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

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

X26

Birmingham to Dudley (express service)
could start off as a morning and evening peak service

starting at Colmore Row
stopping only at:
all stops until Five Ways Morrisons
Bearwood Interchange
first stop after it turns right off Hagley Road
before the J2 roundabout
after the J2 roundabout
Burnt Tree Island by Tesco
and then all stops to Dudley

(same stops for the return journey back to Birmingham - except the first stop after it turns left onto Hagley Road)

Wasn't that similar to what NX tried with the X7

[Jack]

Wasn't that similar to what NX tried with the X7

No because the X7 was more of an expression version of the 87 didn't serve the entire of Wolverhampton Road and went through Oldbury and Smethwick.

[OH25]

You mean the 926 that was tried in 1986?

damn I was conceived 10 years too late
always room for a 40 year anniversary and comeback 

[Steve3229vp]

Was there a 126S too @Tony ?

It was 926 to Gornal Wood and 926A to Sedgley, replaced by 126S later 

[karl724223]

Will never work with traffic congestion around the ode toyz yam us island 

[Steve3229vp]

Will never work with traffic congestion around the ode toyz yam us island

I agree entirely 

[Wumpty]

It was 926 to Gornal Wood and 926A to Sedgley, replaced by 126S later

I couldn't remember the chronology - thanks for clarifying!

[Wumpty]

X(52)9 Walsall - Wolverhampton

Stopping places:

Wolverhampton Street (Crown Wharf Retail Park)
Wolverhampton Road/Primley Avenue
Willenhall (Sikh Temple)
Willenhall (The Dale)
Portobello Island
Cleveland Arms
Qualcast Road
Wolverhampton Bus Station

[Stu]

X(52)9 Walsall - Wolverhampton

Stopping places:

Wolverhampton Street (Crown Wharf Retail Park)
Wolverhampton Road/Primley Avenue
Willenhall (Sikh Temple)
Willenhall (The Dale)
Portobello Island
Cleveland Arms
Qualcast Road
Wolverhampton Bus Station

There briefly was an X529 limited stop service a few years back, didn't work out so it was withdrawn.

[Westy]

There briefly was an X529 limited stop service a few years back, didn't work out so it was withdrawn.

That's because it used the Black Country Route instead!

Would've got a few more passengers with Wumpty's suggestion!

[Tony]

That's because it used the Black Country Route instead!

Would've got a few more passengers with Wumpty's suggestion!

The 966 did exactly that from 1986 and that didn't work either

[Rachvince53]

The 966 did exactly that from 1986 and that didn't work either

Except it only stopped at Willenhall (Market Place) between Wolves and Walsall. However the issue of congestion would effect the suggested X529 as much as the existing 529.

[Budgie]

The 966 did exactly that from 1986 and that didn't work either

Was it that the 966 didn't work or a change in strategy?  There seemed to be a move away from express, long distance services at one point (certainly around Walsall) to bolster shorter stopping services. For example, Walsall to Aldridge leg went from 20 mins 367, 368 (368 hourly, 367 20-40) to 15 minutes 367/368 (each 30 mins) both with 30 mins limited stop 966 to then eventually straight 10 mins stopping 366,367,368 (later 6, 7, 7a).

This with cut backs and withdrawals of other limited stop services. The 51 bolstered to every 6 minutes at one stage if I remember rightly with the 951 (X51) cut to half hourly. Very different now. The 997 was cut to 20 minutes from Aldridge to Birmingham with a 355 A/C for the Walsall, Rushall, Aldridge section etc

The 529 had Gas Powered singles I think at a high frequency.  So maybe not a failing service, rather a different strategic approach? And of course, a train service from Walsall to Wolves operated I believe by a NX franchise.

[Wumpty]

There briefly was an X529 limited stop service a few years back, didn't work out so it was withdrawn.

I remember that - did it run via Black Country Route and The Keyway? We trialled a limited stop 29 at Midland Choice to cover gaps on the Walsall Track route interworkings. Mild success until Chase registered a 529 and WMT added dodgers to run ahead of us!

I still think theirs mileage in something (no pun intended) at morning/evening peak times, just needs a bit more thought - anyone got any cheap Darts or Nationals for sale 

[BBS]

Return of the 31 ( Solihull to Birmingham via shaftmoor lane ), however renumbered as the 4A, or keeping the 31. Timetable will be half hourly, possibly interwork with the 5