Possible Dudley/Stourbridge Bus Review?

[Stuharris 6360]

As has been mentioned in another topic, a review of bus services in Dudley/Stourbridge may be possible before long.

So what services would you alter & why?

I have had a go and these are my views:

9 - To stay as it is Monday to Saturday with perhaps an increase in frequency between City & Quinton during shopping hours on Sundays (9E). Possible introduction of a Night service between City & Halesowen on Friday & Saturday nights?

53 - Curtailed to run between West Bromwich & Blackheath only

120 - Converted to Double Decker operation (Tridents?) & amended timetable to run every 15 minutes between Dudley & Birmingham, short journeys to Oldbury withdrawn.

205 - This service does not work in its current form, so i would curtail the 205 to operate between Dudley & Kingswinford.

207 - New service running from Dudley via the old 205 route to Blackheath, then extended via the 53 route to Merry Hill Centre.

226 - Route diverted in Kingswinford to serve Wallheath Church (not Blaze Park) to cover for withdrawl of 205.

240 - Service withdrawn due to poor patronage

241 - New service 241A to run at night & all day Sunday between Dudley & Hayley Green.

244 - Service at night & Sundays to run between Dudley & Halesowen, Halesowen to Hayley Green journeys to be covered the 241A

246 - service to run every 7/8 minutes Mon - Sat daytime, with every other bus (every 15 minutes ) extended to Wollaston Farm to cover withdrawl of X96.

255 - Short journeys to Wallheath Blaze Park withdrawn. Frequency increased to every 20 minutes along whole route.

X55 - New limited stop route, hourly daytimes daily from Wolverhampton to Merry Hill via 255 route to Penn then the main road to Wallheath & then the 255 to Kingswinford, then left at Kingswinford Cross and main road to Pensnett & Russells Hall Hospital, then direct route from Holly Hall to Merry Hill.

276 - Convert to Double Decker Operation. Evening journeys extended to Wollaston Farm as 276A

289 - Route re-extended to Merry Hill Centre via Saltwells (not via Cradley Heath)

296 - New service to operate between Stourbridge & Wrens Nest Estate, via old X96 route

297/A - Route between Gornal Wood & Stickey to be withdrawn to aid reliability

X96 - Service Withdrawn

Any routes not mentioned would be unaffected.

[Sh4318]

As has been mentioned in another topic, a review of bus services in Dudley/Stourbridge may be possible before long.

So what services would you alter & why?

I have had a go and these are my views:

9 - To stay as it is Monday to Saturday with perhaps an increase in frequency between City & Quinton during shopping hours on Sundays (9E). Possible introduction of a Night service between City & Halesowen on Friday & Saturday nights?

53 - Curtailed to run between West Bromwich & Blackheath only

120 - Converted to Double Decker operation (Tridents?) & amended timetable to run every 15 minutes between Dudley & Birmingham, short journeys to Oldbury withdrawn.

205 - This service does not work in its current form, so i would curtail the 205 to operate between Dudley & Kingswinford.

207 - New service running from Dudley via the old 205 route to Blackheath, then extended via the 53 route to Merry Hill Centre.

226 - Route diverted in Kingswinford to serve Wallheath Church (not Blaze Park) to cover for withdrawl of 205.

240 - Service withdrawn due to poor patronage

241 - New service 241A to run at night & all day Sunday between Dudley & Hayley Green.

244 - Service at night & Sundays to run between Dudley & Halesowen, Halesowen to Hayley Green journeys to be covered the 241A

246 - service to run every 7/8 minutes Mon - Sat daytime, with every other bus (every 15 minutes ) extended to Wollaston Farm to cover withdrawl of X96.

255 - Short journeys to Wallheath Blaze Park withdrawn. Frequency increased to every 20 minutes along whole route.

X55 - New limited stop route, hourly daytimes daily from Wolverhampton to Merry Hill via 255 route to Penn then the main road to Wallheath & then the 255 to Kingswinford, then left at Kingswinford Cross and main road to Pensnett & Russells Hall Hospital, then direct route from Holly Hall to Merry Hill.

