Service Changes from 20th July

[Stuharris 6360]

Am surprised that they didn't leave the 140/241 alone in these changes, i would have extended the 99 to Merry Hill and transferred 801 - 809 to PE to operate it.

[Sh4318]

Am surprised that they didn't leave the 140/241 alone in these changes, i would have extended the 99 to Merry Hill and transferred 801 - 809 to PE to operate it.

The extension of the 99 to Merry Hill would require more than 8 buses to run. I couldn't see it being that beneficial myself as most areas that the 99 covers already has an adequate service to Merry Hill, not to mention the frequency of the 99 wouldn't allow any frequency patterns to be made with the 141 (99's every 20 mins, 141 every 30), although that change could give Old Hill station a direct service

[Ben]

NXC confirm the following...

Improvements to route 900 with the introduction of late night journeys from 20th July 2014:
- A new 900 journey at 0020 Daily from Coventry (Pool Meadow Bus Stn) to Birmingham (Moor Street Queensway) via Birmingham Airport (at 0054)
- A new 900A journey at 0255 Monday-Saturday from Birmingham (Moor Street Queensway) to Coventry via Birmingham Airport (at 0326)
In addition some minor timing changes will take place.

In my opinion not much of a useful improvement as these two "new" journeys will be in lieu of running dead between BC and Coventry.
Note the 0255 will not run on Sundays (late night Saturday) which I would have thought would be best night of the week for patronage?.

Better empty and open to passengers than dead mileage! I have complained about to National Express about dead mileage so maybe they have actually listened to me!
Having seen posts regarding complex interworking, I hope Birmingham Central and Coventry could coordinate better on the 900, in the case the A45 is blocked.

My question is whether the additional journey's are permanent, or whether they are just during the summer timetable (e.g additional passengers wanting to get to the airport) It would be a shame if they weren't permanent, because I almost missed the last 900 one evening after going to Coventry's Godiva festival, the possibility of a 00:20 from Coventry would have made the evening less stressful.

Its 1am! I Best go to bed!

[Sh4318]

NXC confirm the following...

Improvements to route 900 with the introduction of late night journeys from 20th July 2014:
- A new 900 journey at 0020 Daily from Coventry (Pool Meadow Bus Stn) to Birmingham (Moor Street Queensway) via Birmingham Airport (at 0054)
- A new 900A journey at 0255 Monday-Saturday from Birmingham (Moor Street Queensway) to Coventry via Birmingham Airport (at 0326)
In addition some minor timing changes will take place.

In my opinion not much of a useful improvement as these two "new" journeys will be in lieu of running dead between BC and Coventry.
Note the 0255 will not run on Sundays (late night Saturday) which I would have thought would be best night of the week for patronage?.

You would think so, but then again 11X doesn't run late night Saturdays either. I don't see why an every 1 hour and 20 minute night frequency can't have been made on the 900, so buses leave Moor St at 01:20, 02:40, 04:00, and Pool Meadow at 00:40, 02:00, 03:20, 04:40

[JPC]

You would think so, but then again 11X doesn't run late night Saturdays either. I don't see why an every 1 hour and 20 minute night frequency can't have been made on the 900, so buses leave Moor St at 01:20, 02:40, 04:00, and Pool Meadow at 00:40, 02:00, 03:20, 04:40

Note the 11X does run late night Mon - Sat evenings but only during University Term Time.

I also had similar ideas for the 900....

Note the following is just me guessing/what I think should happen based on the existing timetable so will hope the new journeys are:
0000*, 0120, 0240 and 0400S from Moor St to Coventry
0010^, 0120, 0240 and 0400S from Coventry to Moor St

* = existing 900E journey extended to Coventry.
^ = replaces the existing 0034 900E from BHX to Moor St but re-timed 10 minutes later.
S = Sunday morning only, otherwise there will be some gap in the timetable.

