Untimetabled 'E' Workings

[2206]

44xx (didn't see all the fleet number) 97E Shirestone Road at 0745 this morning passing Selfridges. It's been a long time since i saw this and it was great to see "E" instead of "Short Journey"

The 11's certainly all still show 11E.
The 60, 55 and 94 all show "E" as well.

[MasterPlan]

The 11's certainly all still show 11E.
The 60, 55 and 94 all show "E" as well.

Because they're still using the old displays.

[Mike K]

6 to Robin Hood Island. The inverse 'Short Journey' text doesn't really work on flip-dot displays in my opinion, which are hard to read at a distance at the best of times, just looked a garbled mess!

To be fair it's hard to decipher on the white LEDs too. I'd wager that half the people getting on the 24 short to Quinton Tesco I saw recently were oblivious to the fact that it wasn't going to Quinton Road West.

[Trident 4194]

X10 disparaging Birmingham upon reaching Halesowen, a few stops after that it had gone to edgbaston five ways. Presume he must have got the call by AVL at that moment?

[2206]

To be fair it's hard to decipher on the white LEDs too. I'd wager that half the people getting on the 24 short to Quinton Tesco I saw recently were oblivious to the fact that it wasn't going to Quinton Road West.

I wouldn't be surprised if they actually never bothered reading the display in the first place.
I've seen quite a few people trying to get on a terminating 11E to Acocks Green at Acocks Green and tonnes of people who remain seated after the bus has terminated, i've seen some 11E's to Ward End where a few people have remained seated and haven't bothered to get of and still haven't got of when the bus turns round heading back to Acocks Green.

I've seen the same thing happening on the X2 shorts to the Swan, where people are seemingly unaware that it's a short journey - though the driver who does that usually calls out last stop on the speaker.

[Mike K]

I wouldn't be surprised if they actually never bothered reading the display in the first place.
I've seen quite a few people trying to get on a terminating 11E to Acocks Green at Acocks Green and tonnes of people who remain seated after the bus has terminated, i've seen some 11E's to Ward End where a few people have remained seated and haven't bothered to get of and still haven't got of when the bus turns round heading back to Acocks Green.

I've seen the same thing happening on the X2 shorts to the Swan, where people are seemingly unaware that it's a short journey - though the driver who does that usually calls out last stop on the speaker.

Some people are fundamentally thick and will never get it no matter how clear, but highly similar destinations, no 'E' suffix and a barely legible black on white 'short journey' that looks, until the bus is virtually upon you, like a fault on the LED display certainly don't help matters.

[MasterPlan]

What I don't understand is why when a route has been adjusted to a short working the driver can't let the passengers know there and then? As opposed to telling them upon arrival.

[MasterPlan]

6888 - X22, California

[Mike K]

X21, California

Strange. X21 doesn't even go through California does it?

[MasterPlan]

Strange. X21 doesn't even go through California does it?

Haha yes sorry, that was a typo. Corrected now. Reminds me of when X64, California Barnes Hill was listed amongst the show shorts on the NX website.

[Mike K]

It's not a good state of affairs when a 20 min service like the X22 is being adjusted.

Ironically on Harbornes where routes have been withdrawn due to reliability issues, the 23/24 aren't running too badly from city in the evening peak at the moment. My bus home this evening was showing 'on time' and yesterday had to wait time at Calthorpe Road and Lordswood Road. Not using Smallbrook Queensway out of city certainly seems to have helped.

Mornings towards city are a complete lottery though.

[MasterPlan]

5518 - 61, Selly Oak, with another 55** behind it on a 61 to Northfield.

Forgot to mention there was a 61 just in front also.

[Trident 4194]

A 4H to West Brom- something was very messed up tonight. Had to wait 30+ mins for a nx or diamond bus

[Mike K]

5518 - 61, Selly Oak, with another 55** behind it on a 61 to Northfield.

55xx on a 63 to 'Woodlands' a short time ago too. (I believe that was renamed the Royal Orthopedic Hospital quite some time ago).

[MasterPlan]

6839 - X20, Longbridge