276 - Convert to Double Decker Operation. Evening journeys extended to Wollaston Farm as 276A

289 - Route re-extended to Merry Hill Centre via Saltwells (not via Cradley Heath)

296 - New service to operate between Stourbridge & Wrens Nest Estate, via old X96 route

297/A - Route between Gornal Wood & Stickey to be withdrawn to aid reliability

X96 - Service Withdrawn

Any routes not mentioned would be unaffected.

53 curtailed?! No! 120 frequency cut, definitely not!

[Sh4318]

The 120 just couldn't sustain a 15 minute frequency. The Dudley - Oldbury section of the route sees comfortable loadings at every 20 mins. I wouldn't touch the 9, 140/1, 246.

205 - extending to Merry Hill via 289 route between Merry Hill and Old Hill, then to Dudley Wood and then Merry Hill.
255/257 - all journeys operated by NXWM
276/X96 - allocated double deckers
289 - Curtailed to operate between Blackheath and West Bromwich only
297/A - Sunday timetable extended to at least Russells Hall Hospital, or Gornal Wood, to reintroduce the Sunday link between Gornal Wood and Merry Hill

Everything else I'd leave well alone.

[Stu]

120 - Converted to Double Decker operation (Tridents?) & amended timetable to run every 15 minutes between Dudley & Birmingham, short journeys to Oldbury withdrawn.

That's got to be the best thing I've ever read on this forum.

[the trainbasher]

As has been mentioned in another topic, a review of bus services in Dudley/Stourbridge may be possible before long.

So what services would you alter & why?

I have had a go and these are my views:

9 - To stay as it is Monday to Saturday with perhaps an increase in frequency between City & Quinton during shopping hours on Sundays (9E). Possible introduction of a Night service between City & Halesowen on Friday & Saturday nights?

Doable

53 - Curtailed to run between West Bromwich & Blackheath only

What would cover the bits of the 53 between MH and Blackheath?

120 - Converted to Double Decker operation (Tridents?) & amended timetable to run every 15 minutes between Dudley & Birmingham, short journeys to Oldbury withdrawn.

Maybe every 10 on the full route with joint operation between NXWM and Diamond?

205 - This service does not work in its current form, so i would curtail the 205 to operate between Dudley & Kingswinford.

207 - New service running from Dudley via the old 205 route to Blackheath, then extended via the 53 route to Merry Hill Centre.

Split it at Dudley. The existing Blackheath and extended to Halesowen replacing the 231 bit to be numbered 205 and the bit to Wall Heath be numbered 261

226 - Route diverted in Kingswinford to serve Wallheath Church (not Blaze Park) to cover for withdrawl of 205.

The 226 barely copes as it is so wouldn't work.

240 - Service withdrawn due to poor patronage

Replace by diversion on 217 and 298/299 perhaps?

241 - New service 241A to run at night & all day Sunday between Dudley & Hayley Green.

244 - Service at night & Sundays to run between Dudley & Halesowen, Halesowen to Hayley Green journeys to be covered the 241A

Could be confusing?

246 - service to run every 7/8 minutes Mon - Sat daytime, with every other bus (every 15 minutes ) extended to Wollaston Farm to cover withdrawl of X96.

Frequency yes but route change no.

255 - Short journeys to Wallheath Blaze Park withdrawn. Frequency increased to every 20 minutes along whole route.

X55 - New limited stop route, hourly daytimes daily from Wolverhampton to Merry Hill via 255 route to Penn then the main road to Wallheath & then the 255 to Kingswinford, then left at Kingswinford Cross and main road to Pensnett & Russells Hall Hospital, then direct route from Holly Hall to Merry Hill.

The 255 don't change but the X55 could work?

276 - Convert to Double Decker Operation. Evening journeys extended to Wollaston Farm as 276A

Split it at MH and Stourbridge. Extend the 287 to Norton with the 250 diverted via High Park Avenue.

