| |
 National Express West Midlands Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 double decker bus with route 33 branding in April 2013 | |
| Parent company | National Express Group |
|---|---|
| Founded | 26 October 1986 (West Midlands Travel Ltd) |
| Headquarters | Birmingham |
| Service area | West Midlands County |
| Service type | Urban bus services |
| Alliance | National Express Coventry |
| Fleet | Just under 1600 |
| Operator | NXWM |
| Chief executive | Tom Stables |
| Web site | nxbus.co.uk |
4425, a Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX400 in the old Travel West Midlands livery
National Express West Midlands (NXWM), is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd (part of the National Express Group), a company which operates bus services in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the Metropolitan Boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West Midlands County of England, and some adjacent areas. It is one of the largest bus operators in Great Britain, and the largest in the West Midlands area[1]. The operator carries approximately 1 million passengers every day [2]
Contents
History[]
tion]] of the bus industry in England and Wales. It was previously the bus operations of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE).
West Midlands Travel remained in public ownership under the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority until December 1991, when it was sold to its management and employees.
In April 1995, the company was purchased by the National Express Group, and rebranded as Travel West Midlands in September 1996. On 9 December 2002, the Coventry services were rebranded Travel Coventry.
The former Travel Your Bus and Travel Merry Hill subsidiaries have been merged into the main fleet.
In February 2008 as part of a rebranding of all National Express subsidiaries it was renamed National Express West Midlands.[3] The Coventry service was rebranded as National Express Coventry.
The current red and white is the sixth livery to be used by the company. A seventh livery of crimson and maroon is being introduced from 2015 starting with Birmingham routes 9 and 50.
Previously, the company and its predecessors have operated garages in Stourbridge, Dudley, Merry Hill Shopping Centre (Part of Travel Merry Hill), Harts Hill, Sutton Coldfield, Hockley, Cotteridge, Selly Oak, Washwood Heath and Quinton.
The Dudley garage closed on 28 August 1993 to make way for the Dudley Southern By-Pass (which opened in 1999) and was replaced, along with the former Travel Merry Hill depot, by the depot at Pensnett.
In July 2010, NXWM closed its Lea Hall depot.
National Express West Midlands aimed for the whole fleet to be low floor by March 2010.[4] This was achieved in July 2010, with the withdrawal of the final MCW Metrobuses in operation at Acocks Green garage.[5]
Ticketing[]
A two-tier flat fare structure is in operation within the West Midlands county boundary; there is a standard single fare for any distance and a cheaper short-hop fare. Cash fares can be bought from the driver on the bus, but as with some other urban operators, no change is given for security and speed of boarding[6]. Child fares are available at half the adult cost. Graduated fares apply on some services outside the West Midlands.
Daysaver tickets can also be purchased from the driver, which allows unlimited travel on all NXWM services for the whole day. Selected services have special daily and weekly return tickets available.
Various types of tickets are sold in advance (off-bus), for varying periods from 1 day to 1 year, covering different parts of (or the complete) operating area. The all day Daysaver ticket, also available on-bus, includes NXWM routes running outside the West Midlands County (where single fares are sometimes higher) and services operated by sister company, National Express Coventry.
NXWM generally increases fares at least once a year, with January the month of choice. Fares were increased at the start of 2016 with most fares increasing by 10p.
Senior citizens (aged 60 or over) and disabled persons are eligible for free concessionary travel pass in a similar fashion to that offered in other areas. Following successful trials in Yardley Wood of the new 'Smart' system for Concessionary Travel Pass holders, smart-card technology has now been introduced on all NXWM buses[2]. An early-bird add-on ticket can be purchased to extend the concession to cover weekday travel within the West Midlands county before 09:30.
On-bus ticketing systems and point of sale units are supplied by Parkeon.
Routes[]
- Main article: List of National Express West Midlands Bus Routes
Routes of significance include: Route 11 which forms the Birmingham Outer Circle is a roughly circular, 27 mile (43 km) bus route in Birmingham, England (a small section crosses into Sandwell). It mainly follows the city's outer ring road, the A4040. Operating as routes 11A and 11C, it is the longest urban bus route in Europe[7][8]. Route 50 which is one of the most frequent bus services in the UK outside London and it is often suggested that it is one of the most frequent in Europe. Britain's first low floor double decker bus operated on this route. Route 65 was the first bus route in the UK to operate on a Guided Busway. Route 97 which now operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - the night service began on the 24th March 2013[9] making it the first regular night bus service in Birmingham for several years. Previously Birmingham had been one of the largest cities in Europe without a night bus operation.
