New buses

[Trident 4194]

Just a thought (and in no way is this real), but surely LWB E200s would've been better replacements at CV than E400s for Merc services? It'll also provide some more variety if you ask me...

NX don't want to add more variety, they want to reduce variety & standardize types at each garage. To reduce the number of parts they need to stock to a minimum.

Oh, so I see. I will miss the variety of buses, mercs will be one of my all time favourites, they had so much character.

I hate the Mercs, bored of them on 244. They used to make that noise which scared you to death. Can't wait to see them go. 1647 is quick however

Granted. That noise sounds like a cat being run over, however, I have stated that one of the characteristics that old buses have were rattling windows. Now, it's all about being the most quiet, smooth bus, which is nice, but I'd much prefer mercs & the long gone metrobuses over these uniform e400s

Everyone loves old buses when once they've gone. I hated b6s but now would love to catch a ride on one

Would go to Wolverhampton in the next few weeks before it is to late then, can't see them lasting much longer.

Don't west brom operate them also?

Yes, and Walsall, too. :)

I Was planning in two weeks time to go from west brom to dudley. What route is this and what bus operates on it?

42 could get anything
74 e400's, gemini's & alx400's
87 gemini's
121 e200

Which on is the least roughest route. Sorry to be nit picky. Also why did pe get rid of b6s

[andrew1991]

Just a thought (and in no way is this real), but surely LWB E200s would've been better replacements at CV than E400s for Merc services? It'll also provide some more variety if you ask me...

NX don't want to add more variety, they want to reduce variety & standardize types at each garage. To reduce the number of parts they need to stock to a minimum.

Oh, so I see. I will miss the variety of buses, mercs will be one of my all time favourites, they had so much character.

I hate the Mercs, bored of them on 244. They used to make that noise which scared you to death. Can't wait to see them go. 1647 is quick however

Granted. That noise sounds like a cat being run over, however, I have stated that one of the characteristics that old buses have were rattling windows. Now, it's all about being the most quiet, smooth bus, which is nice, but I'd much prefer mercs & the long gone metrobuses over these uniform e400s

Everyone loves old buses when once they've gone. I hated b6s but now would love to catch a ride on one

Would go to Wolverhampton in the next few weeks before it is to late then, can't see them lasting much longer.

Don't west brom operate them also?

Yes, and Walsall, too. :)

I Was planning in two weeks time to go from west brom to dudley. What route is this and what bus operates on it?

42 could get anything
74 e400's, gemini's & alx400's
87 gemini's
121 e200

Which on is the least roughest route. Sorry to be nit picky. Also why did pe get rid of b6s

I'd say the 121 is the least 'rough' out of them and B6's were withdrawn at PN because they were replaced by E200's.

[Tony]

Just a thought (and in no way is this real), but surely LWB E200s would've been better replacements at CV than E400s for Merc services? It'll also provide some more variety if you ask me...

NX don't want to add more variety, they want to reduce variety & standardize types at each garage. To reduce the number of parts they need to stock to a minimum.

Oh, so I see. I will miss the variety of buses, mercs will be one of my all time favourites, they had so much character.

I hate the Mercs, bored of them on 244. They used to make that noise which scared you to death. Can't wait to see them go. 1647 is quick however

Granted. That noise sounds like a cat being run over, however, I have stated that one of the characteristics that old buses have were rattling windows. Now, it's all about being the most quiet, smooth bus, which is nice, but I'd much prefer mercs & the long gone metrobuses over these uniform e400s

Everyone loves old buses when once they've gone. I hated b6s but now would love to catch a ride on one

Would go to Wolverhampton in the next few weeks before it is to late then, can't see them lasting much longer.

Don't west brom operate them also?

Yes, and Walsall, too. :)

I Was planning in two weeks time to go from west brom to dudley. What route is this and what bus operates on it?

42 could get anything
74 e400's, gemini's & alx400's
87 gemini's
121 e200

Which on is the least roughest route. Sorry to be nit picky. Also why did pe get rid of b6s

I'd say the 121 is the least 'rough' out of them and B6's were withdrawn at PN because they were replaced by E200's.

