Service changes from 4th December, 2016

[GeminiFan1991]

The X1 timetable still hasn't been published yet even though the X2 was published days ago. Even though a possible increase in frequency on the Coventry Road (yeah right !!) was talked about, I don't think it will happen even though there is a variant to Coleshill Heath Road/Chester Road (I would expect the present 900E's to be doing this). If anybody is expecting and increase in frequency on the Coventry Road prepare to be disappointed. If anybody thinks or knows if I am wrong then convince me !!

For all we know a 960 might still happen (I'm skeptical myself) and that could provide the Coventry Road frequency increase.

[Stu]

For all we know a 960 might still happen (I'm skeptical myself) and that could provide the Coventry Road frequency increase.

The 960 doesn't look to be going ahead, at least not this year. Which is probably why BC are losing 2-3 new buses (or whatever figure it was quoted here) to PB. Still, I can't see the new X61 needing all 12 extra vehicles, so I think it is likely to be the X1 (900) that will see a frequency increase. Whether it is across the whole route (every 20mins to Coventry, every 10mins to Airport/NEC), or whether just extra shorts (every 30mins to Coventry, every 10mins to Airport/NEC) remains to be seen.

Either way, although the new X2 (957) stays at every 15mins, there will still be additional Platinum buses along the key Birmingham-Yardley-Sheldon corridor. That's my guess anyway.

[monkeyjoe]

The X1 is definitely going to the business park says on the registration. The east Brum review is not going ahead till the new year so maybe the 960 or even this X72 might come out of that.

[Stu]

The X1 is definitely going to the business park says on the registration. The east Brum review is not going ahead till the new year so maybe the 960 or even this X72 might come out of that.

My guess is that it will just be some peak-time workings that go to Birmingham Business Park.

[Kevin]

My guess is that it will just be some peak-time workings that go to Birmingham Business Park.

With this talk of Business Park services and the current 97 Resorts World journeys, I was wondering: how about run the 900 (or indeed X1) shorts to Business Park during business hours and to Resorts World outside those times (ie, the same sort of times the 97 does)

[1907]

X61 timetable is now on NWM website. It stops at the following places after the O2 acadamy

Stone Road
Priory Road
Pebble Mill Road
Edgbaston Park Road
Bournbrook Road
Grange Road
Selly Oak Sainsbury's
Oak Tree Lane
Weoley Park Road
Bournville Lane
Griffins Brook Lane
Whitehall Lane
then all stops to Frankley

Every 15 mins Mon- Sat daytime, every 30 mins evening, 20 minutes Sunday

[Adam 404]

X1 service Birmingham - Birmingham Business Park / Coventry

- Every 15 mins base frequency during Mon - Sat Daytime (Birmingham - Birmingham Airport)
- Approx Every 10 mins at Peak Times (Birmingham - Birmingham Airport)
- Hourly night service Every Hour (Birmingham - Birmingham Airport)

- Every 30 min service Mon - Sat (Birmingham - Birmingham Business Park)
- Every 20 / 30 min peak service (Birmingham - Birmingham Business Park)

- Every 30 mins Monday - Sunday (Birmingham - Coventry)
- First departure from Birmingham to Coventry is 03:05 arriving at 04:05 (05:05 Sunday Arriving at 06:11)

- Peak service towards Birmingham is Every 15 mins in Morning and the same in Evening
- Peak service towards the Airport is Every 10 - 15 Mins in Morning and Every 15 - 20 mins in the Evening.

Timetable on Traveline.

[Steve3229vp]

So really it's not surprising that the talked about increase frequency on the Coventry Road hasn't happened, I was never convinced by that one. BUT the X61 only running every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, you must be joking I expected at least every 12 minutes or even every 10 minutes. I predict that new frequencies on the Bristol Road (63 every 7 minutes and X61 every 15 minutes) won't last very long !!

[Stu]

X1 Timetable on NWM website:
https://journeyplanner.networkwestmidlands.com/Timetables/cen_330X1_B_H_y11/1/Outbound/0

OK, so my guess was way off, I can see a VERY slight increase in frequency at peak times, and I suppose the 24hr service will be useful if I go away to Lanzarote again next year and land at 12:50am :)

[Sh4318]

X1 Timetable on NWM website:
https://journeyplanner.networkwestmidlands.com/Timetables/cen_330X1_B_H_y11/1/Outbound/0

OK, so my guess was way off, I can see a VERY slight increase in frequency at peak times, and I suppose the 24hr service will be useful if I go away to Lanzarote again next year and land at 12:50am :)

Technically there is an increase, but only on Sundays. Buses between the Wheatsheaf and Moor Street every 10 minutes. The OCD in me is glad there will be a co-ordinated frequency on Sundays

[Stu]

Technically there is an increase, but only on Sundays. Buses between the Wheatsheaf and Moor Street every 10 minutes. The OCD in me is glad there will be a co-ordinated frequency on Sundays

Well, the Sunday timetable does look better now, for both the X1 and X2, but it remains to be seen whether they'll be able to stick to that timetable!

The problem for me is the lack of extra peak-time capacity heading into Birmingham, between 8am and 9am. And both services will continue to go to pot in the evenings while there is still the horrendous traffic along Small Heath Highway and around Bordesley Circus.

[monkeyjoe]

So really it's not surprising that the talked about increase frequency on the Coventry Road hasn't happened, I was never convinced by that one. BUT the X61 only running every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, you must be joking I expected at least every 12 minutes or even every 10 minutes. I predict that new frequencies on the Bristol Road (63 every 7 minutes and X61 every 15 minutes) won't last very long !!

Bristol rd is that a reduction then from the 3/4 mins they used to claim on the nx site?

[Mike K]

Interestingly the X61 route map shows it as using Selly Oak by pass (i.e. along the X64 route but not serving the QE) between Oak Tree Lane and Bournbrook. So along one of the busy student areas of the Bristol Rd in Selly Oak there is now only a 7 minute frequency.

Not convinced these Bristol Rd changes have been well thought out.

[monkeyjoe]

And also aren't the Frankley Beeches Rd lot going to get a reduced service now??

Has this new x61 been extended in the city centre as well?

[2900]

I wonder if the Dudley rd services will start going back round paradise on the 4th Dec 83/89 towards great Charles st, 82/87 towards Suffolk st Queensway