Many routes can be traced back to the days of municipal operation but network reviews have resulted in major changes to the route numbering in recent years.
Route Branding (West Midlands-Birmingham/Sandwell/Solihull/Walsall & Wolverhampton)[]
The latest route branding uses a variety of colours to differentiate routes to make it easier to see buses operating on a particular route. It is now easier to identify high frequency routes as these are generally the routes which are being branded. On some corridors routes are grouped together in the same colour scheme where they are operated with the same buses. The Platinum branded routes additionally operate in an all over silver & grey livery. Please check the Branded Platinum route below under Route Branding (West Midlands-Birmingham/Sandwell/Solihull/Walsall & Wolverhampton) Branded Routes on this page. So far routes which have been branded in the new scheme are as follows:
| Number | Branding | From | To | Via | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red | Dudley Bus Station | Tettenhall Wood Mill Lane | Burton Road Bishop Milner School, Sedgley Dudley Street, Wolverhampton Rd E Dudding Rd, Wolverhampton Bilston St & Tettenhall Road Halfway House | every 7 mins Mon-Sat daytime. |
| Tettenhall Wood Mill Lane | Dudley Bus Station | Tettenhall Road Halfway House, Wolverhampton St. Georges Par., Wolverhampton Rd E Parkfield Rd, Sedgley Dudley Street & Burton Road Bishop Milner School | |||
| 2 | Blue | Warstones Enville Road (East Croft Road) | Bushbury Hill Old Fallings Lane | Penn Fields Birches Barn Road, Wolverhampton Bus Stn & Park Lane Bus Garage | every 8 minutes Mon-Sat daytime. |
| Bushbury Hill Old Fallings Lane | Warstones Enville Road (East Croft Road) | Park Lane Bus Garage, Wolverhampton Lichfield St & Penn Fields Birches Barn Road | |||
| 3 | Yellow | Castlecroft ‘Castlecroft’ Hotel | Fordhouses Broadlands | Finchfield Gardens, Wolverhampton Market St & Stafford Road Oxley Moor Rd | Every 15 minutes Mon-Sat daytime. With service 4 roughly every 9 mins Mon-Sat daytimes. |
| Fordhouses Broadlands | Castlecroft ‘Castlecroft’ Hotel | Stafford Road Three Tuns Lane, Stafford Road Greenwood Rd (Gatehouse), Wolverhampton Lichfield St & Finchfield Gardens | |||
| 4 | Spring Hill Springhill Lane | I54 Site Moog | Bradmore Inn, Wolverhampton Market St, Rakegate Elmdon Rd./Probert Rd. & Pendeford Whitburn Close | This route only runs between Wolverhampton and i54 only the 15 service now covers Spring Hill | |
| I54 Site Moog | Spring Hill Springhill Lane | Pendeford Whitburn Close, Rakegate Probert Rd./Elmdon Rd., Stafford Road Greenwood Rd (Gatehouse), Wolverhampton Lichfield St & Bradmore Inn | |||
| 4 | Pink | Solihull Rail Station | (Birmingham) City Centre Carrs Lane (Moor Street Interchange) MS5 | Acocks Green Village & Sparkbrook Stoney Lane | every 5 mins Mon-Sat daytime. Mon-Fri EVE journeys at 2113 & 2143 extends past Solihull Rail Station to starts at Lode Lane JLR Works. Also one MORNING Sat journey at 0458 starts at Olton Rail Station. |
| (Birmingham) City Centre Carrs Lane (Moor Street Interchange) MS5 | Solihull Rail Station | Sparkbrook Stoney Lane & Acocks Green Village | every 5 mins Mon-Sat daytime. Mon-Fri MORNING journey at 0440 & EVE journeys at 2000 & 2030 extend past Solihull Rail Station to terminate at Lode Lane JLR Works | ||
| 4A | Gospel Oak Gospel Lane | (Birmingham) City Centre Carrs Lane (Moor St Interchange) MS5 | Acocks Green Village & Sparkbrook Stoney Lane | every 5 mins Mon-Sat daytime. | |
| (Birmingham) City Centre Carrs Lane (Moor St Interchange) MS5 | Gospel Oak Gospel Lane | Sparkbrook Stoney Lane & Acocks Green Village | |||
| Stratford Rd Robin Hood Island | (Birmingham) City Centre Carrs Lane (Moor St Interchange) MS5 | Gospel Oak Gospel Lane, Acocks Green Village & Sparkbrook Stoney Lane | every 5 mins Mon-Sat daytime. Mon-Sat MORNING journeys at 0419 & 0449 then at 2005, 2035, 2105, 2135, 2205, 2235 & 2305 & all daytime SUN journeys. | ||
