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

[sonic84]

The 27 was a circular route from 1990 to 1994 although it continued from Hawkesley to Kings Heath via Monyhull Road and the Dawberry Fields estate rather than onto the Maypole. It was numbered A/C with some shorter evening and late night journeys showing 27AE/CE on occasion. It was replaced by an extension of the 35 until the 27 returned in late 2003.

That must have looked odd seeing 27AE or 27CE.

The disadvantage the X routes have is not being able to show E to identify it as a short working. Saying that, is the E suffix necessary when the destinations are on the front and side blinds now.

[Kevin]

That must have looked odd seeing 27AE or 27CE.

The disadvantage the X routes have is not being able to show E to identify it as a short working. Saying that, is the E suffix necessary when the destinations are on the front and side blinds now.

But they do specifically say "short working" on the display, so an E on the number is kinda irrelevant now

[John]

I would still rather have a E on the number though. I know people don't pay attention to the blinds at the best of times but it stands out more than the short journey on the top line. Plenty of times on the X4 shorts I've had to kick people off in Sutton

[l.murphy123]

I would still rather have a E on the number though. I know people don't pay attention to the blinds at the best of times but it stands out more than the short journey on the top line. Plenty of times on the X4 shorts I've had to kick people off in Sutton

What specifically do 'A' 'E' and 'X' mean? What are their standard meanings? I know X is express.

[Dom]

What specifically do 'A' 'E' and 'X' mean? What are their standard meanings? I know X is express.

E denotes a short working.
A used to kinda mean an extension to the route. For example, the old 581A which only used to run on Sundays, first by TWM then Diamond. Used to be the Dudley-Merry Hill extension.

Nower days, A pretty much just means a variation of the original route. For example, the new 2A, 12A, 13A.

[busfan2847]

What specifically do 'A' 'E' and 'X' mean? What are their standard meanings? I know X is express.

When E was introduced by WMPTE it meant Exception (a short working). This replaced Birmingham's system where the closest turn round to downtown was A the next B and so on. For example on the 50 (city to Maypole) 50J was to Kings Heath only, and 50K was Alcester Lanes End.

A and C were used by WMPTE to signify anticlockwise and clockwise respectively.

With national express WM changing route numbers to be 1-99 only they are having to use A to signify a branch of a main service and X for limited stop services. The WMPTE system had unique numbers for all routes - 1-99 Birmingham, 100-299 ex Midland Red, 300-399 Walsall, 400-499 West Bromwich, 500-599 Wolverhampton, 800 series Schools and 900 series Limited Stop.

[DJ]

When E was introduced by WMPTE it meant Exception (a short working). This replaced Birmingham's system where the closest turn round to downtown was A the next B and so on. For example on the 50 (city to Maypole) 50J was to Kings Heath only, and 50K was Alcester Lanes End.

A and C were used by WMPTE to signify anticlockwise and clockwise respectively.

With national express WM changing route numbers to be 1-99 only they are having to use A to signify a branch of a main service and X for limited stop services. The WMPTE system had unique numbers for all routes - 1-99 Birmingham, 100-299 ex Midland Red, 300-399 Walsall, 400-499 West Bromwich, 500-599 Wolverhampton, 800 series Schools and 900 series Limited Stop.

I dunno if it was started under WMPTE, but the 6xx series also fit nicely into that series for various 'Mini-Link' routes, that often had minibuses on them when introduced, although later, routes that survived such as the 644 did look a bit out of place with their numbering. I remember that route using Solos and the ALX 200 Darts up until both of those were withdrawn.

[Mike K]

I dunno if it was started under WMPTE, but the 6xx series also fit nicely into that series for various 'Mini-Link' routes, that often had minibuses on them when introduced, although later, routes that survived such as the 644 did look a bit out of place with their numbering. I remember that route using Solos and the ALX 200 Darts up until both of those were withdrawn.

I believe the 6xx minibus route numbering series was introduced post deregulation in the WMT era. I always thought it looked strange seeing a Mercedes 0405N on the 'minibus' numbered 636.

[l.murphy123]

E denotes a short working.
A used to kinda mean an extension to the route. For example, the old 581A which only used to run on Sundays, first by TWM then Diamond. Used to be the Dudley-Merry Hill extension.

Nower days, A pretty much just means a variation of the original route. For example, the new 2A, 12A, 13A.

Thank you :-) Arriva Cannock have the 2E which only does 2 evening journeys now... as does the 75A which surely should be 75E. Much prefer the NX numbering.

[PointerDart]

What specifically do 'A' 'E' and 'X' mean? What are their standard meanings? I know X is express.

What about other letters still used today like there being a Diamond 4H (is there a meaning for the H) and then D&G have a 14W in Stoke (is 'W' used anywhere else as part of a route number and does that have any particular meaning?)

[winston]

What about other letters still used today like there being a Diamond 4H (is there a meaning for the H) and then D&G have a 14W in Stoke (is 'W' used anywhere else as part of a route number and does that have any particular meaning?)

H = Halesowen / Hayley Green

[PointerDart]

H = Halesowen / Hayley Green

Ah that actually makes sense. Thanks, Winston.

[Stu]

What about other letters still used today like there being a Diamond 4H (is there a meaning for the H) and then D&G have a 14W in Stoke (is 'W' used anywhere else as part of a route number and does that have any particular meaning?)

Diamond also operate a 16W, which is a variation of the 16 extended to West Bromwich.

[PointerDart]

Diamond also operate a 16W, which is a variation of the 16 extended to West Bromwich.

So in general the other letters can often denote where the extension goes?

Thanks for the info! :)

[Squiz1971]

So in general the other letters can often denote where the extension goes?

Thanks for the info! :)

Also the NX 4M which goes to Merry Hill @PointerDart