Stagecoach in Birmingham

[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.

Looking closer at the new route on BusTimes, I'm a bit puzzled by the stopping arrangements on Yardley Wood Road and Trittiford Road.

The Oakcroft Road stop is not listed for journeys towards Kings Heath. For the journeys towards Shirley and Solihull, it will use both the Billesley Common and Mayford Grove stops, which makes no sense as they are round the corner from each other.

[Stu]

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.

I contacted TfWM mainly to query the new stopping arrangement on Yardley Wood Road and Trittiford Road, and got the following reply today:

"I am sorry to hear that you are unhappy with these changes but unfortunately the change in stops is a consequence of the service no longer serving Westridge road.
We are re-routing away from Westridge road due to buses getting stuck due to badly parked cars on Westridge and also Colebourne road."

Didn't really answer my question, but does explain the route change.

[Jack D]

A9 does two school journeys now up to and from big johns in chelmsley wood twice a day 

[Jack D]

A9 does two school journeys now up to and from big johns in chelmsley wood twice a day

A9 now runs every half an hour all day now instead of only every hour after 2

[MasterPlan]

36218 appears to have a flickering display, as if its being switched on constantly. On the 46 currently. 

[Stu]

Stagecoach's service updates are almost as bad as those posted by NX's social media team.

Service 169: Morning and afternoon peak journeys will now longer serve Stovebow Avenue instead running via Bloomsfield Road. Click here for timetable

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-23/12/2024-16:14:12:168

That's obviously "Blossomfield Road", and the other one should be 'Stonebow Avenue', though that's just the name of the stop on Widney Lane, it doesn't actually serve that road.

[Justin Tyme]

Stagecoach's service updates are almost as bad as those posted by NX's social media team.
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-23/12/2024-16:14:12:168

That's obviously "Blossomfield Road", and the other one should be 'Stonebow Avenue', though that's just the name of the stop on Widney Lane, it doesn't actually serve that road.

I have to agree.  Stagecoach Midlands' HQ is in Northampton, and this is just the latest of many mistakes made in recent years.  I know Solihull is a long way from Northampton, and even from Rugby garage, but ...

[the trainbasher]

I have to agree.  Stagecoach Midlands' HQ is in Northampton, and this is just the latest of many mistakes made in recent years.  I know Solihull is a long way from Northampton, and even from Rugby garage, but ...

I thought socials were done from Stockport

[Sandy Lane]

I have to agree.  Stagecoach Midlands' HQ is in Northampton, and this is just the latest of many mistakes made in recent years.  I know Solihull is a long way from Northampton, and even from Rugby garage, but ...

Did anyone spot the service notes about SC on the Bus Checker real time app? 
"Please note that due to last minute changes to the timetable information submitted by SC after the final data upload, there may be some services with the incorrect last journey times, particularly with the earlier finish on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve with some routes. Please refer to the SC website, for the most up to date information for your area. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. SC Coventry area, SC Nuneaton area, SC Warwick and Leamington area".

SC advance announcements for their Christmas / New Year running plans did not appear on their website for the Coventry area (and I could not find anything on their 'Midlands' page either). Very **** poor shown Stagecoach!

Sounds like their traffic planning dept are struggling?

[Justin Tyme]

Whether they're struggling or whether it's lack of attention to detail I do not know.  I suspect the latter.

Stagecoach Midlands uploaded Christmas and New Year changes to its "Promos and Offers" web page this year: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/midlands/christmas-and-new-year-bus-services-warwickshire

I wonder how many customers thought to look there?

Note that in the Nuneaton area, a "normal Sunday service" (except for late journeys) was alleged to be operated on Christmas Eve (which was a Tuesday).  Needless to say, that wasn't the case.

[Coventrybususer95]

Looks like the 188 has had a major route change before it's even started 

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/plan-your-journey/find-a-timetable/#/route/cen_39188_0_H_y11_1-1?direction=Inbound&when=0

Wonder how much it's costing TFWM to keep changing the timetables/flag poles and  route maps

[ellspurs]

Looks like the 188 has had a major route change before it's even started

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/plan-your-journey/find-a-timetable/#/route/cen_39188_0_H_y11_1-1?direction=Inbound&when=0

Wonder how much it's costing TFWM to keep changing the timetables/flag poles and  route maps

The previous route would've only had 6-8 flagpoles to change as it was mostly rural.

That's the way the 87 runs from Balsall Common, so I wonder either whether it was originally intended to do that or there were complaints. Berkswell village misses out on having a regular bus service once again.

EDIT: I just looked at the 74a map that was linked on the TfWM page and that is showing that it is still going to Dudley even though it terminates at Dudley Port so it may just be a cock up on TfWM's part.

[Ingleboro261F]

Looks like the 188 has had a major route change before it's even started

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/plan-your-journey/find-a-timetable/#/route/cen_39188_0_H_y11_1-1?direction=Inbound&when=0

Wonder how much it's costing TFWM to keep changing the timetables/flag poles and  route maps

The 188 is gonna get so pack at about 4 due to all the solihull sixth form students. Probably gonna be a pain to scan for everyone to get on I'm assuming 

[Stu]

EDIT: I just looked at the 74a map that was linked on the TfWM page and that is showing that it is still going to Dudley even though it terminates at Dudley Port so it may just be a cock up on TfWM's part.

The maps on the TfWM website always show the current route, even if you're looking at a 'future' timetable.

The 188 is gonna get so pack at about 4 due to all the solihull sixth form students. Probably gonna be a pain to scan for everyone to get on I'm assuming

Why do you think it will be any different compared to the A3?

[Ingleboro261F]

Because stagecoach have very wonky ticket machines sometimes swift cards don't scan at all some do scan whereas landflight have a very simple ticket machine where you scan the swift card you get on