| (Birmingham) City Centre Carrs Lane (Moor St Interchange) MS5 | Stratford Rd Robin Hood Island | Sparkbrook Stoney Lane, Acocks Green Village & Gospel Oak Gospel Lane | Mon-Sat EVE jrnys at 1915, 1945, 2015, 2045, 2115, 2145, 2215, 2245, 2315 & 2345 & all daytime SUN journeys. | ||
| 4 | Black | Blackheath Oldbury Road | Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Oldbury Interchange, West Bromwich Bus Station & Stone Cross Hall Green Road | every 6 minutes Mon-Sat daytime with service 4H & 4M. Diamond Bus (WM) also operate a service as route 4. |
| Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Blackheath Oldbury Road | Stone Cross opp. Stone Cross Pub, West Bromwich Bus Station & Oldbury Interchange | |||
| 4H | Hayley Green Lutley Lane | Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Halesowen Bus Station, Blackheath Oldbury Road, Oldbury Interchange, West Bromwich Bus Station & Stone Cross Hall Green Road | every 6 minutes Mon-Sat daytime with service 4 & 4M. Every 30 mins on its own. Diamond Bus (WM) also operate a service as route 4H. | |
| Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Hayley Green Lutley Lane | Stone Cross opp. Stone Cross Pub, West Bromwich Bus Station, Oldbury Interchange, Blackheath Halesowen Street & Halesowen Bus Station | |||
| 4M | Merry Hill Bus Station (Merry Hill Shopping Centre) | Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Cradley Heath Interchange, Rowley Regis Hospital, Blackheath Oldbury Road, Oldbury Interchange, West Bromwich Bus Station & Stone Cross Hall Green Road | every 6 minutes Mon-Sat daytime with service 4 & 4H. Every 30 mins on its own. | |
| Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Merry Hill Bus Station (Merry Hill Shopping Centre) | Stone Cross opp. Stone Cross Pub, West Bromwich Bus Station, Oldbury Interchange, Blackheath Halesowen Street, Rowley Regis Hospital & Cradley Heath Interchange | |||
| 5 | Purple | Sutton Coldfield Lower Parade | West Bromwich Bus Station | New Ascot Lidl, Kingstanding Circle Bingo Club, Pheasey Church & Great Barr Scott Arms | |
| West Bromwich Bus Station | Sutton Coldfield Lower Parade | Great Barr Scott Arms, Pheasey Church, Kingstanding Circle Bingo Club & New Ascot Tesco | |||
| 5 | Light Green | Codsall Bakers Way | Wolverhampton Bus Station | Bilbrook Rail Station, Whitmore Reans Harden Grove & Dunstall Hill Five Ways | Codsall Clipper (Re-branded to just service 5/5A) every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime. With service 5A every 19 mins Mon-Sat daytime. |
| 5A | Codsall Bakers Way | Wolverhampton Bus Station | Bilbrook Rail Station, Whitmore Reans Harden Grove & Dunstall Hill Five Ways | Codsall Clipper (Re-branded to just service 5/5A) every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime. With service 5A every 19 mins Mon-Sat daytime. Service 5A operates between the hours of 0903 & 1711 (towards Wolverhampton) Mon-Fri & 0903 & 1633 (towards Wolverhampton) Sat. | |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Bus Station | Codsall Bakers Way | Waterloo Road Five Ways, Whitmore Reans Harden Grove & Bilbrook Rail Station | Codsall Clipper (Re-branded to just service 5/5A) every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime. With service 5A every 19 mins Mon-Sat daytime. | |
| 5A | Wolverhampton Bus Station | Codsall Bakers Way | Waterloo Road Five Ways, Whitmore Reans Harden Grove & Bilbrook Rail Station | Codsall Clipper (Re-branded to just service 5/5A) every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime. With service 5A every 19 mins Mon-Sat daytime. Service 5A operates between the hours of 0838 & 1615 (towards Codsall) Mon-Fri & 0940 & 1610 (towards Codsall) Sat. | |
