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

[jamesX4]

Sorry but that just sounds like pointless renumbering to me, and probably would confuse a fair few people!

For consistency with the Sutton Lines services, Arriva's 110 service could be renumbered as X6 though - it's interesting how TfWM have left both X6 and X11 free!

Isn't most renumbering pointless?

To integrate the 110 (potential future X6) into the Sutton Lines timetable to create a regular 5 minute service between Birmingham & Sutton would also help with consistency.

[MasterPlan]

Sorry but that just sounds like pointless renumbering to me, and probably would confuse a fair few people!

For consistency with the Sutton Lines services, Arriva's 110 service could be renumbered as X6 though - it's interesting how TfWM have left both X6 and X11 free!

Could renumber the 907 to X7 as well.

[jamesX4]

Could renumber the 907 to X7 as well.

Yes, it's bizarre that every NX Sutton to Birmingham route number was changed to X_ except for the 107/907.

[Jack]

Yes, it's bizarre that every NX Sutton to Birmingham route number was changed to X_ except for the 107/907.

Maybe because the 907 isn't an express service... it's limited stop and the 9** is for limited stop services. The X3's etc have more of an express feel using the Expressway whereas the 907 serves stops inbetween Perry Barr and the City, so has less of an express feel just limited stops, whereas the X51 is non-stop until the City

More pointless renumbering, don't mess with something that already works fine. Having two X2's in the City Centre by the same operator is bound to cause loads of unnecessary confusion.

[jasmine]

Maybe because the 907 isn't an express service... it's limited stop and the 9** is for limited stop services. The X3's etc have more of an express feel using the Expressway whereas the 907 serves stops inbetween Perry Barr and the City, so has less of an express feel just limited stops, whereas the X51 is non-stop until the City

More pointless renumbering, don't mess with something that already works fine. Having two X2's in the City Centre by the same operator is bound to cause loads of unnecessary confusion.

i was going to say this, thank you

[jamesX4]

Maybe because the 907 isn't an express service... it's limited stop and the 9** is for limited stop services. The X3's etc have more of an express feel using the Expressway whereas the 907 serves stops inbetween Perry Barr and the City, so has less of an express feel just limited stops, whereas the X51 is non-stop until the City

More pointless renumbering, don't mess with something that already works fine. Having two X2's in the City Centre by the same operator is bound to cause loads of unnecessary confusion.

So the X8, X10, X21, X22 & X64 are "Express" services as opposed to "Limited Stop" services? 

The Solihull X2 departs from the opposite side of the city centre to the Sutton routes, so no reason to cause confusion.  It is more confusing to have short running services not suffixed with an E.

Regarding the Solihull Services, it takes far too long to get from Birmingham to Solihull by bus, the 4 (formerly 37) could do with having some "express" services from Digbeth Coach station to Acocks Green.  Another X4! 

[Jack]

The X2 doesn't terminate the other side of the City at all, it's an 8 minute walk along one road. It's not like ones on Moor Street and the other at Colmore Row. 

It doesn't take long at all on the bus, the 4 and X2 take similar amount of time. The X2 has loads of bus priority along the route. How are you trying to get an express bus along Stratford and Warwick Road when the current services get stuck in that traffic, and you can't just flyover it. 

A lot of passengers in AG if they want to be in town within 15 minutes catch the train which is very popular.

[Mike K]

So the X8, X10, X21, X22 & X64 are "Express" services as opposed to "Limited Stop" services?
 

Fair point, and the X21 and X22 are neither express nor limited stop for that matter. There isn't any consistency with the 900 series of numbered or the X prefix routes. The preference now for anything limited stop or express is an 'X' route but there remain 9xx series routes that have never been renumbered. 

I do agree though that there is nothing to be gained from remembering for the sake of it. 

[jamesX4]

The X2 doesn't terminate the other side of the City at all, it's an 8 minute walk along one road. It's not like ones on Moor Street and the other at Colmore Row.

It doesn't take long at all on the bus, the 4 and X2 take similar amount of time. The X2 has loads of bus priority along the route. How are you trying to get an express bus along Stratford and Warwick Road when the current services get stuck in that traffic, and you can't just flyover it.

A lot of passengers in AG if they want to be in town within 15 minutes catch the train which is very popular.

OK, having looked at a map the stops are closer than I implied.  I always alight on Priory and board on Corporation St.

I agree with you that it is not feasible to travel from Solihull & Acocks Green to Birmingham by bus due to the slow journey times, and train is more practical.  However when Solihull and Sutton Coldfield are both almost the same distance from Birmingham, and it is almost half an hour on X3/X4/X5 to travel between Birmingham & Sutton, where as it is almost an hour on the X2/4 to travel between Birmingham & Solihull then if anything can be done to reduce journey times and increase patronage, this can only benefit both the operator and the passenger.

[MasterPlan]

Fair point, and the X21 and X22 are neither express nor limited stop for that matter. There isn't any consistency with the 900 series of numbered or the X prefix routes. The preference now for anything limited stop or express is an 'X' route but there remain 9xx series routes that have never been renumbered.

I do agree though that there is nothing to be gained from remembering for the sake of it.

When is renumbering not done for the sake of it though? I thought the idea at one stage was a 'simplified network', but there are still anomalies.

[Steve3229vp]

Could renumber the 907 to X7 as well.

X7 wouldn't fit, if your looking to renumber the 907 the try X41 and here's why:

934-937 to become X34-X37
937A to become X38
997 to become X39 (X40 buses to Deers Leap)
907 to become X40

[Jack]

X7 wouldn't fit, if your looking to renumber the 907 the try X41 and here's why:

934-937 to become X34-X37
937A to become X38
997 to become X39 (X40 buses to Deers Leap)
907 to become X40

More unnecessary and pointless renumbering, the numbering system for those work fine and do a good job.

[Steve3229vp]

More unnecessary and pointless renumbering, the numbering system for those work fine and do a good job.

I agree, I was just pointing out that renumbering the 907 to X7 didn't make any sense

[jasmine]

X7 wouldn't fit, if your looking to renumber the 907 the try X41 and here's why:

934-937 to become X34-X37
937A to become X38
997 to become X39 (X40 buses to Deers Leap)
907 to become X40

997 -> X31
907 -> X32
33 -> 33
Proposed 'Express 33' -> X33
934 -> X34
935-> X35
936 -> X36
937 -> X37
937A -> X38

[Jack]

997 -> X31
907 -> X32
33 -> 33
Proposed 'Express 33' -> X33
934 -> X34
935-> X35
936 -> X36
937 -> X37
937A -> X38

Express 33? The 934 does that job between Pheasey and the City.