Hagley Road First Sprint Network.

[JoNi]

More.......

https://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/regional-affairs/new-sprint-rapid-bus-routes-14198659#ICID=sharebar_facebook

Having seen presentations on Sprint its good to see the bus stops will be able to used by both Sprint and conventional buses. The idea buses can use the Sprint lanes with laybys at stops not served by Sprint so they can overtake is also good.

[2206]

That's good news for the region, shame the original Halesowen Sprint route has now been put back to 2026.

Hopefully they'll also drop the idea of using artic's for sprint.....

With the Commonwealth Games driving investment / imrpovements, hopefully some attention can be directed at other main bus corridors where there is much room for bus priorities.

I wonder how it will affect the existing bus routes like the X1 and X2?

[karl724223]

I wonder how it will affect the existing bus routes like the X1 and X2?

depends on who wins the contract to operate them or if tfwm run then inhouse

[MW]

NXWM will win I reckon. If they don't win, competition from NXWM will mean it's a flop.

[Eric Shaw]

When will they ever learn? Passengers in this country do not like having to stand up. An article in this months Buses is about the return of double deckers to Swansea. An article in the technical press about BRT-Glider in Belfast claims the bendies will carry 105 passengers, which is more than a double decker, but in reality how many more will they carry than a 70-80 seat decker. I suggest people willl wait for the next one rather than stand up. The successful bendie operations in this country were the Red Arrow services in London and the various student services still operating. I have travelled on very heavily loaded bendies in Oslo and Stockholm so they do work effectively there. I also think that our crowded roads are against the operation of bendies here, whereas in some of the other cities of the world there are wide boulevards giving the opportunities for bus lanes, without having torestrict other traffic severely. I do, however like the bendies and still hope to get over to Coventry again before they finally go.

[Stevo]

I agree totally. What will passengers on the X1 think when their comfy seat on a Platinum E400 becomes a place holding onto a stanchion on a crowded artic? A three-door artic can't even seat 50, and the First ftrs had fewer seats than the single deckers they replaced. All that's needed is the road improvements, then let nxwm run the routes.

[winston]

I agree totally. What will passengers on the X1 think when their comfy seat on a Platinum E400 becomes a place holding onto a stanchion on a crowded artic? A three-door artic can't even seat 50, and the First ftrs had fewer seats than the single deckers they replaced. All that's needed is the road improvements, then let nxwm run the routes.

And look where First's FTR's are at only 10 years old. PVS Barnsley!

I think they should drop the Artic idea to save road/depot space & instead use long wheel base dual door double decker as per Bristol's Metrobus Project.

[Steve3229vp]

And look where First's FTR's are at only 10 years old. PVS Barnsley!

I think they should drop the Artic idea to save road/depot space & instead use long wheel base dual door double decker as per Bristol's Metrobus Project.

I think it would be much more simpler to put the "Sprint" road priorities in place BUT use existing Platinum vehicles instead, passengers like them and if the road layout is put in place then they will be faster and more popular.

[2206]

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/development/sprint/
With Walsall to Birmingham being route 1, it looks like they're going to introduce that first?
Regarding the points on the map, are they all the points they plan for it to stop at, or are they just key points they've listed?

[BK63 YWP]

Walsall is first because of the Alexander stadium. Sprint will be a waste of money in my eyes. Just make the X51 every 6mins. Bus lanes may make the route faster but where's the other traffic going to go? Unless they make the road 3 lanes in each direction

[2206]

Walsall is first because of the Alexander stadium. Sprint will be a waste of money in my eyes. Just make the X51 every 6mins. Bus lanes may make the route faster but where's the other traffic going to go? Unless they make the road 3 lanes in each direction

Encouraging people to travel by public transport rather than sit in there cars in a build up of traffic presumably.

[james99]

Walsall is first because of the Alexander stadium. Sprint will be a waste of money in my eyes. Just make the X51 every 6mins. Bus lanes may make the route faster but where's the other traffic going to go? Unless they make the road 3 lanes in each direction

The question is, will this see the end of the X51 if NXWM win the contract to run it?

[Stu]

When will they ever learn? Passengers in this country do not like having to stand up.

That is probably true, but then again it doesn't explain the number of people who choose to stand at the most awkward part of the bus because they don't want to have to sit next to a fellow human being.  :(

The Sprint routes, once implemented, may replace existing limited stop services along those corridors, but in the example of the X1, a service of sorts will still be needed, as the Sprint route won't be going all the way to Coventry.

There's a lot of negativity being put forward here, while I am sceptical at the best of times, we will have to wait and see how this all unfurls.

I think it would be much more simpler to put the "Sprint" road priorities in place BUT use existing Platinum vehicles instead, passengers like them and if the road layout is put in place then they will be faster and more popular.

But on the other hand, these seems like a very valid suggestion, Sprint does seem at risk of being another expensive 'vanity' project like HS2.

[JoNi]

The question is, will this see the end of the X51 if NXWM win the contract to run it?

If they don't win it NX can plod along in the bus lane.....

[karl724223]

Why not try a six wheel double decker ?
Stuff sprint