Questions for the NXWM Operations Director

[Bob]

Hi the driver of the X51 I was on on Wednesday said that there were rumours/possible plans to extend the 302 service to cannock. Is that right? Id have said highly unlikely but you never know.

The driver said it would be a daytime service

[lynx1103]

Back in Lea Hall days the 71 only operated 30 mins

With 72 running every 30 mins giving a bus every 15 mins
Solihull-Chelmlsy Wood

With additional peak time journeys giving a bus every 10 mins
Solihull-Chelmlsy Wood

It wasn't until September 1999 when the 71 was increased to every 20 mins
And service 72 every 20 mins

A bus Solihull-Chelmlsly Wood every 10 mins

[Rob H]

Changes to 71/71A/72/90/66/638/966

As promised here is the detail of the changes from 27th October.

- Service 90 renumbered service 70, and extended from Chelmsley Wood to Solihull. Frequency unchanged at every 30 minutes (with peak time extras).
- Service 71 increased in frequency from every 20 to every 15 minutes along the whole length of the route. The route is unchanged except in Castle Vale where it will serve Tangmere Drive instead of Farnborough Road (service 38 (old 638) will serve Farnborough Road instead).
- Service 71A withdrawn apart from a few school journeys to cope with passenger loadings at peak times. The route of the 71A is unchanged.
- Service 72 increased in frequency from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Heathland Avenue (Castle Bromwich), and reduced to every half an hour from every 20 minutes between Heathland Avenue and Solihull. The route is unchanged.
- Service 638 rerouted between Castle Vale and Erdington to serve the Fort Shopping Park instead of Chester Road, and it is also rerouted around Castle Vale estate to serve Farnborough Road. It will serve Castle Vale estate in both directions instead of via a one-way loop (as it does at present). It will continue to provide a link from Castle Vale to Erdington. The frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes and it will be renumbered the 38.
- Service 66 retimed to improve reliability on the new route that was introduced from the 9th June following the North Birmingham Network Review. There are no change to the Sunday timetable on the 66, and no changes to the 66A timetable on any day.
- The 966 timetable has been amended to include new tendered journeys in the evenings, and Sunday mornings.

The key benefits of these changes are:
- Increase in frequency between Tile Cross and Solihull with services 70, 71 and 72 providing a fitted 7/8 minute frequency (up from every 10).
- New links from Water Orton and Coleshill to Marston Green and Solihull on the 70.
- Services 70 and 72 provide a fitted 15 minute frequency between Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green, up from every 20.
- Increase in frequency to every 15 minutes from every 20 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Bromford on the 72.
- All timetables have been re-done to improve reliability.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 966.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 70, 71 and 72 to improve access to shift changes at industry at Jaguar Land Rover on Lode Lane and in Coleshill.

Do you know which way the 70 will be taking between Chelmsley Wood & Solihull :)

[Tony]

Changes to 71/71A/72/90/66/638/966

As promised here is the detail of the changes from 27th October.

- Service 90 renumbered service 70, and extended from Chelmsley Wood to Solihull. Frequency unchanged at every 30 minutes (with peak time extras).
- Service 71 increased in frequency from every 20 to every 15 minutes along the whole length of the route. The route is unchanged except in Castle Vale where it will serve Tangmere Drive instead of Farnborough Road (service 38 (old 638) will serve Farnborough Road instead).
- Service 71A withdrawn apart from a few school journeys to cope with passenger loadings at peak times. The route of the 71A is unchanged.
- Service 72 increased in frequency from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Heathland Avenue (Castle Bromwich), and reduced to every half an hour from every 20 minutes between Heathland Avenue and Solihull. The route is unchanged.
- Service 638 rerouted between Castle Vale and Erdington to serve the Fort Shopping Park instead of Chester Road, and it is also rerouted around Castle Vale estate to serve Farnborough Road. It will serve Castle Vale estate in both directions instead of via a one-way loop (as it does at present). It will continue to provide a link from Castle Vale to Erdington. The frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes and it will be renumbered the 38.
- Service 66 retimed to improve reliability on the new route that was introduced from the 9th June following the North Birmingham Network Review. There are no change to the Sunday timetable on the 66, and no changes to the 66A timetable on any day.
- The 966 timetable has been amended to include new tendered journeys in the evenings, and Sunday mornings.

The key benefits of these changes are:
- Increase in frequency between Tile Cross and Solihull with services 70, 71 and 72 providing a fitted 7/8 minute frequency (up from every 10).
- New links from Water Orton and Coleshill to Marston Green and Solihull on the 70.
- Services 70 and 72 provide a fitted 15 minute frequency between Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green, up from every 20.
- Increase in frequency to every 15 minutes from every 20 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Bromford on the 72.
- All timetables have been re-done to improve reliability.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 966.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 70, 71 and 72 to improve access to shift changes at industry at Jaguar Land Rover on Lode Lane and in Coleshill.

