If you had the chance to modify or add any service, what would you do?

[sonic84]

I am surprised actually that the 125 and 25 are both still running at an hourly frequency on that corridor, especially with 5/10 mins between departures.

[MW]

Note: This would work better if NXWM still ran the S9 or some form of shuttle to Blythe Valley.

NXWM 31 curtailed to Shirley Parkway/Asda/Haslucks Greenjunction. Maintains every 20 minutes frequency. PVR = 6

NXWM 5, renumbered to 32, curtailed to Shirley Parkway/Asda/Haslucks Green Road junction. Maintains every 20 minutes frequency PVR = 6

NXWM 6. Frequency reduced to every 8 minutes. PVR = 17

NEW ROUTES:

4 - Birmingham to Solihull via 6 route to Shirley, then current 31 route to Solihull (via Sharmons Cross Road). Operates at every 30 minutes. PVR = 4

5 - Birmingham to Solihull via 6 route to Shirley, then current 5 route to Solihull (via Monkspath/Widney Manor). Operates at every 30 minutes. PVR = 5

6A - Solihull to Blythe Valley Business Park via 6 route to Blossomfield Rd/Stratford Rd junction, then non stop to Blythe Valley. Operates at every 30 minutes. This route maintains the 6 minute frequency at the Solihull end of the route, and also serves Blythe Valley at a lowish cost, as two buses would be needed anyway. This would be ideal if NXWM still ran the S9 or could secure the contract from Blythe Valley in the future. This is a peak time only service. PVR = 2

Routes 4 & 5 interwork, as the 4 has an extra 10ish minutes at Solihull and the 5 is running fairly tight at peaks.

Overall current PVR: 39

Overall new PVR: 40

Monkspath workers get a more direct service, although slightly less frequent into City Centre. From my experience driving the route, plenty of passengers change for a 6 at Shirley as it's quicker. This new route would eliminate that change. Also, as the route is more direct, it shouldn't get stuck as much.

New route 32 should have a noticeable increase in reliability due to a shorter overall route. It would also combine at every 10 min frequency between City & Springfield with the 31.

New 6A route should ease off pressure to the existing 6 route with the college/school along Blossomfield Road. A delay in Birmingham delays the rest of the route often.

New routes 4 and 5 would also ease off pressure to the 6, if there is traffic on the Blossomfield end of the route, which also does happen.

Also possible is to curtail some journeys between City & Robin Hood Island, and then Solihull & Robin Hood Island. This would maintain better reliability.


Routes 4 / 5 / 6A run by YW. Route 76 transferred to AG. 3225 gained from AG. Results in net loss of 1 vehicles for YW.

Routes 5 / 31 dropped PVR from 16 to 12. Route 76 gained by AG. 3225 moved to YW. Results in a net gain of 2 vehicles.

[monkeyjoe]

What about the Gospel oak link to Solihull

[MW]

What about the Gospel oak link to Solihull

1/31 to either Acocks Green and then 37 to Solihull or 31 to Shirley and then any bus from there.

For the sake of reliability, those passengers do lose out, but again, as I've driven the route at various times of the day, the passenger numbers do drop a lot after Gospel, hence why the route only runs to Solihull during the day.

[B.C Driver]

X61 needs to be increased from every 15 mins during peak mornings and afternoons.

[MasterPlan]

I don't know if this would work but, what about replacing the X64 with a 21/21A? The 21 would follow the old route and the 21A would follow the 99/98 route through Bath Row etc apart​ from turning left before Smallbrook Queensway inbound, and onto Great Charles Street, Livery Street etc, then leaving town back through Bath Row. Both half hour, making it every 15 mins. Then reinstating the 62 in place of the 98 to help the 63/X61?
Probably not possible / too complicated but just a thought.

[Sh4318]

I don't know if this would work but, what about replacing the X64 with a 21/21A? The 21 would follow the old route and the 21A would follow the 99/98 route through Bath Row etc apart​ from turning left before Smallbrook Queensway inbound, and onto Great Charles Street, Livery Street etc, then leaving town back through Bath Row. Both half hour, making it every 15 mins. Then reinstating the 62 in place of the 98 to help the 63/X61?
Probably not possible / too complicated but just a thought.

So you'd have 2 buses an hour between QE & Birmingham via the current 98/99 route? Yeah, that wouldn't work

[MasterPlan]

So you'd have 2 buses an hour between QE & Birmingham via the current 98/99 route? Yeah, that wouldn't work

Is it really that busy around that part of the route? Did it not cope before the 98/99?

[2206]

Is it really that busy around that part of the route? Did it not cope before the 98/99?

Yes it is busy, they carry full loads along that part of the route. It is also the busiest part of the 98/99 routes.

[MasterPlan]

Yes it is busy, they carry full loads along that part of the route. It is also the busiest part of the 98/99 routes.

Well the X64's single deckers can barely​ cope at peak times as it is, so if it's really that busy then it should be quite funny to see what happens..

[B.C Driver]

Bham City Council could help improve traffic flow in the city centre if they looked at the traffic lights.
Jcn of Moor St Qway / Albert St  - on Moor St Qway traffic lights downhill (just after 97 stop) change to green, traffic lights uphill (just after 33, 51 etc stop) remain on red for about 15 seconds un-necessarily.
Pedestrian lights at Moor St Qway at the end of New St tunnel and at Carrs Ln / High St change automatically whether or not somebody has pressed them, fine in the busy daytime, but so annoying after say 7pm when you have to stop and nobody is crossing over.
Could @Tony possibly look into this?   

[monkeyjoe]

Would any Walsall drivers want to work overnights?

You could have just one or two garages working the late night shifts. Mind you remember what happened when they tried to centralise all the Sunday services lol

[BusMan Greg]

I would cut Arriva's 61 to lichfield and bring back the old 62A so hammerwich isn't without a bus service . Also bring back the 23/A for wimblebery and Heath hays.

[Tony]

On a previous trip to Paultons Park (Peppa Pig Land), there was a bus running from Southampton to Paultons Park fully decked out in the Peppa Pig Livery.

I am sure Arriva / NXWM in conjuction with Drayton Manor could lay on special services linking up Birmingham / Coventry / Wolverhampton to Drayton Manor

NXWM are retrying the Drayton Manor services as a one off the end of this month.
Saturday 29th April from Dudley, West Bromwich & Walsall
Sunday 30th April from Birmingham
as a look to see if it is worth running them again.
Bookings are looking promising. It is likely 6795 will be the bus used

[2206]

NXWM are retrying the Drayton Manor services as a one off the end of this month.
Saturday 29th April from Dudley, West Bromwich & Walsall
Sunday 30th April from Birmingham
as a look to see if it is worth running them again.
Bookings are looking promising. It is likely 6795 will be the bus used

Just read on the NX facebook page, in a reply to someone asking if NX are operating a service to Drayton Manor in the May half term, NX have said they will be running a service and at present are finalizing the details.