Reaction to reduced service levels from Wednesday 25th March

[MasterPlan]

I don't know if this is the appropriate thread to ask this in, but how do you pause your direct debit for your bus pass whilst this isolation / lockdown is going in?

[2206]

I don't know if this is the appropriate thread to ask this in, but how do you pause your direct debit for your bus pass whilst this isolation / lockdown is going in?

Think you can call them on 0121 254 7272 and ask to suspend your pass. Line is open Mon - Fri 9AM - 5PM.

[Stu]

I don't know if this is the appropriate thread to ask this in, but how do you pause your direct debit for your bus pass whilst this isolation / lockdown is going in?

Is it an NX direct debit pass? Your monthly receipt email has details:


To Suspend
We are able to temporarily suspend Adult and Student tickets (for the minimum of one month and the maximum of six). All suspensions require four weeks notice as tickets are renewed at least two weeks ahead of your renewal date. Please call us if you wish to arrange a suspension on your account. We are unable to suspend child tickets.
Kind regards
Direct Sales Team
National Express Bus

To contact us:
Reply to this email or
Telephone 0121 254 7272. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm or
Write to us at National Express Bus, PO Box 3532, BIRMINGHAM, B9 9BG

[MasterPlan]

Cheers guys, I will get on it first thing tomorrow. Bit pointless paying for something I won't be using for the next few months.

[Steveminor]

Claribels will be dropping to Saturday service from tomorrow

[Stu]

Claribels will be dropping to Saturday service from tomorrow

I thought you'd said that you'd suspended your services, or is this just for your tendered services still running?

2206 said he saw one of your buses operating the 94 the other day.

[Steveminor]

It's just the tendered services that are running. Upto today they were on normal timetables, that is now dropping to Saturday times.
94 55 & 75 shuttle buses are all suspended

[2206]

2206 said he saw one of your buses operating the 94 the other day.

Yes I saw YJ12CKN on there on Saturday at 11:50 and it did also track on the 94 on Bus Times as well on Saturday 28th.
https://bustimes.org/services/94-birmingham-chelmsley-wood-via-ward-end/vehicles?date=2020-03-28#journeys/13756668
https://bustimes.org/services/94-birmingham-chelmsley-wood-via-ward-end/vehicles?date=2020-03-28#

Though Claribels weren't on there today.

[ellspurs]

Yes I saw YJ12CKN on there on Saturday at 11:50 and it did also track on the 94 on Bus Times as well on Saturday 28th.
https://bustimes.org/services/94-birmingham-chelmsley-wood-via-ward-end/vehicles?date=2020-03-28#journeys/13756668
https://bustimes.org/services/94-birmingham-chelmsley-wood-via-ward-end/vehicles?date=2020-03-28#

Though Claribels weren't on there today.

Given the positions that the buses are shown to be stopped in before and after the 94 journeys, perhaps it was on a subsidised 36 board and the driver did the whole board rather than just the 36 journeys?

[2206]

Given the positions that the buses are shown to be stopped in before and after the 94 journeys, perhaps it was on a subsidised 36 board and the driver did the whole board rather than just the 36 journeys?

Yes that would make sense, it does seem so.
As Bus Times seems to show that it ran NIS to Heartlands after the 94 journey and then 2 hours later ran NIS from Heartlands to Chelmsley and went back on the 94. Must have done a round trip of the 36 in between.
Never knew there was a 94 board that did journeys on the 36.

Will they be running the full board ever week then @Steveminor?

[Steveminor]

No it was a part timer who ran by mistake.

The guy only works Saturdays so he just forgot.m & given the situation we all find ourselves in it's quite understandable.

[Steveminor]

Rk travel suspending service from tomorrow

[Stu]

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street is 'proud' that bus usage has dropped by 87%.

I am proud to say the number of people using public transport is still falling. This makes it much easier for our key workers and transport staff to continue to work and travel safely. Thank you West Midlands.

I can understand the sentiments behind this, but considering just a few weeks ago Mr Andy Street was actively encouraging MORE people to use buses, and boasting about how passenger usage in this region was bucking the national trend, I find this a little distasteful to be honest.

Especially considering how some of the smaller operators are having to lay off staff, thus people are losing their jobs as a result.

[Sandy Lane]

Has Mr Street now got another free year in office due to the pandemic?

I wonder in 12 mths time if his political advisors will no doubt tell him to brag how he himself has managed to get bus usage to rocket back up again as it should do naturally?

[Steveminor]

The worry is, as businesses will have now found a new way of working they may decide they no longer need brick & mortar offices this reducing the number of travellers. Also with retailers beginning to fail already the high street which is already in decline may be desimated reducing travellers further.
So there is a very real risk that public transport usage may take a very long time to recover to pre virus levels, if ever.