Do you know which way the 70 will be taking between Chelmsley Wood & Solihull :)

Same as the 72 I would think if it is making a joint 15 minute frequency with it

[Rob H]

Changes to 71/71A/72/90/66/638/966

As promised here is the detail of the changes from 27th October.

- Service 90 renumbered service 70, and extended from Chelmsley Wood to Solihull. Frequency unchanged at every 30 minutes (with peak time extras).
- Service 71 increased in frequency from every 20 to every 15 minutes along the whole length of the route. The route is unchanged except in Castle Vale where it will serve Tangmere Drive instead of Farnborough Road (service 38 (old 638) will serve Farnborough Road instead).
- Service 71A withdrawn apart from a few school journeys to cope with passenger loadings at peak times. The route of the 71A is unchanged.
- Service 72 increased in frequency from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Heathland Avenue (Castle Bromwich), and reduced to every half an hour from every 20 minutes between Heathland Avenue and Solihull. The route is unchanged.
- Service 638 rerouted between Castle Vale and Erdington to serve the Fort Shopping Park instead of Chester Road, and it is also rerouted around Castle Vale estate to serve Farnborough Road. It will serve Castle Vale estate in both directions instead of via a one-way loop (as it does at present). It will continue to provide a link from Castle Vale to Erdington. The frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes and it will be renumbered the 38.
- Service 66 retimed to improve reliability on the new route that was introduced from the 9th June following the North Birmingham Network Review. There are no change to the Sunday timetable on the 66, and no changes to the 66A timetable on any day.
- The 966 timetable has been amended to include new tendered journeys in the evenings, and Sunday mornings.

The key benefits of these changes are:
- Increase in frequency between Tile Cross and Solihull with services 70, 71 and 72 providing a fitted 7/8 minute frequency (up from every 10).
- New links from Water Orton and Coleshill to Marston Green and Solihull on the 70.
- Services 70 and 72 provide a fitted 15 minute frequency between Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green, up from every 20.
- Increase in frequency to every 15 minutes from every 20 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Bromford on the 72.
- All timetables have been re-done to improve reliability.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 966.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 70, 71 and 72 to improve access to shift changes at industry at Jaguar Land Rover on Lode Lane and in Coleshill.

Do you know which way the 70 will be taking between Chelmsley Wood & Solihull :)

Same as the 72 I would think if it is making a joint 15 minute frequency with it

So if it does the same route as the 72 between Chelmsley Wood & Solihull it will come through Sheldon then :)

[monkeyjoe]

Changes to 71/71A/72/90/66/638/966

As promised here is the detail of the changes from 27th October.

- Service 90 renumbered service 70, and extended from Chelmsley Wood to Solihull. Frequency unchanged at every 30 minutes (with peak time extras).
- Service 71 increased in frequency from every 20 to every 15 minutes along the whole length of the route. The route is unchanged except in Castle Vale where it will serve Tangmere Drive instead of Farnborough Road (service 38 (old 638) will serve Farnborough Road instead).
- Service 71A withdrawn apart from a few school journeys to cope with passenger loadings at peak times. The route of the 71A is unchanged.
- Service 72 increased in frequency from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Heathland Avenue (Castle Bromwich), and reduced to every half an hour from every 20 minutes between Heathland Avenue and Solihull. The route is unchanged.
- Service 638 rerouted between Castle Vale and Erdington to serve the Fort Shopping Park instead of Chester Road, and it is also rerouted around Castle Vale estate to serve Farnborough Road. It will serve Castle Vale estate in both directions instead of via a one-way loop (as it does at present). It will continue to provide a link from Castle Vale to Erdington. The frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes and it will be renumbered the 38.
- Service 66 retimed to improve reliability on the new route that was introduced from the 9th June following the North Birmingham Network Review. There are no change to the Sunday timetable on the 66, and no changes to the 66A timetable on any day.
- The 966 timetable has been amended to include new tendered journeys in the evenings, and Sunday mornings.

The key benefits of these changes are:
- Increase in frequency between Tile Cross and Solihull with services 70, 71 and 72 providing a fitted 7/8 minute frequency (up from every 10).
- New links from Water Orton and Coleshill to Marston Green and Solihull on the 70.
- Services 70 and 72 provide a fitted 15 minute frequency between Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green, up from every 20.
- Increase in frequency to every 15 minutes from every 20 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Bromford on the 72.
- All timetables have been re-done to improve reliability.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 966.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 70, 71 and 72 to improve access to shift changes at industry at Jaguar Land Rover on Lode Lane and in Coleshill.

