The end of an era: last day of the 4XX numbered services.

[Ash]

So this will be the first review to eliminate its area coding totally in the Sandwell area although services like the 424 and 425 remain the main bulk of the 4XX services will vanish from our streets to be replaced by a 'simpler and easier to understand numbering system'.  Although I guess the 400 service will reappear for the sandwell shows when there not rained off. So I wonder if there will be many enthusiasts around West Bromwich on the 27th October taking what will be the last photos of the old numbering system for many services.

[nx4737]

Centro logic: Have lots of routes with the same number... how many 5's do we have now?

[Tomjusttom]

Gotta be 5 possibly?

[vinh1000]

Seems to be loads of 5
SHame they renumbered :(

5   National Express West Midlands   Solihull Rail Station      
5   National Express West Midlands   Codsall Town Centre, Bakers Way      
5   National Express West Midlands   West Bromwich, West Bromwich Bus Station
5   MIKE DE COURCEY LIMITED   Brownshill Green, Cardinal Newman School 1
5   WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL   Longford (Coventry), Tesco Superstore

[Gareth]

Surely a network is to provide an easy to use integrated transport system. Am I missing something? I find it totally confusing and have no idea which bus goes where anymore. To have 3 (4 if you count NXC) routes with the same number by the same company is wrong.

At least in the old numbering system there were similarities with places served and route numbers.
eg:
51
451
951 (X51) all served Scott Arms

93,94,95,96,97,98,99 all served areas such as Chelmsley Wood, Kinghurst, Marston Green etc.

In the public consultations, are people really asking for new route numbers?

Should we be looking at the wider picture and not be self absorbed in our immediate areas? Or is it me that needs to move with the times?

[Tony]

Surely a network is to provide an easy to use integrated transport system. Am I missing something? I find it totally confusing and have no idea which bus goes where anymore. To have 3 (4 if you count NXC) routes with the same number by the same company is wrong.

At least in the old numbering system there were similarities with places served and route numbers.
eg:
51
451
951 (X51) all served Scott Arms

93,94,95,96,97,98,99 all served areas such as Chelmsley Wood, Kinghurst, Marston Green etc.

In the public consultations, are people really asking for new route numbers?

Should we be looking at the wider picture and not be self absorbed in our immediate areas? Or is it me that needs to move with the times?

Yes the public have been asked, and said that one or two digit numbers are easier to remember

[notepanel]

Surely a network is to provide an easy to use integrated transport system. Am I missing something? I find it totally confusing and have no idea which bus goes where anymore. To have 3 (4 if you count NXC) routes with the same number by the same company is wrong.

At least in the old numbering system there were similarities with places served and route numbers.
eg:
51
451
951 (X51) all served Scott Arms

93,94,95,96,97,98,99 all served areas such as Chelmsley Wood, Kinghurst, Marston Green etc.

In the public consultations, are people really asking for new route numbers?

Should we be looking at the wider picture and not be self absorbed in our immediate areas? Or is it me that needs to move with the times?

Yes the public have been asked, and said that one or two digit numbers are easier to remember

I find it a very sad state of affairs when people struggle to remember a 3 digit number on a system that has worked for years.

As an occasional user of buses in Sandwell, with an interest and knowledge of the industry, I had a slight clue about what bus I'd be after. Now I wouldn't have a clue, and would have to start my search from scratch. This particular review seems to have messed the numbers up considerably, and with no obvious connection between numbers. (Eg 688 to 121 & 283 to 289? At least in previous reviews most unchanged routes just lost the first one or two digits)

To me the benefits of better remembering a 1/2 digit number are nothing compared to the confusion that is caused by the new numbers.

There was an occasion before where me and a friend had to make our way to Sutton and then go to Sparkhill police station. If we did that journey now, one of us would have used two NXWM route 5s, the other two 6s. Some people have no idea on public transport and can be quite unobservant, so if they'd looked up buses along the Stratford Road, could quite possibly think 'I get the number 5' and end up in a mess.

[winston]

Surely a network is to provide an easy to use integrated transport system. Am I missing something? I find it totally confusing and have no idea which bus goes where anymore. To have 3 (4 if you count NXC) routes with the same number by the same company is wrong.

At least in the old numbering system there were similarities with places served and route numbers.
eg:
51
451
951 (X51) all served Scott Arms

93,94,95,96,97,98,99 all served areas such as Chelmsley Wood, Kinghurst, Marston Green etc.

In the public consultations, are people really asking for new route numbers?

Should we be looking at the wider picture and not be self absorbed in our immediate areas? Or is it me that needs to move with the times?

Yes the public have been asked, and said that one or two digit numbers are easier to remember

I find it a very sad state of affairs when people struggle to remember a 3 digit number on a system that has worked for years.

As an occasional user of buses in Sandwell, with an interest and knowledge of the industry, I had a slight clue about what bus I'd be after. Now I wouldn't have a clue, and would have to start my search from scratch. This particular review seems to have messed the numbers up considerably, and with no obvious connection between numbers. (Eg 688 to 121 & 283 to 289? At least in previous reviews most unchanged routes just lost the first one or two digits)

To me the benefits of better remembering a 1/2 digit number are nothing compared to the confusion that is caused by the new numbers.

There was an occasion before where me and a friend had to make our way to Sutton and then go to Sparkhill police station. If we did that journey now, one of us would have used two NXWM route 5s, the other two 6s. Some people have no idea on public transport and can be quite unobservant, so if they'd looked up buses along the Stratford Road, could quite possibly think 'I get the number 5' and end up in a mess.

The 688 being renumbered 121 is to bring in it line with the 120 & 122 which all serve similar/ the same areas, the 238 being re-numbered 289 is also because the new 89 runs on common sections with the old 238

[wulfrun]

Yes the public have been asked, and said that one or two digit numbers are easier to remember

Names and addresses please - I want these people named and shamed. Idiots is what they are.

This whole renumbering to 1/2 digits is an absolute idiotic shambles. The (N) in N.W.M. stands for NETWORK. And on a NETWORK all bus route numbers have GOT to be unique. Otherwise it is confusing. Especially when reading twitter feeds looking for service updates when people report "Why has the No. 5 not turned up?" (cough) Which No. 5?  ::)

BONKERS

[richie]

I do think that route numbers need adjusting in reviews but not to the degree in this review I get the 688 been renumbered 121 I think that makes sense but why has the 238 changed to 289 what is the point? And where has this new service 53 come from why 53?

[Stu]

53 is a combination of 450 and 123 I guess.

Also, it serves parts of Londonderry and Warley, as do the new 54/A and 55 services.

[windy miller]

I think all circular route No's should begin with a '0'. All routes in/out of birmingham prefixed with a '1' ie 101-199 and Dudley with a '2', ie 201-299, Walsall with a '3' 300-399, West brom with a '4' 400-499 and wolves with a '5'. :-\

[Tomjusttom]

And coventry with a 6

[sconehead85]

I have some ideas about West Midlands route numbering and I will make my suggestion in a new thread.

sconehead85

[Westy]

Why didnt Diamond renumber their 401e?