| 6 | Orange | Wobaston Patshull Avenue | Wolverhampton Bus Station | I54 Site, Pendeford Whitburn Close, Pendeford Avenue Cheam Gardens & Whitmore Reans Harden Grove | every 10 minutes Mon-Sat daytime. Service 6A operates peak journeys only on the 6 route using the branded 6 buses as there are no branded 6A buses. Service 6A also operate via an additional stop at Pendeford Trading Estate. |
| Wolverhampton Bus Station | Wobaston Patshull Avenue | Whitmore Reans Harden Grove, Green Lane Pendeford Avenue, Pendeford Whitburn Close & I54 Site | |||
| 7 | DaPurplerk | Birmingham | Perry Common | Aston Six Ways, Witton Square & College Road Hawthorn Road | every 10 mins Mon-Sat daytime. |
| 8 | |||||
| 11A | Yellow | Acocks Green Village | Wards End Fox & Goose, Stockland Green Bleak Hill Rd, Handsworth Wood Collage Rd, Dudley Road Summerfield Park, Bearwood Hagley Road, Selly Oak Sainsburys & Kings Heath Church | every 10 mins Mon-Sat daytime. (Birmingham Outer Circle-anti-clockwise) | |
| 11C | colspan="2" Acocks Green Village | Kings Heath Church, Harborne War Lane, Dudley Road Summerfield Park, Handsworth Wood Hamstead Rd, Stockland Green Slade Rd & Stechford Iron Lane | every 10 mins Mon-Sat daytime. (Birmingham Outer Circle-clockwise) | ||
| 16 (Platinum) | Orange | (Birmingham) City Centre Upper Dean St (Markets) MK3 | Hamstead Green Lane | Hockley Circus | every 8 minutes Mon-Sat daytime. Diamond Bus (WM) also operates a service as route 16 |
| 17 | Orange | (Birmingham City Centre) Moor St Queensway (Moor Street Interchange) MS9 | Tile Cross Bell Lane | Eversley Road & Yew Tree Lane | every 7-8 mins Mon-Sat daytime. |
| X20 (Platinum) | Turqoise | Birmingham | Cofton Hackett | University & Northfield | every 4 mins |
| X21 (Platinum) | Turqoise | Birmingham | Woodcock Hill | University & Weoley Castle | every 4 mins |
| X22 (Platimum) | Turquoise | Birmingham | Bartley Green | University | every 4 mins |
| 28 | Yellow | Heartlands Hospital | Great Barr Scott Arms | Ward End Fox & Goose, Chester Road The Bagot, Erdington Six Ways, Short Heath Streetly Road, Hawthorn Rd Kingstanding Rd, Dyas Road Glenmead Road & Perry Beeches Hassop Road | every 12 mins Mon-Sat daytime. |
| Great Barr Scott Arms | Heartlands Hospital | Tower Hill Beeches Road, Perry Beeches Hassop Road, Dyas Road Glenmead Road, Hawthorn Rd Kingstanding Rd, Short Heath Streetly Road, Erdington Six Ways, Chester Road The Bagot & Ward End Fox & Goose | |||
| 31 | New West Midlands Buses Red Branding (joint operation with Diamond) Blue | Walsall (St Pauls) Bus Station | Mossley Eagle | NXWM Bus Garage & Bloxwich Wolverhampton Road | Service 31/32 are both operated by National Express West Midlands (NX) & Diamond West Midlands (DIA) & they operate to a frequency of up to every 3 minutes. Individually they operate roughly every 10 minutes. |
| Mossley Eagle | Walsall (St Pauls) Bus Station | Bloxwich Wolverhampton Road | |||
| 32 | Walsall (St Pauls) Bus Station | Lower Farm Buxton Road | NXWM Bus Garage & Bloxwich Park | ||
| Lower Farm Buxton Road | Walsall (St Pauls) Bus Station | Bloxwich Wolverhampton Road | |||
| (Birchfield Road/Aldridge Road) 33 | Light Green | Pheasey Church | Birmingham (City Centre) Lower Bull Street (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS3 | Kingstanding King’s Road, Kingstanding Rd Hawthorn Rd, Perry Barr Wellhead Lane & Aston Six Ways | every 10 mins Mon-Sat daytime. |
| Birmingham (City Centre) Lower Bull Street (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS3 | Pheasey Church | Aston Six Ways, Perry Barr Wellhead Lane, Warren Farm Rd Hawthorn Rd & Kingstanding Police Station | |||
| (Darlaston Road) 34 | Purple | Bilston Bus Station [G] | Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Darlaston | every 10 mins Mon-Sat daytime. But with service 39 6 minutes. |
| Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Bilston Bus Station | Darlaston Bus Station | |||
| (Darlaston Road) 39 | Stowlawn Park View Road | Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Bilston Bus Station [F] & Darlaston | every 10 mins Mon-Sat daytime. But with service 34 roughly every 6 minutes. | |
| Walsall Bradford Place (Bus Station) | Stowlawn Park View Road | Darlaston Bus Station & Bilston Bus Station [G] | |||
| (Alcester Road) 35 | Royal Blue | Hawksley Green Lane | (Birmingham) City Centre Moor Street (Moor St Interchange) MS1 | Broadmeadow School, Kings Heath Vicarage Rd, Moseley Post Office & Balsall Heath Road | every 10 mins Mon-Sat daytime |
| (Birmingham) City Centre Moor Street (Moor St Interchange) MS1 | Hawksley Green lane | Balsall Heath Road, Moseley Post Office, Kings Heath Vicarage Rd & Broadmeadow School | |||
| 42 | New West Midlands Buses Red Branding (joint operation with Diamond) Orange | Dudley Bus Station | West Bromwich Bus Station | Dudley Port Sedgley Rd East, Tipton Owen Street, Tipton Rail Station & Great Bridge Salter Street | Service 42/43/43A are both operated by National Express West Midlands (NX) & Diamond West Midlands (DIA) & they operate to a frequency of up to every 7 minutes. Individually they operate roughly every 30 minutes. There are extra journeys on Service 42 which start/terminate at Tipton Rail Station. Which brings the frequency up to every 7 mins. |
| West Bromwich Bus Station | Dudley Bus Station | Great Bridge Salter Street, Tipton Rail Station, Tipton Owen Street & Dudley Port Groveland Rd | |||
| Tipton Rail Station | West Bromwich Bus Station | Great Bridge Salter Street | |||
| West Bromwich Bus Station | Tipton Rail Station | ||||
| 43 | Bilston Bus Station | West Bromwich Bus Station | Princes End High Street & Great Bridge Salter Street | ||
| West Bromwich Bus Station | Bilston Bus Station | Great Bridge Salter Street & Princes End Richards Road | |||
| 43A | Bilston Bus Station | West Bromwich Bus Station | Princes End High Street & Great Bridge Salter Street | ||
| West Bromwich Bus Station | Bilston Bus Station | Great Bridge Salter Street & Princes End Richards Road | |||
| (Pershore Road) 45 | Orange | Bristol Rd Sth B’ville Col Longbridge | (Birmingham) City Centre High Street (Bull St/Priory Q‘way Interchange) BS16 | West Heath Alvechurch Rd, Kings Norton Station & Edgbaston Priory Road | every 10 mins Mon-Fri daytime and ever 12 mins Sat daytime. |
| (Birmingham) City Centre High Street (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS16 | Bristol Rd Sth B’ville Col (Longbridge) | Edgbaston Priory Road, Kings Norton Station & West Heath Alvechurch Rd | |||
| (Pershore Road) 47 | Longbridge Bournville Collage | (Birmingham) City Centre High Street (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS16 | Turves Green Moorpark Rd, Kings Norton Station & Edgbaston Priory Road | ||
| (Birmingham) City Centre High Street (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS16 | Longbridge Bournville College | Edgbaston Priory Road, Kings Norton Station & Turves Green Moorpark Rd | |||
| (Birchfield Road/Walsall Road) 51 | Blue | Walsall (St Pauls) Bus Station (Stand A) | Birmingham (City Centre) Lower Bull Street (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS3 | Walstead Road Bell Inn, Great Barr Scott Arms, Walsall Road Cliveden Avenue & Aston Six Way | Every 10 mins Mon-Sat daytime. |
| Birmingham (City Centre) Lower Bull Street (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS3 | Walsall (St Pauls) Bus Station (Stand A) | Aston Six Ways, Perry Barr One Stop Shopping Centre, Great Barr Scott Arms & Walstead Road Bell Inn | |||
| 54 | Yellow | Stafford Chell Road [ST 1] | Wolverhampton Bus Station | Stafford Railway Station, Dunston School Lane (lay-by), Penkridge Crown Bridge, Gailey Spread Eagle (after island), Coven Post Office, I54 Site Jaguar Land Rover, I54 Site Moog & Pendeford Business Park | Mon-Fri peak hour jrnys with one off-peak journey. |