What is a 'least rough' route? A brain dead idiot can appear anywhere. Far more trouble free pleasant journeys happen on the Soho Road than happen on the 121 for an example just on numbers operated, and can someone please tell me why people on here continually slag the Soho Road off?

[Trident 4194]

Just a thought (and in no way is this real), but surely LWB E200s would've been better replacements at CV than E400s for Merc services? It'll also provide some more variety if you ask me...

NX don't want to add more variety, they want to reduce variety & standardize types at each garage. To reduce the number of parts they need to stock to a minimum.

Oh, so I see. I will miss the variety of buses, mercs will be one of my all time favourites, they had so much character.

I hate the Mercs, bored of them on 244. They used to make that noise which scared you to death. Can't wait to see them go. 1647 is quick however

Granted. That noise sounds like a cat being run over, however, I have stated that one of the characteristics that old buses have were rattling windows. Now, it's all about being the most quiet, smooth bus, which is nice, but I'd much prefer mercs & the long gone metrobuses over these uniform e400s

Everyone loves old buses when once they've gone. I hated b6s but now would love to catch a ride on one

Would go to Wolverhampton in the next few weeks before it is to late then, can't see them lasting much longer.

Don't west brom operate them also?

Yes, and Walsall, too. :)

I Was planning in two weeks time to go from west brom to dudley. What route is this and what bus operates on it?

42 could get anything
74 e400's, gemini's & alx400's
87 gemini's
121 e200

Which on is the least roughest route. Sorry to be nit picky. Also why did pe get rid of b6s

I'd say the 121 is the least 'rough' out of them and B6's were withdrawn at PN because they were replaced by E200's.

What is a 'least rough' route? A brain dead idiot can appear anywhere. Far more trouble free pleasant journeys happen on the Soho Road than happen on the 121 for an example just on numbers operated, and can someone please tell me why people on here continually slag the Soho Road off?

Least rough route is a route which passes the least dodgiest places. Ie 99 round welsh house farm isn't pleasant and that 94 doesn't sound nice either looking at the bham mail. I don't slag soho road, you would think that a bus would be less rough between two towns whereas the 74 comes a long way

[Stu]

The thing is that the Birmingham Mail reported on this incident on the 94, but then reading through the reader's comments and replies, a picture gets painted that every single bus journey every day has these sorts of things going on. Which simply isn't true.

I travel on buses every day, and I've even been on the 74 during the day and in the evening, and never seen any trouble or anti-social behaviour.

I've actually seen more trouble on the 37, the worst one being in Solihull town centre at night, which is supposedly a 'nice' area. So yeah, I think there is a pre-formed 'misconception' about the Soho Road routes being 'rough'.

[Gareth]

The 94 is actually a pretty nice route. In my 34 years living on that route I have never experienced anything even near the recent incident as reported by the Birmingham Mail.

[Mike K]

Welsh House Farm isn't so bad. When my dad's car was nicked about 20 years ago now, it was found on Welsh House Farm parked properly and completely undamaged so they certainly have respect for people's property.

Seriously though I wouldn't say the 99 was a rough route.

[Liverpool Street]

Just a thought (and in no way is this real), but surely LWB E200s would've been better replacements at CV than E400s for Merc services? It'll also provide some more variety if you ask me...

NX don't want to add more variety, they want to reduce variety & standardize types at each garage. To reduce the number of parts they need to stock to a minimum.

Oh, so I see. I will miss the variety of buses, mercs will be one of my all time favourites, they had so much character.

I hate the Mercs, bored of them on 244. They used to make that noise which scared you to death. Can't wait to see them go. 1647 is quick however

Granted. That noise sounds like a cat being run over, however, I have stated that one of the characteristics that old buses have were rattling windows. Now, it's all about being the most quiet, smooth bus, which is nice, but I'd much prefer mercs & the long gone metrobuses over these uniform e400s

Everyone loves old buses when once they've gone. I hated b6s but now would love to catch a ride on one

Would go to Wolverhampton in the next few weeks before it is to late then, can't see them lasting much longer.

Don't west brom operate them also?