289 - Route re-extended to Merry Hill Centre via Saltwells (not via Cradley Heath)

Yes. Via Saltwells Road and part of the 208 route.

296 - New service to operate between Stourbridge & Wrens Nest Estate, via old X96 route

X96 - Service Withdrawn

I'd withdraw the Wrens Nest Bit and have the 282 run Sedgley - Gornal via the 223 route then Gornal to Wrens nest via Dudley. The 282 Dudley - MH would be split into a new 283 and extended to Priory via the old 93 route.

The X96 would go to every 15 MH - Wollaston with every 30 (fitted with the X26 to Dudley from MH.)

297/A - Route between Gornal Wood & Stickey to be withdrawn to aid reliability

I'd extend the 297 to Dudley as a replacement to the 223

[winston]

9 - To stay as it is Monday to Saturday with perhaps an increase in frequency between City & Quinton during shopping hours on Sundays (9E). Possible introduction of a Night service between City & Halesowen on Friday & Saturday nights?
I agree with this proposal

120 - Converted to Double Decker operation (Tridents?)
The 120 has potential to be converted back to double deck operation

241 - New service 241A to run at night & all day Sunday between Dudley & Hayley Green.
244 - Service at night & Sundays to run between Dudley & Halesowen, Halesowen to Hayley Green journeys to be covered the 241A
I don't see the benefit on the 244 going to Hayley Green during the day, whilst it would be the 241A of an evening or Sunday, it would only cause confusion, NXWM have chopped & changed the routes that serve Hayley Green enough

X55 - New limited stop route, hourly daytimes daily from Wolverhampton to Merry Hill via 255 route to Penn then the main road to Wallheath & then the 255 to Kingswinford, then left at Kingswinford Cross and main road to Pensnett & Russells Hall Hospital, then direct route from Holly Hall to Merry Hill.
This is a good idea

276 - Convert to Double Decker Operation. Evening journeys extended to Wollaston Farm as 276A
Why not have all 276's extended to Wollaston Farm daily rather than tagging that section on to the 246?

X96 - Service Withdrawn
I think this should be retained as the X96, lose the Stourbridge - Wollaston Farm section to the 276 and remove the Wrens Nest - Dudley section and add it on to your revised route 205

[nitromatt1]

As I have already explained in another thread, having the 241 serve Hayley Green evenings/Sundays and curtailing the 244 to Halesowen would be pointless and confusing. There is no need to change anything on a Sunday as NXWM are keeping the Sunday 243. Weekday evenings, although it's only for a couple of hours, it will most likely be that alternate 276s interwork with the 244 at Dudley

[wilmotm (Matt Wilmot)]

Totally agree on the 205, can never see someone staying on from Blackheath all the way to Blaze Park it just doesn't happen, most get on and off at Dudley.

Same for the X96, again most Wollaston, Stourbridge residents have probably never visited the Wrens Nest in their life! But then the X96 extension is always busy from Dudley so something would need to take its place, a new route perhaps?


Think the 255 should stay as it is, you increase all journeys to full trips to Wolverhampton and reduce frequency your reliability will just go out of the window

[Stuharris 6360]

241 - New service 241A to run at night & all day Sunday between Dudley & Hayley Green.
244 - Service at night & Sundays to run between Dudley & Halesowen, Halesowen to Hayley Green journeys to be covered the 241A
I don't see the benefit on the 244 going to Hayley Green during the day, whilst it would be the 241A of an evening or Sunday, it would only cause confusion, NXWM have chopped & changed the routes that serve Hayley Green enough

The reason behind this change would be to cut out the half hour layover on the 241 at Halesowen on Nights & Sundays

[Stuharris 6360]

The 120 just couldn't sustain a 15 minute frequency. The Dudley - Oldbury section of the route sees comfortable loadings at every 20 mins.

The 120 for many years was every 15 mins operated by Double Deckers.

If you look at the calculations,

6 services an hour between City & Oldbury currently, thats 6 x 43 (B7RLE) seats = 258 seats

4 services an hour operated by Tridents proposed, thats 4 x 74 seats = 296 seats, with customers between City & oldbury having to wait only an additional 5 mins at times and the service between Oldbury & Dudley is imporoved.

