Service Changes 23/04/2017

[sonic84]

Also does this mean the 98 is unreliable??

[AndrewLee]

The 98 and X64 don't suffer as much as the 99 re reliability. The key things to remember is that both these services get good balancing time at the outer and chance along the route to make up time. The 99, with its many turns, has no chance!

[winston]

The 98 and X64 don't suffer as much as the 99 re reliability. The key things to remember is that both these services get good balancing time at the outer and chance along the route to make up time. The 99, with its many turns, has no chance!

Equally, in diverting the X64 to cover the QE - City section of the withdrawn 99, whilst the current 10min combined frequency with the 98 remains, NX should also be making an overall saving on the combined Pvrs of those routes after 23.4.17 (98 & X64) when compared to now (98, 99 & X64). In addition with the X64 using B7RLE's against the current E200's, there will also be a seating capacity increase and better quality buses.

I assume the 99 branded E200's will be de-branded or at least need branding modifying to suit the newly extended 244 if some/all are set to move to PN.

[Mike K]

Equally, in diverting the X64 to cover the QE - City section of the withdrawn 99, whilst the current 10min combined frequency with the 98 remains, NX should also be making an overall saving on the combined Pvrs of those routes after 23.4.17 (98 & X64) when compared to now (98, 99 & X64). In addition with the X64 using B7RLE's against the current E200's, there will also be a seating capacity increase and better quality buses.

I assume the 99 branded E200's will be de-branded or at least need branding modifying to suit the newly extended 244 if some/all are set to move to PN.

I can't comment on what passenger loadings are like throughout the day between city and QE on the 98/99 and X64, but a 33% reduction in buses overall between these points sounds like quite a cut.

[2206]

I can't comment on what passenger loadings are like throughout the day between city and QE on the 98/99 and X64, but a 33% reduction in buses overall between these points sounds like quite a cut.

The 98 and 99 usually carry full loads between the City Centre and QE.

[winston]

I can't comment on what passenger loadings are like throughout the day between city and QE on the 98/99 and X64, but a 33% reduction in buses overall between these points sounds like quite a cut.

It's not quite as bad as the 33% suggests, it should be a saving of 1 bus over the QE - City section after 23.4.17, as the current X64 & 99 both get 22 mins each way.

There are obviously more savings on the Halesowen - QE section if the extended 244 is to remain at the current half hourly frequency rather than the current 20 min frequency of the 99.

[MasterPlan]

Does feel like everything has come full circle though like Mike K says.

Birmingham - Five Ways - QE Hospital - Selly Oak - Weoley Castle - Bangham Pit - Bartley Green.... Sounds familiar!

Just a little...

[monkeyjoe]

If that does happen would it be exactly like the short lived 921 operated by lynxs and the selly oak depot back in the late 90s , I could be wrong.

[Mike K]

If that does happen would it be exactly like the short lived 921 operated by lynxs and the selly oak depot back in the late 90s , I could be wrong.

The first version of the X64 (it's been amended about 4 times already for a route that is still fairly young) was like the short lived 921, the main difference being the X64 went beyond Merritts Brook to Great Park.

This latest incarnation of the X64 will be very similar to the even more short lived version on the 21 when it was diverted via Edgbaston Park Road. The difference is that the 21 went via Broad St and Church Rd, the latest X64 will go via Bath Row and Wheeleys Rd.

Assuming these changes happen of course.

[MasterPlan]

Buses from Harborne to the QE will be down from 2 buses each every 20 mins to just the 48 every 30 mins. The X64 can follow the 48 to the Green Man and just increase the frequency of the 98 slightly?

[AndrewLee]

How is Harbourne losing out in a bus? The 99 (or whatever service number it'll change to) will still run in to the QE via Harbourne!

[MasterPlan]

How is Harbourne losing out in a bus? The 99 (or whatever service number it'll change to) will still run in to the QE via Harbourne!

Do you mean that 243? How often will that run?

[Dom]

Do you mean that 243? How often will that run?

244.

[MasterPlan]

244.

Sorry, 244 then.

[Trident 4194]

Sorry, 244 then.

That will run every 30 mins- also there's the 142 which is 30 mins