West midlands bus franchising

[BK63 YWP]

Will franchising really work?  I think not.  The 42, 43, 31 & 32 used to be joint operations. How long did that last?  Not very long

That technically wasn't franchising as it was an agreement between Diamond, NX and TfWM

[Lukeee]

Will franchising really work?  I think not.  The 42, 43, 31 & 32 used to be joint operations. How long did that last?  Not very long

31 and 32 still are

[TGZac]

31 and 32 still are

Also the 40

[Tony]

Will franchising really work?  I think not.  The 42, 43, 31 & 32 used to be joint operations. How long did that last?  Not very long

It still is!

[Lukeee]

Also the 40

Completely forgot about the 40 

[suavegarv]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/uyh1jA5iduqc7GUC/

More about the future of the West Midlands bus network.

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

Mayor apparently seems to think there isn't any Night buses in the West Midlands hmm NX running to 11PM Midnight or even 2/3AM isn't a night Bus then forgetting the 24hr X1, 97, he says he wants to introduce them. If this for areas like Cannock, Shropshire or even some of the smaller areas outside of the major towns and cities, I don't think they are going to work because they are not economically viable no point running a bus with just the driver if the company can't pay the driver's or the Diesel. Most NX Services finish at 11/Midnight and usually have 1 to 2 people on on a Weekday. Have seen the last 37 terminate at Darlaston before and about 5 to 6 people got off maybe more. The 34 passing it had about 2  people on and the 79 that came in had about 4 people on with 2 getting of at Darlaston. Unless I have understood this wrong we have Night services maybe not London level but when I tell people in the sticks our last bus is at Midnight or Quarter past 11 they get jealous as there Last Bus is at 5 or 6PM

[wembley86]

Mayor apparently seems to think there isn't any Night buses in the West Midlands hmm NX running to 11PM Midnight or even 2/3AM isn't a night Bus then forgetting the 24hr X1, 97, he says he wants to introduce them. If this for areas like Cannock, Shropshire or even some of the smaller areas outside of the major towns and cities, I don't think they are going to work because they are not economically viable no point running a bus with just the driver if the company can't pay the driver's or the Diesel. Most NX Services finish at 11/Midnight and usually have 1 to 2 people on on a Weekday. Have seen the last 37 terminate at Darlaston before and about 5 to 6 people got off maybe more. The 34 passing it had about 2  people on and the 79 that came in had about 4 people on with 2 getting of at Darlaston. Unless I have understood this wrong we have Night services maybe not London level but when I tell people in the sticks our last bus is at Midnight or Quarter past 11 they get jealous as there Last Bus is at 5 or 6PM

I believe the 74 went 24hrs at one point in it's recent history.

[jasmine]

I believe the 74 went 24hrs at one point in it's recent history.

50 too

[Stu]

I believe the 74 went 24hrs at one point in it's recent history.

50 too

There were a small number of services where NX added 'night journeys' to make them virtually 24hr - the 61 or 63 also springs to mind.

To the best of my knowledge, the only one that still remains is the X1, with its night shorts to the Airport.

As far as I am aware, these were all provided commercially by NX, but were withdrawn due to low passenger usage making them commercially unviable.

While some people do benefit from night journeys, clearly there just isn't the demand for them, unlike somewhere like London. There's still this perception that travelling on buses is 'dangerous', hence why so many people would rather pay for a taxi.

If the mayor wants to introduce night buses, it is going to come at a huge cost to the taxpayer, as these services will have to be subsidised, and it makes little sense to throw money at operators to run buses around empty during the dead of night.

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

There were a small number of services where NX added 'night journeys' to make them virtually 24hr - the 61 or 63 also springs to mind.

To the best of my knowledge, the only one that still remains is the X1, with its night shorts to the Airport.

As far as I am aware, these were all provided commercially by NX, but were withdrawn due to low passenger usage making them commercially unviable.

While some people do benefit from night journeys, clearly there just isn't the demand for them, unlike somewhere like London. There's still this perception that travelling on buses is 'dangerous', hence why so many people would rather pay for a taxi.

If the mayor wants to introduce night buses, it is going to come at a huge cost to the taxpayer, as these services will have to be subsidised, and it makes little sense to throw money at operators to run buses around empty during the dead of night.

It also areas and factors outside of the Buses, for example If I was to go to Brum for a night out I could get the 51 at 1AM from Brum and if I wanted for a taxi or even if the 34 ran at 1.30 Walsall is a dump the local delinquents are out from 5/6PM even at the end of the Evening Peak to that time, who knows what there carrying, what there doing, I wouldn't feel safe, I would rather get a cab back from say Broad Street to my Front Door so the only time I have to go outside is the Venue and my house. I wake up on my own bed, safely in the morning rather than a Hospital bed with Stab wounds or attack wounds, you only have to look at what happened at Bescot the other day the women was waiting for a train and has now passed away

[TGZac]

To the best of my knowledge, the only one that still remains is the X1, with its night shorts to the Airport.

The 63 still has night shorts to Rubery Flyover.

[Jack]

The 63 still has night shorts to Rubery Flyover.

The 63, 97A and X1 are the services remaining with the all night services.

The 50 and 74 also had them for several years. 

I'm pretty sure they was considering to give the 9, 51 and 87 all night services but was dropped.

[Lukeee]

There were a small number of services where NX added 'night journeys' to make them virtually 24hr - the 61 or 63 also springs to mind.

To the best of my knowledge, the only one that still remains is the X1, with its night shorts to the Airport.

Not just NX ran but Diamond still run the night service on the 96 

[GoldenSquid]

The 63 still has night shorts to Rubery Flyover.

Although it's not a full 24/7 service has an hour gap 5 days a week.

97A

I'd say the 97A is also not a fully 24/7 service as it has a slight gap in it now.