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

[the trainbasher]

Having got to know the Stourbridge network quite well in recent years, I'd make changes to the tendered routes running from there, particularly the 17, 25 and 57.

The 25 seems to carry fresh air on the Stourbridge and Wollaston section so I'd get rid of that service altogether (seems to run a crazy 30 min frequency too which is far too high on that section).

I'd replace it by re-routing the 17 along the 25 route from Stourbridge via Wollaston back to the a491 at Audnam (there's no need for the 17 to run direct along that section of a491 from Stourbridge as it is served by the pretty regular commercial services 6 and 16).

I would then also send the 17 along the current 25 route by turning right up Bretell Lane and current route off that up to Swan Lane. However instead of then continuing the 25 to Dudley, run via Swan Lane and the 226 route to get back onto the a491 to serve Wordsley. The 226 can cover the 25 route over most of those lost sections up to Brierley Hill and Merry Hill.

I'd also get rid of the 57 which also rarely sees high passenger numbers. Most of the route up to Wall Heath and Kingswinford is covered by the 16 and doesn't need replication against a commercial route. The missing bits of the 57 through estate roads aren't a million miles away from other routes either.

The missing bit in Wall Heath of the 57 could just have a further bit tagged onto the 'new' 17 so again the 17 doesn't just replicate the 16 route.

This would obviously lengthen the 17 route but ultimately provides what tendered services should, services where commercial operation isn't feasible. It would also save substantial money for the local authority too as getting rid of the 25 and 57 would save money (even if some sort of replacement on demand type-service, over any substantial missing section, was needed).

The 25 is paid for by TfWM... but it's a BSIP funded route, like the 142. Plus the 57 covers some parts that the 15, 16 and 17 don't cover, with the 25 having been in existence in some form since Hansons started the 250/251 in 2006. The 17 dates back to the 257 of the late 90s, which ran, at one stage, through to Kinver, believe it or not, and then got replaced by the 287, before coming back after a reorganisation of the Dudley-Gornal routes iirc

Funnily enough, the 25's Lodge Farm to Dudley end also is linked to the 257's history... as the 257 replaced the 285, which at one stage ran Sedgley to Merry Hill via Stickley and Dudley... the Gornal - Stickley - Dudley section that the 257 took over in the 90s (the 283 and 282 were the 285's sister services). The 287, which the 257 replaced, also ironically, ran via Standhills Road (which the Diamond 57 touches) and had a sister service which also ran (at one stage) once a day... via Stickley!

[JosephR]

Now that birchfield road services are now going under new town row (lancaster circus), it got me thinking. The Aston expressway services AKA Sutton lines should carry on into city centre over st chads Queensway, to snow hill Queensway, and old square's current 16 stop. Then right down to bottom of corporation st for uni stop. The Sutton lines have felt very out of place on priory Queensway to me.

[Jack]

Now that birchfield road services are now going under new town row (lancaster circus), it got me thinking. The Aston expressway services AKA Sutton lines should carry on into city centre over st chads Queensway, to snow hill Queensway, and old square's current 16 stop. Then right down to bottom of corporation st for uni stop. The Sutton lines have felt very out of place on priory Queensway to me.

Then you're moving the Sutton services away from 2 very well used stops. I'm certain they have always stopped at those 2 stops entering the City for years now. 

[JosephR]

Then you're moving the Sutton services away from 2 very well used stops. I'm certain they have always stopped at those 2 stops entering the City for years now.

Buses are forever being moved from stops in the city centre. I think there needs to be a bit more variety travelling through/to/ from Birmingham. Connections with the  'other side of Birmingham' services. Mind the route wouldn't loose its connection with the uni. You'd simply have to cross the road at the bottom of corporation st. Which can't be more than 40yards.

[JosephR]

Reroute Stratford road services to begin outside of station st... Dudley st, upperdean st loop etc. a more space for buses to terminate on hill/station st. There's a lot of stops in the city centre that could be utilised. Too many services terminating at the same stops. Causing obstructions.

