Birmingham Central Garage

[Coventrybususer95]

6844 looks to be in a state broke advertisement frame dented body panels 

[MasterPlan]

Some of the 23/24 and X21/X22 branded buses are having their branding adjusted to say every 5 and 10 mins respectively (even that's a bit generous given how many don't end up running).

[BBS]

Some of the 23/24 and X21/X22 branded buses are having their branding adjusted to say every 5 and 10 mins respectively (even that's a bit generous given how many don't end up running).

Aren't they being debranded 

[Mike K]

Aren't they being debranded

4 Harborne ones were debranded, 6858-6861. There were 22 branded ones, and following frequency reductions over most of the network, that was too many for the reduced PVR. None of the University ones have been debranded as far as I'm aware. 

[MasterPlan]

So it looks like 6887 which was supposed to do the 16:20 X21 to Bartley Green was taken away to do a 97 to Chemlsey Wood instead. I am curious as to what the thought process is behind a decision like that.

[j789]

So it looks like 6887 which was supposed to do the 16:20 X21 to Bartley Green was taken away to do a 97 to Chemlsey Wood instead. I am curious as to what the thought process is behind a decision like that.

Could be there was 1 spare driver available for this bus who was not route trained on the x21 but could run an otherwise missing 97 so that got run instead.

Plenty of scenarios possible, clearly not good if you want an x21 but the driver shortage is not over yet so unfortunately things like this will continue.

[ellspurs]

Also, the 97 is pretty much the only bus that runs down that route out of the city now (Bordesley Green/Meadway), whereas there are alternatives for parts of the x21 route.

[MasterPlan]

Also, the 97 is pretty much the only bus that runs down that route out of the city now (Bordesley Green/Meadway), whereas there are alternatives for parts of the x21 route.

That can be argued both ways though, there's alternatives for parts of the 97 too, whereby the main suberbian sections of the X21 there isn't.
Also add to the fact that the 97 is every 5 mins anyway so there's nowhere near as much of a wait for the next one.

What @j789 said I can understand but not that.

[Isle of Stroma]

Also add to the fact that the 97 is every 5 mins anyway so there's nowhere near as much of a wait for the next one.

That's not the case, either in theory or in practice!

[Mike K]

That's not the case, either in theory or in practice!

It's still three times more frequent than the X21 during the day though, so the impact of one missing bus is not as bad.

[Lukeee]

It's still three times more frequent than the X21 during the day though, so the impact of one missing bus is not as bad.

Depends if it carries three times as many passengers 

[Mike K]

Depends if it carries three times as many passengers

It's three times more frequent so one missing bus is an 11% reduction in hourly capacity of one route vs a 33% reduction in hourly capacity of the other. Unless I'm missing the point. 

[MasterPlan]

What I can't understand is why the branding has been changed to reflect the frequencies now all of a sudden. The Uni line has been every 10 mins ever since the X20 disappeared for example so its a bit weird really. Unless more changes are going to happen.

[monkeyjoe]

What I can't understand is why the branding has been changed to reflect the frequencies now all of a sudden. The Uni line has been every 10 mins ever since the X20 disappeared for example so its a bit weird really. Unless more changes are going to happen.

I assume they waiting to see if passenger numbers pick up to the old levels before changing time  to review etc , perhaps future projections they are not going too so make the changes. 

[BusDriverBosh]

What I can't understand is why the branding has been changed to reflect the frequencies now all of a sudden. The Uni line has been every 10 mins ever since the X20 disappeared for example so its a bit weird really. Unless more changes are going to happen.

I assume they waiting to see if passenger numbers pick up to the old levels before changing time  to review etc , perhaps future projections they are not going too so make the changes.

It was due to the shortage of drivers, but since the strike the rotas at BC are now filling up with names.
Now, with the new duties coming in next month, I assume they want to see how it plans out before increasing the service frequency. This results in more lines on the rota with more duties to cover.