| Wolverhampton Bus Station | Stafford Chell Road [ST 1] | Pendeford Business Park, I54 Site Moog, I54 Site Jaguar Land Rover, Coven Post Office, Gailey Spread Eagle, Penkridge Crown Bridge & Dunston School Lane (lay-by) | |||
| 54A | Stafford Chell Road [ST 1] | Wolverhampton Bus Station | Stafford Railway Station, Dunstall School Lane (lay-by), Penkridge Crown Bridge, Gailey Spread Eagle (after island), Coven Post Office, I54 Site Jaguar Land Rover & I54 Site Moog | Mon-Fri off-peak & all DAYTIME journeys on Saturday. | |
| Wolverhampton Bus Station | Stafford Chell Road [ST 1] | I54 Site Moog, I54 Site Jaguar Land Rover, Coven Post Office, Gailey Spread Eagle, Penkridge Crown Bridge & Dunston School Lane (lay-by) | |||
| 59 | Light Green | Wolverhampton Bus Station | New Cross Hospital Entrance, Wednesfield Wood End Road, Ashmore Park Ashmore Inn, Ashmore Park Higgs Road, The Albion Lichfield Road & New Cross Hospital | every 5 minutes Mon-Sat DAYTIME. | |
| (Bristol Road) 61 | Blue | Frankley Holly Hill | Birmingham (City Centre) Priory Q’way (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS8 | Northfield Bell Lane, Selly Oak Sainsburys & Edgbaston Priory Road | every 12 mins Mon-Sat DAYTIME, With service 63 Mon-Sat DAYTIME every 6 mins (NOT from terminus). |
| Birmingham (City Centre) Priory Q’way (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS8 | Frankley Holly Hill | Edgbaston Priory Road, Selly Oak Sainsburys & Northfield Lockwood Road | |||
| (Bristol Road) 63 | Frankley Holly Hill | Birmingham (City Centre) Priory Q’way (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS8 | Rubery Leach Green Lane, Longbridge Bournville Collage, Northfield Bell Lane, Selly Oak Sainsburys & Edgbaston Priory Road | Every 12 mins Mon-Sat DAYTIME, With service 61 every 6 mins (NOT from terminus). | |
| Birmingham (City Centre) Priory Q’way (Bull St/Priory Q’way Interchange) BS8 | Frankley Holly Hill | Edgbaston Priory Road, Selly Oak Sainsburys, Northfield Lockwood Road, Longbridge Bournville College & Rubery Leach Green Lane | |||
| (Soho Road) 74 | Blue | Dudley Bus Station | Birmingham City Centre Old Square (Snow Hill Interchange) SH5 | Dudley Port Rail Station, Great Bridge Market Place, West Bromwich Bus Station (alternate DAYTIME jrnys start here. Also jrnys at 00:30 (12:30am), 1:30am, 2:30am & 3:30am will extend to start at Carters Green Clock.), The Hawthorns Middlemore Rd, Handsworth Boulton Rd & Hockley Circus Soho Hill | every 10 mins Mon-Sat DAYTIME. |
| Birmingham City Centre Old Square (Snow Hill Interchange) SH5 | Dudley Bus Station | Hockley Circus Soho Hill, Handsworth Boulton Rd, The Hawthorns Middlemore Rd, West Bromwich Bus Station (alternate DAYTIME jrnys terminate here), Carters Green Clock (jrnys at 1am, 2am, 3am & 4am terminate here), Great Bridge Interchange & Dudley Port Rail Station | |||
| 80 | Purple | West Bromwich Bus Station | Birmingham (City Centre) Upper Dean Street (Markets) | West Smethwick West Cross, Smethwick Regent Street, Portland Road Selsey Road, Summerfield Park & Five Ways Islington Row Middleway | every 20 mins Mon-Sat DAYTIME, but with service 80A every 10 mins Mon-Sat DAYTIME. |
| Birmingham (City Centre) Upper Dean Street (Markets) MK2 | West Bromwich Bus Station | Five Ways Broadway Plaza, Summerfield Park, Cape Hill Windmill Shopping Cen, Smethwick Regent Street & West Smethwick West Cross | |||
| 80A | West Bromwich Bus Station | Birmingham (City Centre) Upper Dean Street (Markets) MK2 | West Smethwick West Cross, Smethwick Regent Street, Portland Road Selsey Road, Summerfield Park & Five Ways Islington Row Middleway | ||