Do you know which way the 70 will be taking between Chelmsley Wood & Solihull :)

Same as the 72 I would think if it is making a joint 15 minute frequency with it

So if it does the same route as the 72 between Chelmsley Wood & Solihull it will come through Sheldon then :)

It's quite clear from the orginal statement that it will or am i just being grumpy? lol

[NX OD]

Hi Simon,

From various comments/rumours it's becoming apparent that there are increasing capacity issues particularly at the Brimingham based garages, is this largely as a result of health & safety requirements to have marked out bus parking lanes with clear walkways between each row of parked buses? Thus reducing the total usable space to park the allocation within the garage

Do you anticipate having to move things around/open a new garage or outstation anytime soon to cater for growth/potential new routes and free up space at the Birmingham garages?

Hi,

The closure of LH put pressure on the capacity at each garage more than the current parking plans are doing.

There are no plans for depot moves, new depots or outstations at the moment.

Thanks Simon,

Are NXWM intending to grow turnover/profits through increasing passenger journeys on existing services, rather the growing the size of the fleet/introducing new routes on any scale? Obviously Dean Finch's has set the groups longer term objectives of 'driving organic growth' and achieving 'best-in-class margins' within NX group businesses...... High unemployment in the West Midlands will obviously have a bearing on what can be achieved

Are you seeing positive results in terms of increasing passenger numbers following the introduction of all the new buses since 2011 & branding routes?

Growth on existing services is easier (and often cheaper) to achieve than through expansion so that is the main one we are going after but if something made sense for expansion then we would look at it.

Passenger numbers can be affected by lots of factors but broadly we are seeing growth on routes with new buses, branding and high levels of punctuality.

[NX OD]

Changes to 71/71A/72/90/66/638/966

As promised here is the detail of the changes from 27th October.

- Service 90 renumbered service 70, and extended from Chelmsley Wood to Solihull. Frequency unchanged at every 30 minutes (with peak time extras).
- Service 71 increased in frequency from every 20 to every 15 minutes along the whole length of the route. The route is unchanged except in Castle Vale where it will serve Tangmere Drive instead of Farnborough Road (service 38 (old 638) will serve Farnborough Road instead).
- Service 71A withdrawn apart from a few school journeys to cope with passenger loadings at peak times. The route of the 71A is unchanged.
- Service 72 increased in frequency from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Heathland Avenue (Castle Bromwich), and reduced to every half an hour from every 20 minutes between Heathland Avenue and Solihull. The route is unchanged.
- Service 638 rerouted between Castle Vale and Erdington to serve the Fort Shopping Park instead of Chester Road, and it is also rerouted around Castle Vale estate to serve Farnborough Road. It will serve Castle Vale estate in both directions instead of via a one-way loop (as it does at present). It will continue to provide a link from Castle Vale to Erdington. The frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes and it will be renumbered the 38.
- Service 66 retimed to improve reliability on the new route that was introduced from the 9th June following the North Birmingham Network Review. There are no change to the Sunday timetable on the 66, and no changes to the 66A timetable on any day.
- The 966 timetable has been amended to include new tendered journeys in the evenings, and Sunday mornings.

The key benefits of these changes are:
- Increase in frequency between Tile Cross and Solihull with services 70, 71 and 72 providing a fitted 7/8 minute frequency (up from every 10).
- New links from Water Orton and Coleshill to Marston Green and Solihull on the 70.
- Services 70 and 72 provide a fitted 15 minute frequency between Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green, up from every 20.
- Increase in frequency to every 15 minutes from every 20 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Bromford on the 72.
- All timetables have been re-done to improve reliability.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 966.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 70, 71 and 72 to improve access to shift changes at industry at Jaguar Land Rover on Lode Lane and in Coleshill.

Are the above planned frequency increases on the 71 & 72 the reason why Omnilinks 7019 & 7020 have transferred fro PB to AG? Will any further moves be required?

No I don't think that is the reason why those 2 moved to AG.  Not sure on other moves required for this change.

[NX OD]

Changes to 71/71A/72/90/66/638/966

As promised here is the detail of the changes from 27th October.

