Stagecoach in Birmingham

[Stu]

Do the buses still travel from Rugby everyday or have the a depot in Birmingham now.

Nope, still running from Rugby:
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/scmn-36428#journeys/537924195

[Secondary trigger 28]

Have stagecoach  been re given the 71 on Sundays

[Stu]

Have stagecoach  been re given the 71 on Sundays

Short-term basis:
https://wmbu.org.uk/2024/03/changes-to-71-service-from-sunday-3rd-march-2024/

[Stu]

It's almost reassuring to know that it's not just NX that have issues with buses not tracking!

Took an incredible leap of faith this afternoon, I had need to pop into Kings Heath for some shopping, so I thought I'd whizz over on the 169.

When I checked on BusTimes, there was only one bus tracking towards Solihull with seemingly nothing else coming the other way. I checked on Twitter/X and Stagecoach hadn't reported any cancelled journeys on this route.

I didn't have anything to lose really, if nothing turned up after a bit, I'd just walk up to Billesley Fire Station to get the 11C.

So a few minutes before the 169 was scheduled to arrive, I made the very short walk from my home through to Westridge Road, where I waited at the junction with Dene Hollow.

Lo and behold, actually smack on time, I saw the welcome sight of a bus coming up the road.

I can confirm it is 36428 which is the second bus operating the 169 today, though it's not tracking on BusTimes. Maybe that's why it was empty when I boarded!

[Mayfield]

36483 noted today on back of Crouch recovery truck on the M6 around 18.00 presumably on the way to Rugby.

[BBS]

Rugby, Leamington and Nuneaton to get electrics, may see these Birmingham service get those too

[MW]

Rugby, Leamington and Nuneaton to get electrics, may see these Birmingham service get those too

Birmingham tendered services are Euro 6 spec. Why would Stagecoach allocate more expensive Electric vehicles to Birmingham when there's no obligation. That's without beginning to consider mileage and range!

[Sandy Lane]

Rugby, Leamington and Nuneaton to get electrics, may see these Birmingham service get those too

Have you got any more gen?
If the funding is from ZEBRA 2 I believe it may only be intended for bus routes in Warwickshire so may not cover Birmingham as well?

[Rachvince53]

Have you got any more gen?
If the funding is from ZEBRA 2 I believe it may only be intended for bus routes in Warwickshire so may not cover Birmingham as well?

Correct. According to Warwickshire County Council,  the new buses will be used on certain local services in the Warwick District Council area plus Stratford-upon-Avon services 77/78 on Sundays when fewer buses are needed elsewhere.

[Stu]

Rugby, Leamington and Nuneaton to get electrics, may see these Birmingham service get those too

Nope, not for Birmingham routes:
https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/5090/zero-emission-buses-are-set-for-warwickshire-roads-thanks-to-new-funding

[Ingleboro261F]

Bit of an unusual assignment of buses in Birmingham the KX60s being allocated Birmingham routes tiday

[BBS]

Bit of an unusual assignment of buses in Birmingham the KX60s being allocated Birmingham routes tiday

Seems like all the Euro 6 E200s are on local Rugby routes, and the non euro 6s are on the Birmingham routes 

[Stu]

Looks like the 169 is changing again from Monday 2nd September.

No longer serving Westridge Road in Billesley, will go via Yardley Wood Road and Trittiford Road same as the 3.

[ellspurs]

Looks like the 169 is changing again from Monday 2nd September.

No longer serving Westridge Road in Billesley, will go via Yardley Wood Road and Trittiford Road same as the 3.

At a guess either issues with parking or NIMBYs.

[Stu]

At a guess either issues with parking or NIMBYs.

I do occasionally use the 169, mainly on a Saturday, it is handy for me as its actually the closest stop to my house, so is handy for trips to Kings Heath, Shirley and Solihull.

Westridge Road isn't too bad to get along for buses, and as well as myself I do see other people boarding and alighting along there. With regards to parking issues, there can be more of a squeeze on the section through Hall Green, between Highfield Road and Haslucks Green Road.

To be honest, its the kind of route that would probably be better suited having Mercedes minibuses, like Kevs and Diamond have, as they'd be a bit more manoeuvrable round those parts than the midlength E200s currently used.