Yes, and Walsall, too. :)

I Was planning in two weeks time to go from west brom to dudley. What route is this and what bus operates on it?

42 could get anything
74 e400's, gemini's & alx400's
87 gemini's
121 e200

Which on is the least roughest route. Sorry to be nit picky. Also why did pe get rid of b6s

I'd say the 121 is the least 'rough' out of them and B6's were withdrawn at PN because they were replaced by E200's.

What is a 'least rough' route? A brain dead idiot can appear anywhere. Far more trouble free pleasant journeys happen on the Soho Road than happen on the 121 for an example just on numbers operated, and can someone please tell me why people on here continually slag the Soho Road off?

Least rough route is a route which passes the least dodgiest places. Ie 99 round welsh house farm isn't pleasant and that 94 doesn't sound nice either looking at the bham mail. I don't slag soho road, you would think that a bus would be less rough between two towns whereas the 74 comes a long way

Meh. Welsh House Farm isn't that bad anymore. Yes there is still that drug hole scumbag premises there, but the folks who operate that joint are actually nice guys, providing you let them on for free and don't cross them! Haha, seriously, there's no issues there.

[Liberator9]

You can get trouble on any route - as Tony is saying. I've had trouble on the 246, the 6 twice, 76 a few times, 37 as well a few times. Mainly just fare dodgers and smokers, although the 246 incident was verbal abuse and refusal to leave the bus.

Solihull, as Stu has said, also has problems.

On the S3 two years ago, there were two youths (unfortunately just one row away from me) who decided it would be fun to open the emergency exit whilst the bus was moving. Did this once or twice as well. In Solihull a few years ago, a driver I knew had to deal with school kids who thought it would be funny to keep pressing the button, and trying to start a fight with another kid from another school. To solve the problem he firstly stopped the bus and announced that unless they stopped, the bus would be classed as defective and be taken out of service, meaning everyone would have to walk home. The cowards stopped after he said that, as everyone on the bus looked towards the back. Then when the two sets of school kids decided to insult each other, he had to drop them off deliberately at separate areas so to avoid any actual fighting. He was an excellent driver and his wise tactics paid off, as no fight ensued.


One driver said to a friend what a nightmare some of the youths were in Solihull, some of the worst he'd come across.

There does seem to be this myth that the Soho Road should be avoided at all costs. Thousands of people travel on the 74 each month and are respectable people who cause no problems. Only a minority cause a major problem, and by probability, you are likely to have a trouble free journey on the route.

If you are worried about travelling on a certain route, here is some simple advice - sit on the lower deck (if it's a double deck) and near the front.

[Lukeee]

Just a thought (and in no way is this real), but surely LWB E200s would've been better replacements at CV than E400s for Merc services? It'll also provide some more variety if you ask me...

NX don't want to add more variety, they want to reduce variety & standardize types at each garage. To reduce the number of parts they need to stock to a minimum.

Oh, so I see. I will miss the variety of buses, mercs will be one of my all time favourites, they had so much character.

I hate the Mercs, bored of them on 244. They used to make that noise which scared you to death. Can't wait to see them go. 1647 is quick however

Granted. That noise sounds like a cat being run over, however, I have stated that one of the characteristics that old buses have were rattling windows. Now, it's all about being the most quiet, smooth bus, which is nice, but I'd much prefer mercs & the long gone metrobuses over these uniform e400s

Everyone loves old buses when once they've gone. I hated b6s but now would love to catch a ride on one

Would go to Wolverhampton in the next few weeks before it is to late then, can't see them lasting much longer.

Don't west brom operate them also?

Yes, and Walsall, too. :)

I Was planning in two weeks time to go from west brom to dudley. What route is this and what bus operates on it?

42 could get anything
74 e400's, gemini's & alx400's
87 gemini's
121 e200

87 doesn't go to west brom

[MW]

You can get trouble on any route - as Tony is saying. I've had trouble on the 246, the 6 twice, 76 a few times, 37 as well a few times. Mainly just fare dodgers and smokers, although the 246 incident was verbal abuse and refusal to leave the bus.

Solihull, as Stu has said, also has problems.