[winston]

Blinds being programmed tonight the font looks different

Is it similar to the BC E200s SuperX (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsbusphotos/13674240885/), 2102 style SuperX or like the BC B7RLE SuperX (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsbusphotos/13609423365/)?

http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/11360500.Bus_service_changes_hit_Halesowen/

[s94]

I'm pretty sure they made no effort to tell of the changes! It's not really an improved 241 service either. Still the same frequency as 297, just inconveniencing more people. I can't help but think this change has been entirely money focused. For example NXWM want to shove operators off the Quarry Bank/Cradley section where the 002/004/22 all have a slice of the action. Not that this section needs such a stupidly high frequency of services to Halesowen.

[andrew1991]

I'm pretty sure they made no effort to tell of the changes! It's not really an improved 241 service either. Still the same frequency as 297, just inconveniencing more people. I can't help but think this change has been entirely money focused. For example NXWM want to shove operators off the Quarry Bank/Cradley section where the 002/004/22 all have a slice of the action. Not that this section needs such a stupidly high frequency of services to Halesowen.

They had a notice on the website and posters on the buses detailing the changes.

[winston]

I'm pretty sure they made no effort to tell of the changes! It's not really an improved 241 service either. Still the same frequency as 297, just inconveniencing more people. I can't help but think this change has been entirely money focused. For example NXWM want to shove operators off the Quarry Bank/Cradley section where the 002/004/22 all have a slice of the action. Not that this section needs such a stupidly high frequency of services to Halesowen.

It will be entirely money focused, as the 297 was not paying its keep due to insufficient passengers using it over the section that has been withdrawn. I highly doubt that many passengers would board in Cradley & Quarry Bank High St for Merry hill, the bulk of the passengers will already be on board & have come from further afield.

[2900]

It's all about the money and nothing but money , nx profit efficiency driven organisation full stop.

[Tony]

It's all about the money and nothing but money , nx profit efficiency driven organisation full stop.

As is every other PLC

[winston]

It's all about the money and nothing but money , nx profit efficiency driven organisation full stop.

It's a business and Dean Finch has shareholders / the City to keep happy, it's not a charity.

If not enough people use the routes when they are there, I don't see how they can complain when they are withdrawn  ???

[s94]

I'm pretty sure they made no effort to tell of the changes! It's not really an improved 241 service either. Still the same frequency as 297, just inconveniencing more people. I can't help but think this change has been entirely money focused. For example NXWM want to shove operators off the Quarry Bank/Cradley section where the 002/004/22 all have a slice of the action. Not that this section needs such a stupidly high frequency of services to Halesowen.

It will be entirely money focused, as the 297 was not paying its keep due to insufficient passengers using it over the section that has been withdrawn. I highly doubt that many passengers would board in Cradley & Quarry Bank High St for Merry hill, the bulk of the passengers will already be on board & have come from further afield.

Indeed it is a shame money is so top of the agenda these days but that's the way it goes. I just think given the high frequency of services already I'm place in the Cradley/Quarry Bank area, that there would actually be more benefit serving other areas without the higher frequency. As you say many will just bypass the areas you mention and will have already got on board. However this
Clearly doesn't seem to be the way it's working out.

[Roy]

It's all about the money and nothing but money , nx profit efficiency driven organisation full stop.

It's a business and Dean Finch has shareholders / the City to keep happy, it's not a charity.

If not enough people use the routes when they are there, I don't see how they can complain when they are withdrawn  ???

The figure I have been given for usage along Lodgefield Road and Station Road in Old Hill is an average of 44 per day.  Centro have said that they can't create a new tendered service along this route given that level of usage.

[bususer12]

It's all about the money and nothing but money , nx profit efficiency driven organisation full stop.

It's a business and Dean Finch has shareholders / the City to keep happy, it's not a charity.

If not enough people use the routes when they are there, I don't see how they can complain when they are withdrawn  ???

The figure I have been given for usage along Lodgefield Road and Station Road in Old Hill is an average of 44 per day.  Centro have said that they can't create a new tendered service along this route given that level of usage.

I'd think less than 44 use the 282 in its entirety per day, and that keeps on going though. The 240's a little better, but i'd still say will be nearer the front of the queue for cuts. I'm surprised no ones gone to cover the old 610, that had more usage?