- Service 90 renumbered service 70, and extended from Chelmsley Wood to Solihull. Frequency unchanged at every 30 minutes (with peak time extras).
- Service 71 increased in frequency from every 20 to every 15 minutes along the whole length of the route. The route is unchanged except in Castle Vale where it will serve Tangmere Drive instead of Farnborough Road (service 38 (old 638) will serve Farnborough Road instead).
- Service 71A withdrawn apart from a few school journeys to cope with passenger loadings at peak times. The route of the 71A is unchanged.
- Service 72 increased in frequency from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Heathland Avenue (Castle Bromwich), and reduced to every half an hour from every 20 minutes between Heathland Avenue and Solihull. The route is unchanged.
- Service 638 rerouted between Castle Vale and Erdington to serve the Fort Shopping Park instead of Chester Road, and it is also rerouted around Castle Vale estate to serve Farnborough Road. It will serve Castle Vale estate in both directions instead of via a one-way loop (as it does at present). It will continue to provide a link from Castle Vale to Erdington. The frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes and it will be renumbered the 38.
- Service 66 retimed to improve reliability on the new route that was introduced from the 9th June following the North Birmingham Network Review. There are no change to the Sunday timetable on the 66, and no changes to the 66A timetable on any day.
- The 966 timetable has been amended to include new tendered journeys in the evenings, and Sunday mornings.

The key benefits of these changes are:
- Increase in frequency between Tile Cross and Solihull with services 70, 71 and 72 providing a fitted 7/8 minute frequency (up from every 10).
- New links from Water Orton and Coleshill to Marston Green and Solihull on the 70.
- Services 70 and 72 provide a fitted 15 minute frequency between Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green, up from every 20.
- Increase in frequency to every 15 minutes from every 20 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Bromford on the 72.
- All timetables have been re-done to improve reliability.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 966.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 70, 71 and 72 to improve access to shift changes at industry at Jaguar Land Rover on Lode Lane and in Coleshill.

Some good changes there, but why renumber the 90 to 70? Is it simply to fit in numericaly with 71, 72 and 73?

It will surely lead to confusion with passengers in Water Orton and Coleshill who have seen their 90 change to 590, back to 90 and now 70.

Hi,

Yes it is to fit in with 71 and 72.

[NX OD]

Hi the driver of the X51 I was on on Wednesday said that there were rumours/possible plans to extend the 302 service to cannock. Is that right? Id have said highly unlikely but you never know.

I can only think that this was linked to the tenders that we bid for.  There are no other plans to do this.

[NX OD]

Hello again Simon.

A few from me again.

1) Bristol Road. Timetable? Sorry for pestering you but its going to make it difficult for my missus to go to work without that timetable mate.

2) Is the above all the October 27th changes? What about what I've heard reference the 29/A extension to Great Park, the 49 curtailing to Great Park and other various snippets of assorted goodness?

Hello,

1) I am on the case again with this now.

2) There are no changes to the 29 or 49 for October.  The plan you are referring to is still being developed.

Thanks alot Simon, its on the website now.

Any idea if/when the 29 will change?

Will be February 2014 at the earliest.

[Bob]

Hi the driver of the X51 I was on on Wednesday said that there were rumours/possible plans to extend the 302 service to cannock. Is that right? Id have said highly unlikely but you never know.

I can only think that this was linked to the tenders that we bid for.  There are no other plans to do this.

Bummer :-( Arriva could do with a run for their money

[andy]

Changes to 71/71A/72/90/66/638/966

As promised here is the detail of the changes from 27th October.

- Service 90 renumbered service 70, and extended from Chelmsley Wood to Solihull. Frequency unchanged at every 30 minutes (with peak time extras).
- Service 71 increased in frequency from every 20 to every 15 minutes along the whole length of the route. The route is unchanged except in Castle Vale where it will serve Tangmere Drive instead of Farnborough Road (service 38 (old 638) will serve Farnborough Road instead).
- Service 71A withdrawn apart from a few school journeys to cope with passenger loadings at peak times. The route of the 71A is unchanged.
- Service 72 increased in frequency from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Heathland Avenue (Castle Bromwich), and reduced to every half an hour from every 20 minutes between Heathland Avenue and Solihull. The route is unchanged.
- Service 638 rerouted between Castle Vale and Erdington to serve the Fort Shopping Park instead of Chester Road, and it is also rerouted around Castle Vale estate to serve Farnborough Road. It will serve Castle Vale estate in both directions instead of via a one-way loop (as it does at present). It will continue to provide a link from Castle Vale to Erdington. The frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes and it will be renumbered the 38.
- Service 66 retimed to improve reliability on the new route that was introduced from the 9th June following the North Birmingham Network Review. There are no change to the Sunday timetable on the 66, and no changes to the 66A timetable on any day.
- The 966 timetable has been amended to include new tendered journeys in the evenings, and Sunday mornings.

