Old bus routes

[winston]

I think the original 70  Oxhill - City could work giving the Grove Lane reisdents a faster service into the city and extra working for Soho Road.
Bring it back as the 76. Miles away from the Solihull one and they seem to like duplicating numbers these days.

Pre - deregulation there were 2 routes
70 - Oxhill Road - Grove Lane - Soho Road - Snow Hill Qeensway
96 - Winson Green (opposite prison) - Lodge Road - Jewellery Quarter - City centre

which was replaced by
76 Oxhill Road - Grove Lane - Winson Green - Lodge Road - Jewellery Quarter - City centre

this eventually became

101 when the Centrebus was  stopped after the demolition of Masshouse Queensway in Dale End where the Centrbus terminated.

In the early days of competition a 70 was run using a minibus by an independent (I think the same guy who now operates Hi-Ride) along the old 70 route?

HY did run the 70 for a short period of time in the 90's i think after they took over the temporary Central Coachways operations (Miller St) depot.

That's correct, it was after Central Coachways bus operations were shut down and merged in to the main WMT fleet

[Liverpool Street]

How do you people remember in such clarity? I can just about remember what service I travelled on last week!!

What I'd do to relive the old days of Cotteridge, Hockley and the like.

[Mike K]

Thanks for that, JT .... brought back a few memories of a service that I used to use as a schoolkid  :)

I should have remembered that the Rosebery Street d/ds were Leyland PD2s.  Distinctive bodywork, and a fair old turn of speed as well!

Me too Ossie, although my memory only goes back to when the 2 ran Kings Heath to Selly Oak. I too used to use it as a school kid. Who'd have imagined bus routes were once that short eh? Funnily enough it usually ran to time, unlike the 69 route that replaced it.

[OH25]

I remember:
66A Bearwood to Erdington/Sutton
66 Ladywood to Erdington/Sutton
443/ 81 Birmingham to Brandhall
95 Birmingham to Ladywood
83 Soho to Birmingham
88 Birmingham to Blackheath

[Sh4318]

440 Bearwood to Perry Barr, ran by Midland Red, but there was a Metrobus on there once  :P

[sonic84]

440 Bearwood to Perry Barr, ran by Midland Red, but there was a Metrobus on there once  :P

A little offtopic, but when the bull ring bus station closed in 1999 does anyone remember the MRW rerouted the 440 so it ran Birmingham - Perry Barr via the Hagley Road.

At the same time they also re-introduced the X93 during the daytime running every hour.  Between Kidderminster and Birmingham combined with the 192 there was a 30 minute frequency, and between Bearwood and Birmingham along with the 440, it combined to make a 15 minute frequency.

The Bearwood to Brandhall section was taken up by an extension of the 443 running Bearwood to Birmingham via Four Dwellings, Brandhall, Londonderry, Smethwick, Dudley Road.

Once first withdrew from the 123/124/440/443 routes, the 123/124 was originally covered between Cradley and Bearwood by an extension to the 236/237, although Pete's Travel took over the 123 and the 440 eventually combining both to make the 123 Merry Hill - Perry Barr route.

The 443 was taken over by Birmingham Coach Company who interworked it with the 221 service from Bearwood to West Bromwich (basically the 48).  Through tickets were available between Brandhall and Birmingham I seem to remember.  Although, when the 221 was withdrawn, the 443 was split to Four Dwellings - Bearwood, and the 83 created Brandhall - Birmingham.  The 443 was withdrawn without replacement a few years back.

When first withdrew from the 123 / 124 / 440 / 443 services,

[vinh1000]

http://web.archive.org/web/20030810010209/http://www.travelwm.co.uk/bus/routemaps/birmingham/birmingham.html

for some more old bus routes :)

[fleetline6477]

440 Bearwood to Perry Barr, ran by Midland Red, but there was a Metrobus on there once  :P

A little offtopic, but when the bull ring bus station closed in 1999 does anyone remember the MRW rerouted the 440 so it ran Birmingham - Perry Barr via the Hagley Road.

At the same time they also re-introduced the X93 during the daytime running every hour.  Between Kidderminster and Birmingham combined with the 192 there was a 30 minute frequency, and between Bearwood and Birmingham along with the 440, it combined to make a 15 minute frequency.

The Bearwood to Brandhall section was taken up by an extension of the 443 running Bearwood to Birmingham via Four Dwellings, Brandhall, Londonderry, Smethwick, Dudley Road.

Once first withdrew from the 123/124/440/443 routes, the 123/124 was originally covered between Cradley and Bearwood by an extension to the 236/237, although Pete's Travel took over the 123 and the 440 eventually combining both to make the 123 Merry Hill - Perry Barr route.

The 443 was taken over by Birmingham Coach Company who interworked it with the 221 service from Bearwood to West Bromwich (basically the 48).  Through tickets were available between Brandhall and Birmingham I seem to remember.  Although, when the 221 was withdrawn, the 443 was split to Four Dwellings - Bearwood, and the 83 created Brandhall - Birmingham.  The 443 was withdrawn without replacement a few years back.