[Sh4318]

The 120 just couldn't sustain a 15 minute frequency. The Dudley - Oldbury section of the route sees comfortable loadings at every 20 mins.

The 120 for many years was every 15 mins operated by Double Deckers.

If you look at the calculations,

6 services an hour between City & Oldbury currently, thats 6 x 43 (B7RLE) seats = 258 seats

4 services an hour operated by Tridents proposed, thats 4 x 74 seats = 296 seats, with customers between City & oldbury having to wait only an additional 5 mins at times and the service between Oldbury & Dudley is imporoved.

Can I ask? Have you been on the 120 recently? If you know the Oldbury - Birmingham section at all you know the frequency has to be at least every 10 minutes because of the regular demand of the route. It's the most frequent service from Bearwood to Oldbury, Londonderry to Oldbury, Langley to Oldbury etc. sure, using double deckers at a reduced frequency would have similar seats, but you seem to be missing the point that the demand is too high for customers to wait every 15 minutes for this service.

[Trident 4609]

Tbh if they were to run an express service between Wolverhampton-Merry Hill then it would have to run say every 30 minutes because look what happened with the X1 with an Hourly frequency (And a long route!)

[Stuharris 6360]

The 120 just couldn't sustain a 15 minute frequency. The Dudley - Oldbury section of the route sees comfortable loadings at every 20 mins.

The 120 for many years was every 15 mins operated by Double Deckers.

If you look at the calculations,

6 services an hour between City & Oldbury currently, thats 6 x 43 (B7RLE) seats = 258 seats

4 services an hour operated by Tridents proposed, thats 4 x 74 seats = 296 seats, with customers between City & oldbury having to wait only an additional 5 mins at times and the service between Oldbury & Dudley is imporoved.

Can I ask? Have you been on the 120 recently? If you know the Oldbury - Birmingham at all you know the frequency has to be at least every 10 minutes because of the regular demand of the route. It's the most frequent service from Bearwood to Oldbury, Londonderry to Oldbury, Langley to Oldbury etc. sure, using double deckers at a reduced frequency would have similar seats, but you seem to be missing the point that the demand is too high for customers to wait every 15 minutes for this service.

Then the whole route should be operated every 10 minutes by B7RLEs, the E variation takes more buses/drivers.

[Sh4318]

The 120 just couldn't sustain a 15 minute frequency. The Dudley - Oldbury section of the route sees comfortable loadings at every 20 mins.

The 120 for many years was every 15 mins operated by Double Deckers.

If you look at the calculations,

6 services an hour between City & Oldbury currently, thats 6 x 43 (B7RLE) seats = 258 seats

4 services an hour operated by Tridents proposed, thats 4 x 74 seats = 296 seats, with customers between City & oldbury having to wait only an additional 5 mins at times and the service between Oldbury & Dudley is imporoved.

Can I ask? Have you been on the 120 recently? If you know the Oldbury - Birmingham at all you know the frequency has to be at least every 10 minutes because of the regular demand of the route. It's the most frequent service from Bearwood to Oldbury, Londonderry to Oldbury, Langley to Oldbury etc. sure, using double deckers at a reduced frequency would have similar seats, but you seem to be missing the point that the demand is too high for customers to wait every 15 minutes for this service.

Then the whole route should be operated every 10 minutes by B7RLEs, the E variation takes more buses/drivers.

Ask yourself, is there a requirement for the 120 to be every 10 minutes for the whole route? I've used it from Dudley and the loadings seem fairly healthy

[Stuharris 6360]

Tbh if they were to run an express service between Wolverhampton-Merry Hill then it would have to run say every 30 minutes because look what happened with the X1 with an Hourly frequency (And a long route!)

I would agree Nathan, to me the X1 was limited stop in the wrong place, it should have followed the 1 route from Wolverhampton to Dudley (all stops observed), then express to Merry Hill.