Service Changes February 2025

[Stu]

Mind you, there are still people waiting in the normal stop, despite there being a notice saying the stop is closed!

people have been doing this in the jewellery quarter while waiting for the 8A/C and 101 and get upset when the driver goes past, I can't understand it.

Yes, we have the same on Stratford Road by Aldi in Sparkbrook - nearside lanes are both coned-off and there are big yellow signs reading BUS STOP SUSPENDED, yet there are still people waiting in the shelter waving their arms in an agitated manner or just stood there looking puzzled when the bus just goes past and doesn't stop.

The irony on this occasion is that there is a 'temporary bus stop' marked just beyond where the cones end, probably about 50 yards further up the road.

[BBS]

Yes, we have the same on Stratford Road by Aldi in Sparkbrook - nearside lanes are both coned-off and there are big yellow signs reading BUS STOP SUSPENDED, yet there are still people waiting in the shelter waving their arms in an agitated manner or just stood there looking puzzled when the bus just goes past and doesn't stop.

The irony on this occasion is that there is a 'temporary bus stop' marked just beyond where the cones end, probably about 50 yards further up the road.

Isn't the temporary and suspended bus stops served anyways? I taken the 4 many times and it's decided to stop at the bus stop itself rather than the temporary one 

[Stu]

Isn't the temporary and suspended bus stops served anyways? I taken the 4 many times and it's decided to stop at the bus stop itself rather than the temporary one

Wouldn't be able to, not with the cones blocking access.

[jasmine]

Isn't the temporary and suspended bus stops served anyways? I taken the 4 many times and it's decided to stop at the bus stop itself rather than the temporary one

Based on a TikTok I watched from a London bus driver, it's at the driver's discretion whether they stop at a suspended bus stop or not.

[2206]

Based on a TikTok I watched from a London bus driver, it's at the driver's discretion whether they stop at a suspended bus stop or not.

I think no bus is going to stop at a suspended stop.
Woodcock Street on the 94/95 has been suspended for about a year.
One day probably about a year ago an inspector told one of the drivers he was trying to get it reopened and not to stop there in the meantime. The paving was closed round the stop and he said if they stopped there and sombody stepped out in the road the company could be liable.
It has still not reopened as of today.

[jasmine]

I think no bus is going to stop at a suspended stop.
Woodcock Street on the 94/95 has been suspended for about a year.
One day probably about a year ago an inspector told one of the drivers he was trying to get it reopened and not to stop there in the meantime the paving was closed round the stop and he said if they stopped there and sombody stepped out in the road the company could be liable.
It has still not reopened as of today.

I think if a stop has been suspended for a year this goes without saying. I was mostly talking about trivial bus stop suspensions like a week-long one due to nearby road maintenance

[John]

I think if a stop has been suspended for a year this goes without saying. I was mostly talking about trivial bus stop suspensions like a week-long one due to nearby road maintenance

A bus stop suspension means do not stop there regardless of length of suspension or if people choose to ignore the big yellow signs and stand there as it causes a danger to other road users or causes an obstruction

[GoldenSquid]

Based on a TikTok I watched from a London bus driver, it's at the driver's discretion whether they stop at a suspended bus stop or not.

Depends what the running board diverson says, but normally if it says suspended you shouldn't stop there.

[jasmine]

A bus stop suspension means do not stop there regardless of length of suspension or if people choose to ignore the big yellow signs and stand there as it causes a danger to other road users or causes an obstruction

I know, all I'm doing is repeating what that London driver said on TikTok.

[Stu]

From March the 3/3A (West Brom-Blackheath/Merry Hill) will move to Pensnett and the 52 (City-Perry Beeches) will move to West Bromwich

I can sort of understand the 3/3A going to Pensnett, as they lost some work start of this year and presumably have spare vehicles.

But I can't see the logic of the 52 going to West Brom myself, unless they're going to (somehow) interwork it with another city service, will be a lot more dead mileage involved than running it out of Perry Barr.

Interesting, be nice to see Diesel Deckers on the 52 again, preferably the Gemini!

You'll probably end up with Scanias again!

[karl724223]

I can sort of understand the 3/3A going to Pensnett, as they lost some work start of this year and presumably have spare vehicles.

But I can't see the logic of the 52 going to West Brom myself, unless they're going to (somehow) interwork it with another city service, will be a lot more dead mileage involved than running it out of Perry Barr.
You'll probably end up with Scanias again!

No pensnett havnt got spare buses 
One from wolves has come 
Four from West Brom to come 

[Stu]

No pensnett havnt got spare buses
One from wolves has come
Four from West Brom to come

Presumably those will be Enviro200s then, which I assume will be replaced at WB with Scanias from PB.

[ZF B7]

I can sort of understand the 3/3A going to Pensnett, as they lost some work start of this year and presumably have spare vehicles.

But I can't see the logic of the 52 going to West Brom myself, unless they're going to (somehow) interwork it with another city service, will be a lot more dead mileage involved than running it out of Perry Barr.
You'll probably end up with Scanias again!

Don't take this as gospel but apparently the 52 will interwork with the 74 ie when an interworking 74 reaches city it will then turn into a 52 to PB and back, then 74 back to WB. What's amusing is how the passengers will go from brand new electrics back to the plethora of ex PB hand-me-downs that WB got.

[Justin Tyme]

I can sort of understand the 3/3A going to Pensnett, as they lost some work start of this year and presumably have spare vehicles.

Or spare drivers?  If so I can understand moving routes to where drivers are available.

[Stu]

Don't take this as gospel but apparently the 52 will interwork with the 74 ie when an interworking 74 reaches city it will then turn into a 52 to PB and back, then 74 back to WB. What's amusing is how the passengers will go from brand new electrics back to the plethora of ex PB hand-me-downs that WB got.

That's why I put (somehow), as unless the 52 changes its terminus point from Livery Street, its going to be difficult to interwork.

For it to interwork with the 74, the 52 will have to start from Old Square, same as the 74 does.

And yes, I can't see regular passengers being impressed by having brand new electrics replaced with older diesels! (But I suppose any bus is better than no bus, and all that)

My other concern with interworking is how this affects reliability - at present the 52 operates as a standalone service, but the 74 does suffer from delays.