Birmingham Central Garage

[Sh4318]

73 is already single decker E200 MMC operated I think.
As whenever i've seen it recently its been an E200 MMC.

Also does the training fleet need double decker vehicles 4697/4698? Or could those be returned to service and swapped for some 17XX B7RLE?

4698 is euro 3. Would it not have to be trapped. The B7RLE are only 12 years old, lots of life left in them

[2206]

4698 is euro 3. Would it not have to be trapped. The B7RLE are only 12 years old, lots of life left in them

Probably not as 4295, 4301, 4508 - 4523, etc aren't trapped. They could be used on routes that don't need Euro 4+ vehicles, such as AG 11A/11C/1/1A, PN 6, WA 6, etc.

I think those B7RLE are euro 3 as well.
1750, etc are 14 years old, so only 1 year less than 4697/4698. Main sites says new November 2006.

[4679]

4523 has been trapped as it's got an Ad blue flap.

[BBS]

Probably not as 4295, 4301, 4508 - 4523, etc aren't trapped. They could be used on routes that don't need Euro 4+ vehicles, such as AG 11A/11C/1/1A, PN 6, WA 6, etc.

I think those B7RLE are euro 3 as well.
1750, etc are 14 years old, so only 1 year less than 4697/4698. Main sites says new November 2006.

They are always on 73 and 5

[2206]

They are always on 73 and 5

What are always on the 5 and 73?
If you mean 4295 and 4301, I see them on the the 11 and 1/1A. 4295 was on the 11A the other day I think (might have bene Tuesday).

[ellspurs]

Keep the 55 single decker and run it non-stop between the City Centre and Hunters' Moon. That'll alleviate the crowding.

[2206]

Keep the 55 single decker and run it non-stop between the City Centre and Hunters' Moon. That'll alleviate the crowding.

Doesn't sound like a good idea.
Would miss out all the passengers on the Washwood Heath Road and would cause crowding on the 94's, so wouldn't solve anything and you would basically be just moving the problem to another route. And would completly cut Fox & Goose - Bucklands End, etc link and when I wait for it there people do alight there from that direction. As well as cutting connections with the Outer Circle.

Presumably NX have some double decker E400 which will go on there now, which I would expect will alleviate crowding on that route.

[Tony]

Doesn't sound like a good idea.
Would miss out all the passengers on the Washwood Heath Road and would cause crowding on the 94's, so wouldn't solve anything and you would basically be just moving the problem to another route. And would completly cut Fox & Goose - Bucklands End, etc link and when I wait for it there people do alight there from that direction. As well as cutting connections with the Outer Circle.

Presumably NX have some double decker E400 which will go on there now, which I would expect will alleviate crowding on that route.

BC will hopefully be 100% DD from October, so the 55 will be guaranteed double decks

[Steve3229vp]

BC will hopefully be 100% DD from October, so the 55 will be guaranteed double decks

One of the Facebook bus sites (can't remember which) stated a while back that the omnilinks are going on to the 65 and 67, I hope this is wrong!

[Stu]

Keep the 55 single decker and run it non-stop between the City Centre and Hunters' Moon. That'll alleviate the crowding.

Doesn't sound like a good idea.
Would miss out all the passengers on the Washwood Heath Road and would cause crowding on the 94's, so wouldn't solve anything and you would basically be just moving the problem to another route. And would completly cut Fox & Goose - Bucklands End, etc link and when I wait for it there people do alight there from that direction. As well as cutting connections with the Outer Circle.

Presumably NX have some double decker E400 which will go on there now, which I would expect will alleviate crowding on that route.

Huh? A few days ago you were suggesting a new 'X55' service along the same lines and thought it was a great idea?

[ellspurs]

Huh? A few days ago you were suggesting a new 'X55' service along the same lines and thought it was a great idea?

The one I proposed doesn't stop by where 2206 would want to catch it.

[2206]

Huh? A few days ago you were suggesting a new 'X55' service along the same lines and thought it was a great idea?

The one I proposed doesn't stop by where 2206 would want to catch it.

My idea was Coleshill Road and Bromford Lane and then non stop from where it would meet the X12/X70, so wouldn't cut links and also its connection with the Outer Circle. And then a frequency increase on the 94 on the remainder of the route along the Washwood Heath Road to fill in the gaps and maintain the high frequency. As at the time I think it was also mentioned about low trees on Kendrick Avenue  preventing the 55 from going double decker.

But that was before it was confirmed that the 55 should be 100% double decker from October. 

[Lukeee]

One of the Facebook bus sites (can't remember which) stated a while back that the omnilinks are going on to the 65 and 67, I hope this is wrong!

That wont work, 67 gets too busy, especially around factory/warehouse shift starts/finish, 65 you could get away with single deckers but that would cause issues as they inter work on Saturdays

[2206]

6845 on the 08:11 X2 to St Peters School arrived later on, which I got on and this had a full and standing load  from Sheldon/Old Lode Lane into Solihull Town Centre (where most passengers departed). This one was also duplicated by 4906 which looked to have a full load of passengers as well, as the driver on 6845 was directing most passengers to get that one.

Was waiting for the same X2 departure today and 2153 arrived.
Strangely the driver was shouting "school only" at passengers for some reason. Though last week 4906 on the same duplicate was clearly operating a public service and picking up members of the public.
Not only that but he had the public service display up "X2 Solihull then St Peters" like 6830. Was this not supposed to  be duplicating 6830 which was behind on the public service?
There does seem to be an earlier departure shown as Schools Only, which runs as an X2S about half an hour earlier on the timetable at 07:43. But doesn't seem to be one at 08:11.
Otherwise if he is correct surely this departure should be showing X2S on the destination display as well?

[monkeyjoe]

Not all of these short X70's are parking out of the way on the Newport Rd / Coleshill Rd stop, caused  a right nusiance when i was trying to get my car out the BP earlier