| Birmingham (City Centre) Upper Dean Street (Markets) | West Bromwich Bus Station | Five Ways Broadway Plaza, Summerfield Park, Cape Hill Windmill Lane, Smethwick Regent Street & West Smethwick West Cross | |||
| 82 (Platinum) | Pink | Bearwood Bus Station | Birmingham (City Centre) Colmore Row (Snow Hill Interchange) SH3 | Cape Hill before Grove Lane | Every 10 mins Mon-Sat DAYTIME, with service 87 it operates every 5 mins between Cape Hill & Birmingham. |
| Birmingham (City Centre) Colmore Row (Snow Hill Interchange) SH3 | Bearwood Bus Station | Cape Hill Grove Lane | |||
| 87 (Platinum) | Dudley Bus Station | Birmingham (City Centre) Colmore Row (Snow Hill Interchange) SH3 | Tividale Park, Oldbury Interchange, Smethwick Galton Bridge & Cape Hill before Grove Lane | ||
| Birmingham (City Centre) Colmore Row (Snow Hill Interchange) SH3 | Dudley Bus Station | Cape Hill Grove Lane, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Oldbury Interchange & Tividale Park | |||
| 97 | Royal Blue | (Birmingham) City Centre Moor St (Moor Street Interchange) MS18 | (Chelmsley Wood) Coleshill Heath Rd Chester Rd | Great Barr Street Derby Street (Mon-Sun morning jrny at 0311 starts here, all other jrnys omit it), Heartlands Hospital Alston Rd & Chelmsley (Wood) Interchange | every 6 mins Mon-Sat daytime, Sun daytimes every 10 mins. 24-Hour Service. |
| (Chelmsley Wood) Coleshill Heath Rd Chester Rd | (Birmingham) City Centre Moor Street (Moor Street Interchange) MS18 | Chelmsley (Wood) Interchange, Heartlands Hospital Alston Rd & Great Barr Street Derby Street (Mon-Sun jrny at 0154 terminates here, all others omit this stop) | |||
| 101 | Silver | (Birmingham) City Centre Livery Street (Snow Hill Interchange) SH4 | Oxhill Road The Leverets | Warstone Lane Clock, Willes Road & Grove Lane Church Lane | every 10 minutes Mon-Sat daytime, Sun daytime every 15 mins. |
Network Reviews[]
At the end of April 2008, NXWM in conjunction with Centro, Dudley Council and other operators, re-routed, re-timed, and renumbered buses in the Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge areas.
Following this, a similar process took place in Solihull in January 2009.
The next one took place in October 2009 for South and West Birmingham.
In April 2010 a network review for Walsall North (Bloxwich, Brownhills & Aldridge) took place.
That was shortly followed by a review of services in West Birmingham. This happened at the end of July 2010.
The first review of 2011 was in March for services in East Birmingham/North Solihull. [10]
That was shortly followed by a review of services in Wolverhampton and West Walsall in July 2011. [11]
A review of services in Sandwell took place in October 2012.
North Birmingham and the Sutton Coldfield areas had their services reviewed in June 2013. [12]
A network review for areas around West Birmingham, West Bromwich, Oldbury and Blackheath was implemented in April 2017.
In June 2017, a bus service review for east Birmingham, North Solihull and Chelmsley Wood was made.
In July 2018 a network review took place for South Birmingham.
Garages and Travel Shops[]
NXWM has ten garages - Acocks Green, Bordesley, Coventry, Birmingham Central (Digbeth), Pensnett, Perry Barr, Walsall, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton and Yardley Wood. The Bordesley garage is the newest location, having opened in 2005. NXWM has six Travel Shops located in Solihull Town Centre, Coventry Pool Meadow Bus Station, West Bromwich bus station, Dudley bus station, Birmingham Pavilions Shopping Centre and Walsall Bus Station. Additionally there is a Centro travel shop at Wolverhampton bus station and also a Centro travel shop in New Street Station. The Dudley, Birmingham Pavilions, West Bromwich and Walsall all sell all types of Travelcards, National Express Coach Tickets and assist customers with timetable information, Information on bus/coach fare and route planning.