[jasmine]

Reroute Stratford road services to begin outside of station st... Dudley st, upperdean st loop etc. a more space for buses to terminate on hill/station st. There's a lot of stops in the city centre that could be utilised. Too many services terminating at the same stops. Causing obstructions.

yes because i also don't see the reason and seemingly obsessive need for the 2, 3, 4, 4a, 5, 6, 17, 35, 50, 60, 97, X1, X2, X21 and X22 to all terminate on Moor St

[Jack]

yes because i also don't see the reason and seemingly obsessive need for the 2, 3, 4, 4a, 5, 6, 17, 35, 50, 60, 97, X1, X2, X21 and X22 to all terminate on Moor St

The 97 doesn't terminate on Moor Street, that's Carrs Lane.

The Stratford Road stop is a joke, people were moaning about it on Facebook about it being too overused. 

If Corporation Street never closed to traffic in 2012 we would never have these constant issues and constant moving of buses in the City!

[Tony]

yes because i also don't see the reason and seemingly obsessive need for the 2, 3, 4, 4a, 5, 6, 17, 35, 50, 60, 97, X1, X2, X21 and X22 to all terminate on Moor St

Because there's no other stops available in the city centre

[Jack]

yes because i also don't see the reason and seemingly obsessive need for the 2, 3, 4, 4a, 5, 6, 17, 35, 50, 60, 97, X1, X2, X21 and X22 to all terminate on Moor St

The X21/X22 terminus is another joke too, the buses can't ever pull in straight because of the roadworks, so the back end of the bus is usually creeping into the lane, then if there's more than 1 bus it blocks up part of the road.


Now the Digbeth roadworks have completed it would make more sense for the relief changes on the BC services to go back to Digbeth as opposed to the City Centre, purely because that's another hold up and buses being dumped on the side Moor Street wouldn't be left causing it harder for other buses to pull in.

[jasmine]

The 97 doesn't terminate on Moor Street, that's Carrs Lane.
The Stratford Road stop is a joke, people were moaning about it on Facebook about it being too overused.
If Corporation Street never closed to traffic in 2012 we would never have these constant issues and constant moving of buses in the City!

The 97 doesn't terminate on Moor Street, that's Carrs Lane.
The Stratford Road stop is a joke, people were moaning about it on Facebook about it being too overused.
If Corporation Street never closed to traffic in 2012 we would never have these constant issues and constant moving of buses in the City!

"The 97 doesn't terminate on Moor Street, that's Carrs Lane."

without the roadworks, yes it does

[Tony]

"The 97 doesn't terminate on Moor Street, that's Carrs Lane."

without the roadworks, yes it does

The 97 is in Carrs Lane, not Moor Street.

Being pedantic, the only services that actually terminate on Moor Street are the 35, 50 and X1, X2, 17 & 60.

[jasmine]

"The 97 doesn't terminate on Moor Street, that's Carrs Lane."

without the roadworks, yes it does

"The 97 doesn't terminate on Moor Street, that's Carrs Lane."

without the roadworks, yes it does

i dont know why this was super sized text i didnt mean that

[jasmine]

The 97 is in Carrs Lane, not Moor Street.

Being pedantic, the only services that actually terminate on Moor Street are the 35, 50 and X1, X2, 17 & 60.

[MasterPlan]

The X21/X22 terminus is another joke too, the buses can't ever pull in straight because of the roadworks, so the back end of the bus is usually creeping into the lane, then if there's more than 1 bus it blocks up part of the road.

It's not great. I've witnessed on a couple of occasions 3 buses there which was even worse.

[Jack]

It's not great. I've witnessed on a couple of occasions 3 buses there which was even worse.

I don't get why they don't do what the 61/63 do. They served the bottom of Masshouse which was short lasted, they can't make their minds up. Same with shoving all the 93* with the 997 and X51 making that stop overused when there's a perfectly empty shelter now just past it that they used to serve...