Busiest/Most Profitable Routes

[Pat]

Does anyone know what the busiest/most profitable routes across the midlands are (including all operators).

[Tony]

Does anyone know what the busiest/most profitable routes across the midlands are (including all operators).

You are not going to get that information from any operator so anything that is posted will be purely guesswork, which is not normally the correct answer.

[winston]

No one will confirm which are the most profitable routes, it's commercially sensitive.

[Busboy105]

Does anyone know what the busiest/most profitable routes across the midlands are (including all operators).

For NXWM, they could be the WA4/H/M, AG4/A, YW6, 8 outer circle, 9,11 outer circle 17,50,82,87,97,529. (There's plenty more I'm just basing this on their high frequency.)
For Diamond, it's pretty simple. The 4,4H,16/W,40,42,43, 50,226. (Again based on their high frequency.)
But don't take my word for it, Tony and Winston are right. This stuff is confidential.

[2206]

For NXWM, they could be the WA4/H/M, AG4/A, YW6, 8 outer circle, 9,11 outer circle 17,50,82,87,97,529. (There's plenty more I'm just basing this on their high frequency.)

8 is the Inner Circle.

I think most routes that run into Birmingham City Centre are high frequency routes
61/63 and 55/94 are also high frequency.
X20/X21/X22 run at a high frequency between University Station and Birmingham City Centre.
X3/X4/X5 run to a high frequency between City Centre and Sutton.

[Tony]

Remember high frequency routes also have high running costs by the sheer nature of needing more buses/staff so aren't neccessarily the most profitable.

A very profitable route could be one with just a Solo going around with 20 odd people getting on and off every 5 minutes

[Stu]

As has been stated by both Tony and Winston, no-one is going to give out the 'correct' answer.

But if I may hazard a guess, a clue to the more profitable routes might be those that more readily receive newer buses, say the 4/4A (previously 37), 9 and 50 for example.

From a purely business perspective, brand new buses cost money, so naturally one would want to start seeing some kind of return on that investment quite quickly, which you would be more likely to get from a more profitable route.

On the other hand, the investment in new buses on some routes is part of a strategy to attract new passengers and grow the patronage of that route, to perhaps make it more profitable than it already is.

So on that basis, don't just assume that the most profitable routes are those that "always get the new vehicles".

[Busboy105]

8 is the Inner Circle.

I think most routes that run into Birmingham City Centre are high frequency routes
61/63 and 55/94 are also high frequency.
X20/X21/X22 run at a high frequency between University Station and Birmingham City Centre.
X3/X4/X5 run to a high frequency between City Centre and Sutton.

Damn it I just realised my mistake. My bad.

[Trident 4194]

23 and 24 would have to be up there I reckon. Quite short journey with a lot of customers using the harborne- city bit

[Lukeee]

16 has gotta be up there, profitable enough to sustain both NX and Diamond

[MasterPlan]

Gotta' be the 10H surely.

[Trident 4194]

Gotta' be the 10H surely.

Same driver on that day in day out. What a good life he's having

[winston]

Gotta' be the 10H surely.

When it's a tendered route  :o

[richardjones210368]

When it's a tendered route  :o

When it actually turns up when it should the haileys comet of NXWM the X8 must be a good little earner along with the 9 & X10 along Hagley Rd.

[Bus Man K2]

The 8 around my area is also a profitable, and that's the only real reason why they are extending it to Wolvo.