When first withdrew from the 123 / 124 / 440 / 443 services,

The only reason I understood that MRW revised the 440 to run from Perry Barr - Bearwood - Birmingham was because following the closure of Digbeth a point was reached when it was one of the few MRW daytime services operating in Birmingham. It was operated from Kidderminster and therefore interworked with 192 / X93.

[Jack2001]

Did the 55A replace the 54 Brimingham-Kingshurst. Just wondering

[Sh4318]

440 Bearwood to Perry Barr, ran by Midland Red, but there was a Metrobus on there once  :P

A little offtopic, but when the bull ring bus station closed in 1999 does anyone remember the MRW rerouted the 440 so it ran Birmingham - Perry Barr via the Hagley Road.

At the same time they also re-introduced the X93 during the daytime running every hour.  Between Kidderminster and Birmingham combined with the 192 there was a 30 minute frequency, and between Bearwood and Birmingham along with the 440, it combined to make a 15 minute frequency.

The Bearwood to Brandhall section was taken up by an extension of the 443 running Bearwood to Birmingham via Four Dwellings, Brandhall, Londonderry, Smethwick, Dudley Road.

Once first withdrew from the 123/124/440/443 routes, the 123/124 was originally covered between Cradley and Bearwood by an extension to the 236/237, although Pete's Travel took over the 123 and the 440 eventually combining both to make the 123 Merry Hill - Perry Barr route.

The 443 was taken over by Birmingham Coach Company who interworked it with the 221 service from Bearwood to West Bromwich (basically the 48).  Through tickets were available between Brandhall and Birmingham I seem to remember.  Although, when the 221 was withdrawn, the 443 was split to Four Dwellings - Bearwood, and the 83 created Brandhall - Birmingham.  The 443 was withdrawn without replacement a few years back.

When first withdrew from the 123 / 124 / 440 / 443 services,

It's funny to think, if it wasn't for the 123 and 440, we probably wouldn't have the 53 (I know it's not everyone's favourite route, but it's a gem for me).

The 221 was replaced by the 447, the 448 was a similar route, serving Smethwick instead of Mallin Street (correct me if I'm wrong). Does anyone know the origin of the 444?

[sonic84]

The 221 was introduced by Birmingham Coach Company as competition for the 448.

TWM responded by introducing the 447 Bearwood - West Bromwich will followed pretty much the same route as the 221.  I think the only difference might have been the 221 omitted Bearwood Town Centre towards West Bromwich.

I'm pretty sure all three routes ran together for a number of years.  And the 221 was withdrawn by BCC around 2003/2004 I think.

[busfan2847]

The 221 was introduced by Birmingham Coach Company as competition for the 448.

TWM responded by introducing the 447 Bearwood - West Bromwich will followed pretty much the same route as the 221.  I think the only difference might have been the 221 omitted Bearwood Town Centre towards West Bromwich.

I'm pretty sure all three routes ran together for a number of years.  And the 221 was withdrawn by BCC around 2003/2004 I think.

The 221 was originally a joint Midland Red / West Bromwich Corporation service passing totally to West Midlands in December 1973. When all Sandwell services were renumbered into the 400 series it became the 448. So Birmingham Coach Co were using the historical route number when they introduced their 221.

[JB93]

Did the 55A replace the 54 Brimingham-Kingshurst. Just wondering

The 54 was withdrawn before the 55A was created. Originally the 59 replaced the section of the 54 route around Yorks Wood estate, but then I guess they realised that people round there needed a more direct and more frequent route to Birmingham, and obviously needed a link to Chelmsley Wood so created the 55A. But it terminates at Chelmsley Wood, not Kingshurst.

[Sh4318]

The 221 was introduced by Birmingham Coach Company as competition for the 448.

TWM responded by introducing the 447 Bearwood - West Bromwich will followed pretty much the same route as the 221.  I think the only difference might have been the 221 omitted Bearwood Town Centre towards West Bromwich.

I'm pretty sure all three routes ran together for a number of years.  And the 221 was withdrawn by BCC around 2003/2004 I think.

The 221 was originally a joint Midland Red / West Bromwich Corporation service passing totally to West Midlands in December 1973. When all Sandwell services were renumbered into the 400 series it became the 448. So Birmingham Coach Co were using the historical route number when they introduced their 221.

It's funny how it's all changed. 447 replaced by the 129, a link between a Birmingham & West Smethwick. Before at West Smethwick, you only used to be able to get to Smethwick, West Bromwich, Bearwood & Harborne/QE. Now you can go to West Bromwich, Sandwell Hospital, Great Barr, Smethwick, Bearwood, Harborne, Selly Oak, Bartley Green, Five Ways & Birmingham :P

[Jack2001]

Thanks.