The key benefits of these changes are:
- Increase in frequency between Tile Cross and Solihull with services 70, 71 and 72 providing a fitted 7/8 minute frequency (up from every 10).
- New links from Water Orton and Coleshill to Marston Green and Solihull on the 70.
- Services 70 and 72 provide a fitted 15 minute frequency between Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green, up from every 20.
- Increase in frequency to every 15 minutes from every 20 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Bromford on the 72.
- All timetables have been re-done to improve reliability.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 966.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 70, 71 and 72 to improve access to shift changes at industry at Jaguar Land Rover on Lode Lane and in Coleshill.

Some good changes there, but why renumber the 90 to 70? Is it simply to fit in numericaly with 71, 72 and 73?

It will surely lead to confusion with passengers in Water Orton and Coleshill who have seen their 90 change to 590, back to 90 and now 70.

Hi,

Yes it is to fit in with 71 and 72.

And just for a bit more confusion for the residents of Coleshill and Water Orton, there used to be a 70 that operated to Minworth, Walmley and Sutton Coldfield too...

[monkeyjoe]

Changes to 71/71A/72/90/66/638/966

As promised here is the detail of the changes from 27th October.

- Service 90 renumbered service 70, and extended from Chelmsley Wood to Solihull. Frequency unchanged at every 30 minutes (with peak time extras).
- Service 71 increased in frequency from every 20 to every 15 minutes along the whole length of the route. The route is unchanged except in Castle Vale where it will serve Tangmere Drive instead of Farnborough Road (service 38 (old 638) will serve Farnborough Road instead).
- Service 71A withdrawn apart from a few school journeys to cope with passenger loadings at peak times. The route of the 71A is unchanged.
- Service 72 increased in frequency from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Heathland Avenue (Castle Bromwich), and reduced to every half an hour from every 20 minutes between Heathland Avenue and Solihull. The route is unchanged.
- Service 638 rerouted between Castle Vale and Erdington to serve the Fort Shopping Park instead of Chester Road, and it is also rerouted around Castle Vale estate to serve Farnborough Road. It will serve Castle Vale estate in both directions instead of via a one-way loop (as it does at present). It will continue to provide a link from Castle Vale to Erdington. The frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes and it will be renumbered the 38.
- Service 66 retimed to improve reliability on the new route that was introduced from the 9th June following the North Birmingham Network Review. There are no change to the Sunday timetable on the 66, and no changes to the 66A timetable on any day.
- The 966 timetable has been amended to include new tendered journeys in the evenings, and Sunday mornings.

The key benefits of these changes are:
- Increase in frequency between Tile Cross and Solihull with services 70, 71 and 72 providing a fitted 7/8 minute frequency (up from every 10).
- New links from Water Orton and Coleshill to Marston Green and Solihull on the 70.
- Services 70 and 72 provide a fitted 15 minute frequency between Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green, up from every 20.
- Increase in frequency to every 15 minutes from every 20 minutes between Birmingham city centre and Bromford on the 72.
- All timetables have been re-done to improve reliability.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 966.
- Earlier and later journeys on the 70, 71 and 72 to improve access to shift changes at industry at Jaguar Land Rover on Lode Lane and in Coleshill.

Some good changes there, but why renumber the 90 to 70? Is it simply to fit in numericaly with 71, 72 and 73?

It will surely lead to confusion with passengers in Water Orton and Coleshill who have seen their 90 change to 590, back to 90 and now 70.

Hi,

Yes it is to fit in with 71 and 72.

And just for a bit more confusion for the residents of Coleshill and Water Orton, there used to be a 70 that operated to Minworth, Walmley and Sutton Coldfield too...

Moan Moan Moan. Personally i think it sounds like a positive change, what ever you do you are going to get moaners or some confusion on parts of the route over such a wide area. It's called progress and peeps should just get over it. :)

[Westy]

Any idea what happened to the second X51 from Cannock this morning?

Sister went out for it well before its arrival time south of Bloxwich at 659am.

No bus turned up until 727am,  but whether this was the second or third bus from Cannock is not known!

Tony's reply is correct.  Sorry about the problems.

Cheers for the reply,  but she's also sent an email via the website too, so someone your end will have to take a look there too as she's complained about the x51 single deckers.

Any snippets of information I've got from here I've passed onto her but she wants a general moan anyway!

The single deckers are because of a road closure in Cheslyn Hay meaning the bus has to go under a low bridge. This only affects the evening return service as the morning route is open

My sister has now received 2 replies from your Travel care department,  which contradicts your answers.

I am going to believe your answers in here, as we feel that people 'on the ground' so to speak,  seems to be more reliable.

My sister has replied back on the emails concerned,  to save going on about it here again!

(Edit - Slight modification to my reply!)