The Solihull travelshop closed, it closed on Friday 28 April 2017.
Operations[]
National Express West Midlands unveiled in 2013 a £1.6 million AVL (control) centre from which all services are monitored to help identify problems and cut response times.[16] But there are also Route Managers and Inspectors present to identify and solve issues on the road, particularly in Birmingham City Centre where most frequent routes converge.
Anti-social Behaviour and Ticket Inspections[]
Crime (such as robbery and assault) and vandalism are an ongoing problem on NXWM buses, with travel on the upstairs deck sometimes being particularly challenging. The installation of CCTV on buses was part of the failed attempt to stabilise the level of crime. In the 2009-10 accounting period, 3,341 incidents were recorded on West Midlands buses, including theft, property damage, and drug possession.[13]
National Express West Midlands is part of the Safer Travel Partnership, created in 2005 its members also include Centro (responsible for bus, train and Midland Metro tram transport in the West Midlands) and West Midlands Police. The partnership is committed to reducing crime and anti social behaviour across the West Midlands bus network whilst providing reassurance to the travelling public. The partnership achieves this through a variety of tactics including Gateway Operations. These operations are intelligence led and are based on the established link between those who evade paying their fare and those responsible for crime, disorder and anti social behaviour. The operation involves partners including NX Revenue Inspectors and Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers from the dedicated Safer Travel Police Team. The activities of the partnership have resulted in very significant reductions in recorded crime across the West Midlands bus network.
Most of the cost of 'Safer Travel' is met from public funds, rather than those of NXWM. This contrasts with most commercial enterprises, such as football clubs, which have to pay a substantial amount for policing.
The 'Safer Travel' name is also used for presentations for schools 'educating children about how to respect their buses'.
The 'See Something, Say Something' campaign, where passengers are encouraged to anonymously send information about nuisance behaviour on buses by text message, has led to 134 arrests and a cut in crime of 15% since April 2010. Crime on the West Midlands bus network has fallen to its lowest level in the last five years.[14]
Fleet[]
4697, the prototype double-deck Scania OmniCity in the "toothpaste" Travel West Midlands livery, which was used for a short while before the new National Express West Midlands one was introduced
National Express West Midlands is one of the largest bus operators in the UK, with a fleet of nearly 1600 vehicles. A variety of bus types are used, including double-decks, single-decks, articulated 'bendy' buses, and midi-buses.[15]
Double Deck Buses:[]
- Alexander Dennis Enviro 400H Electric Hybrid
- Volvo B5LH (Wright Eclipse Gemini 2) Electric Hybrid
- Alexander Dennis Enviro 400
- Volvo B7TL (Wright Eclipse Gemini)
- Scania OmniCity
- Volvo B7TL (ALX400)
- Dennis Trident 2 (ALX400)
- Volvo B7TL (Plaxton President)
- Optare Spectra
Single Deck Buses:[]
- Alexander Dennis Enviro 200
- Volvo B7RLE (Wright Eclipse Urban 2)
- Volvo B7RLE (Wright Eclipse Urban)
- Scania OmniLink
- Mercedes-Benz O405N
- Volvo B6LE (Wright Crusader)
- Volvo B10L (Wright Liberator)
- Optare Excel
- Optare Solo
Articulated Single Deck Buses:[]
- Scania OmniCity (Articulated Bendibus)
- Mercedes-Benz Citaro 0530G (Articulated Benibus)
- Mercedes-Benz 0405GN (Articulated Benibus)
A list of vehicle type allocation by route can be found here.
References[]
- ↑ UK Bus - Key Facts
- ↑ About Us
- ↑ TWM rebranding. travelwm.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-02-15. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
- ↑ £69 million Bus & Coach Order. travelwm.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-04-03. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
- ↑ http://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/news/metrobus-farewell/
- ↑ White, P. (2008) Public Transport - Its Planning, Management and Operation
- ↑ http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/travel-writer-hails-birminghams-11c-158958
- ↑ UK Bus - Key Facts
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ .East Birmingham & North Solihull Bus Review
- ↑ .[Wolverhampton and West Walsall Bus Review]
- ↑ .[North Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield bus review]
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ http://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/news/antisocial-behaviour-brought-to-task-thanks-to-passenger-tipoffs
- ↑ http://www.ukbuses.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/fleet/nxwm.pdf Unofficial NXWM fleetlist