On the S3 two years ago, there were two youths (unfortunately just one row away from me) who decided it would be fun to open the emergency exit whilst the bus was moving. Did this once or twice as well. In Solihull a few years ago, a driver I knew had to deal with school kids who thought it would be funny to keep pressing the button, and trying to start a fight with another kid from another school. To solve the problem he firstly stopped the bus and announced that unless they stopped, the bus would be classed as defective and be taken out of service, meaning everyone would have to walk home. The cowards stopped after he said that, as everyone on the bus looked towards the back. Then when the two sets of school kids decided to insult each other, he had to drop them off deliberately at separate areas so to avoid any actual fighting. He was an excellent driver and his wise tactics paid off, as no fight ensued.


One driver said to a friend what a nightmare some of the youths were in Solihull, some of the worst he'd come across.

There does seem to be this myth that the Soho Road should be avoided at all costs. Thousands of people travel on the 74 each month and are respectable people who cause no problems. Only a minority cause a major problem, and by probability, you are likely to have a trouble free journey on the route.

If you are worried about travelling on a certain route, here is some simple advice - sit on the lower deck (if it's a double deck) and near the front.

To be fair, a lot of the riff raff in Solihull are from Chelmsley Wood and those areas.

[wilmotm (Matt Wilmot)]

Just a quick thought! Possibly the 64 plates just arriving will have to make do with the cut out yourself tax disks for the 2 month period before they are no longer necessary following reports that the DVLA have run out of tax disk paper!

[Sh4318]

Just a thought (and in no way is this real), but surely LWB E200s would've been better replacements at CV than E400s for Merc services? It'll also provide some more variety if you ask me...

NX don't want to add more variety, they want to reduce variety & standardize types at each garage. To reduce the number of parts they need to stock to a minimum.

Oh, so I see. I will miss the variety of buses, mercs will be one of my all time favourites, they had so much character.

I hate the Mercs, bored of them on 244. They used to make that noise which scared you to death. Can't wait to see them go. 1647 is quick however

Granted. That noise sounds like a cat being run over, however, I have stated that one of the characteristics that old buses have were rattling windows. Now, it's all about being the most quiet, smooth bus, which is nice, but I'd much prefer mercs & the long gone metrobuses over these uniform e400s

Everyone loves old buses when once they've gone. I hated b6s but now would love to catch a ride on one

Would go to Wolverhampton in the next few weeks before it is to late then, can't see them lasting much longer.

Don't west brom operate them also?

Yes, and Walsall, too. :)

I Was planning in two weeks time to go from west brom to dudley. What route is this and what bus operates on it?

41 & 44 maybe?

[P419 EJW]

Just a thought (and in no way is this real), but surely LWB E200s would've been better replacements at CV than E400s for Merc services? It'll also provide some more variety if you ask me...

NX don't want to add more variety, they want to reduce variety & standardize types at each garage. To reduce the number of parts they need to stock to a minimum.

Oh, so I see. I will miss the variety of buses, mercs will be one of my all time favourites, they had so much character.

I hate the Mercs, bored of them on 244. They used to make that noise which scared you to death. Can't wait to see them go. 1647 is quick however

Granted. That noise sounds like a cat being run over, however, I have stated that one of the characteristics that old buses have were rattling windows. Now, it's all about being the most quiet, smooth bus, which is nice, but I'd much prefer mercs & the long gone metrobuses over these uniform e400s

Everyone loves old buses when once they've gone. I hated b6s but now would love to catch a ride on one

Would go to Wolverhampton in the next few weeks before it is to late then, can't see them lasting much longer.

Don't west brom operate them also?

Yes, and Walsall, too. :)

I Was planning in two weeks time to go from west brom to dudley. What route is this and what bus operates on it?

41 & 44 maybe?

41 is West Bromwich - Friar Park and 44 is West Bromwich - Tipton. Trident 4194 wants to go to Dudley.

[windy miller]

Have WN and WA taken delivery of any new E200's yet?... I saw all 10 of the (short) WB 751-760 on Tues and 831/3/4/5.LWB   no sign of 832 though  and 4950/1/2/7/8/9/60 on the 75's. thanks