wall Heath of the 57 could just have a further bit tagged onto the 'new' 17 so again the 17 doesn't just replicate the 16 route.

This would obviously lengthen the 17 route but ultimately provides what tendered services should, services where commercial operation isn't feasible. It would also save substantial money for the local authority too as getting rid of the 25 and 57 would save money (even if some sort of replacement on demand type-service, over any substantial missing section, was needed).

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

No it doesn't, the 116 was a completely different:

110 via Fazeley, Whitehouse Common, Sutton Coldfield and Erdington
116 via Kingsbury, Curdworth and Minworth

I said same journey not Route as I don't know both routes anyway I'm saying there was already a route between Tamworth and Birmingham the 110

[EK40]

Bring back the 116 Tamworth to Birmingham.

the 116 barely carried anyone between birmingham to minworth from what i remember of it tbh, and then kingsbury now has a 30 min service to tamworth on the 76 which is where i presume most passengers would've used it.

[Tony]

I said same journey not Route as I don't know both routes anyway I'm saying there was already a route between Tamworth and Birmingham the 110

It's nothing like the same journey.

It's like saying the 4 and X12 in Birmingham are the same journey