Old Bus Routes

[Busboy105]

Barely anyone caught it. From Smith's Wood it took the best part of an hour to get to the City Centre, and when I caught it I was usually the only person on it until it got to Meadway. Most of the route after that was already covered by other routes, and the parts that weren't got split up into parts of what I described above.

The only popular points along it aligned with the schools. I believe the 889 (Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst - Yew Tree) is still running along the route that the 99 took.

I used to get on, get the top front left position, and enjoy the meandering around.

Could it work today but with a different and shorter route? I know Smiths Wood is already served by the 53 and 94 but the 53 is hourly and carries fresh air most of the time.

[Busboy105]

I always keep an eye on former Midland Red West routes.

The 123 used to flip flop between Pete's Travel & Central Connect on tender.

Eventually it became the NXWM 53 which turned out to be unmitigated disaster.

Between Merry Hill & Thimblemill it then became a rejuvenated 129 fitted along with the 127 & 128.

Cut back again it became the 13B in MXWM next round of changes

To today where the route doesn't survive in any recognizable form at all save for a TfWM tender around Old Hill.

The history of the 123 post Midland Red West is most interesting post lockdown.

It was quite sad to see the 123 and the 40X just disintegrate like it did considering that the 40X made a comeback but went down again.

[2206]

It was quite sad to see the 123 and the 40X just disintegrate like it did considering that the 40X made a comeback but went down again.

40X was changed and was basically just the 11E between Perry Barr and Bearwood just before it went completely.

[WyreForestShuttle]

Ah yes, the 123. If I remember correctly, at one stage it got merged into the 236 Gornal service (back when PN ran one AM Peak 139 to Halesowen IIRC)

Travel Merry Hill took over the 123 from Birmingham Coach Company.

The 123 became the short lived 236/7 from Gornal Wood to Bearwood.

The 236/7 were subsequently rerouted & revised to operate to Halesowen via Coombes Wood.

The 123 returned under tender from Centro with Pete's Travel

[2206]

Could it work today but with a different and shorter route? I know Smiths Wood is already served by the 53 and 94 but the 53 is hourly and carries fresh air most of the time.

How would that work, what would be different and shorter about it?
The 96 & X12 also go there.

[Busboy105]

40X was changed and was basically just the 11E between Perry Barr and Bearwood just before it went completely.

Didn't it always go between Perry Barr and Bearwood?

[2206]

Didn't it always go between Perry Barr and Bearwood?

Not along the 11 route, it used to go through Witton and Aston along what is now the 68 route and then through Lozells.
And no it hasn't always gone to Bearwood, at one point it ran into the City Centre and when they first started following the 11 route it only went as far as the City Hospital I think.

[sonic84]

Travel Merry Hill took over the 123 from Birmingham Coach Company.

The 123 became the short lived 236/7 from Gornal Wood to Bearwood.

The 236/7 were subsequently rerouted & revised to operate to Halesowen via Coombes Wood.

The 123 returned under tender from Centro with Pete's Travel

The 123 was one of my favourite routes and has certainly had an interesting history post MRW. It's a shame to see how it ended.

I also love the history of routes such as the 440, 443 and 445.

It was a great move at the time linking the 123 and the 440.

Does anyone remember when Birmingham Coach Company linked the 221 and 443?

[Sh4318]

The 123 was one of my favourite routes and has certainly had an interesting history post MRW. It's a shame to see how it ended.

I also love the history of routes such as the 440, 443 and 445.

It was a great move at the time linking the 123 and the 440.

Does anyone remember when Birmingham Coach Company linked the 221 and 443?

I remember when it terminated in Bearwood, rather than going up Bearwood Road to the bus station, drivers used to carry on Sandon Road and make a u-turn on Willow Road back to Sandon Road

[Busboy105]

Not along the 11 route, it used to go through Witton and Aston along what is now the 68 route and then through Lozells.
And no it hasn't always gone to Bearwood, at one point it ran into the City Centre and when they first started following the 11 route it only went as far as the City Hospital I think.

I was wandering what buses used to go on Lozells Road at SWA.

[Busboy105]

How would that work, what would be different and shorter about it?
The 96 & X12 also go there.

The 96 doesn't go into town though. I was thinking it could do the old 72 route from Birmingham to Bromford but instead of going to Bromford, it could go up Bromford Lane to Ward End and then follow the 94 to Smiths Wood and terminate at the Lancaster Way terminus.

[ellspurs]

The 96 doesn't go into town though. I was thinking it could do the old 72 route from Birmingham to Bromford but instead of going to Bromford, it could go up Bromford Lane to Ward End and then follow the 94 to Smiths Wood and terminate at the Lancaster Way terminus.

The 96 maintains the long-standing link that Smith's Wood/Chelmsley Wood has had with Erdington. Oh and the Fort Shopping Centre now the cinema on Kingsbury Road has gone. Anyone on Lanchester Way now either walks down to Auckland Drive/Green Lane or up to Water Orton Road. The 53 is just there to fulfil some criteria at TfWM.

[Busboy105]

The 96 maintains the long-standing link that Smith's Wood/Chelmsley Wood has had with Erdington. Oh and the Fort Shopping Centre now the cinema on Kingsbury Road has gone. Anyone on Lanchester Way now either walks down to Auckland Drive/Green Lane or up to Water Orton Road. The 53 is just there to fulfil some criteria at TfWM.

Exactly my point. Smiths Wood is kinda under-bussed in a sense. Yes the 94 does serve Smiths Wood and is high frequency but still.

[Tony]

Exactly my point. Smiths Wood is kinda under-bussed in a sense. Yes the 94 does serve Smiths Wood and is high frequency but still.

Under bussed?

Which services have you seen struggling around Smith's Wood?
Where can't you get to where there is unmet demand?

[ellspurs]

Exactly my point. Smiths Wood is kinda under-bussed in a sense. Yes the 94 does serve Smiths Wood and is high frequency but still.

Smith's Wood is more than adequately served with buses.

94 basically every 4-7 minutes between NXWM and Claribels
X12 every 20 minutes
96 every 30 minutes

71 on the Chester Road (just over the boundary) every xx minutes (and if I'm counting that one, then the 58 as well).

The 96 even runs through the middle of the estate now as well, when the last bus that tried to do that was the short-lived 737/747 peak time minibuses.

I can get to Birmingham Airport before 4am, which was 2 hours before their first flight of the day.

Both NXWM and Claribels has done the area fine.