National express West Midlands

[DavidGrain]

How many West Midlands garages are still standing whether in use by them or in use by another company?

Whereabouts were the closed Depots as love to know whats there now on Google Streetview?

That is a lot of information that you are asking for. However I will give you some information about closed garages in my area

Bearwood Midland Red Bearwood Road now block of shops from Argos to Cex Entertainment Exchange with back entrance in Rutland Road now car park. Back wall still intact with English Garden Wall Bond brickwork
Harborne Birmingham Corp.entrances in Lonsdale Road and Serpentine Road now housing
Quinton BCT Now Tesco Ridgacre Road
Selly Oak BCT Harborne Lane now Self Storage depot
Oldbury MR now under roundabout near Junction 2 of M5, petrol Station roughly on site.
Dudley MR Birmingham Road opposite junction with Tipton Road now under roundabout.
Cradley MR opposite Cradley Heath station building still standing. Last time I was near there it was a cycle factory. EDIT just checked need to go along the road to Hawk Cycles.

 

[Ken Bromage]

Lea Hall was vacated & up for sale recently

 

[Ken Bromage]

Washwood Heath is now a supermarket the rear of the store is all that remained from the depot

 

[Ken Bromage]

Hockley is now the new Bingley Hall an Asian entertainment complex recently used for the CAMRA beer festival & will be for the next 2 festivals

 

[Pat1105]

That is a lot of information that you are asking for. However I will give you some information about closed garages in my area

Bearwood Midland Red Bearwood Road now block of shops from Argos to Cex Entertainment Exchange with back entrance in Rutland Road now car park. Back wall still intact with English Garden Wall Bond brickwork
Harborne Birmingham Corp.entrances in Lonsdale Road and Serpentine Road now housing
Quinton BCT Now Tesco Ridgacre Road
Selly Oak BCT Harborne Lane now Self Storage depot
Oldbury MR now under roundabout near Junction 2 of M5, petrol Station roughly on site.
Dudley MR Birmingham Road opposite junction with Tipton Road now under roundabout.
Cradley MR opposite Cradley Heath station building still standing. Last time I was near there it was a cycle factory. EDIT just checked need to go along the road to Hawk Cycles.

There’s still one on Dudley Road in Wolverhampton that is now used by Travel Express.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That is a lot of information that you are asking for. However I will give you some information about closed garages in my area

Bearwood Midland Red Bearwood Road now block of shops from Argos to Cex Entertainment Exchange with back entrance in Rutland Road now car park. Back wall still intact with English Garden Wall Bond brickwork
Harborne Birmingham Corp.entrances in Lonsdale Road and Serpentine Road now housing
Quinton BCT Now Tesco Ridgacre Road
Selly Oak BCT Harborne Lane now Self Storage depot
Oldbury MR now under roundabout near Junction 2 of M5, petrol Station roughly on site.
Dudley MR Birmingham Road opposite junction with Tipton Road now under roundabout.
Cradley MR opposite Cradley Heath station building still standing. Last time I was near there it was a cycle factory. EDIT just checked need to go along the road to Hawk Cycles.

Some more....

Digbeth MR - lost under coach station
Sheepcote Street - lost under all the NIA area redevelopment
Sutton Coldfield - Upper Holland Road now housing
Cotteridge - now under housing?
Moseley - was a skate park or go karting https://www.google.com/maps/@52.454...4!1s-t0KkfWMRst__uQ7-0hnJQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Wolverhampton MR - still standing on Dudley Road last I knew; the one that @Pat1105 was referring to? Opened 1964, closed 1971! https://www.google.com/maps/@52.577...4!1sb4Xi8bDTkL5G0f8VdsJuyA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Wolverhampton Cleveland Road - now demolished
Stourbridge MR - lost under car showroom opp bus station?
Coventry Road - various small businesses https://www.google.com/maps/@52.474...243.43521&pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i16384!8i8192

 

[bussnapperwm]

The new livery for the E400 Electrics at Coventry has been revealed

http://wmbusphotos.com/NXWM/E001/E021.html (link to image of NX West Midlands E021 by Tony Hunter)

 

[Statto]

How many liveries have NXWM had since d-reg, has a feeling there having as many new liveries as frequently as football teams change kits?

 

[Andy Pacer]

Well it certainly fooled me.
View attachment 80497 Photo SV Transport Photography on Flickr

A similar bus also fooled me in Lichfield on the 35 on Wednesday.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

How many liveries have NXWM had since d-reg, has a feeling there having as many new liveries as frequently as football teams change kits?

They had

The continuation of WMPTE blue https://flic.kr/p/UxZ9T1
WMT silver with blue and red trim https://flic.kr/p/owxfsv
WMT blue and silver (later light grey) with red band https://flic.kr/p/2cVgatm
TWM red, white and blue https://flic.kr/p/2b6gpNj
NXWM red and white https://flic.kr/p/2iPgwVg
NXWM dark red and gold https://flic.kr/p/JkqdPL

 

[WM Bus]

They had

The continuation of WMPTE blue https://flic.kr/p/UxZ9T1
WMT silver with blue and red trim https://flic.kr/p/owxfsv
WMT blue and silver (later light grey) with red band https://flic.kr/p/2cVgatm
TWM red, white and blue https://flic.kr/p/2b6gpNj
NXWM red and white https://flic.kr/p/2iPgwVg
NXWM dark red and gold https://flic.kr/p/JkqdPL

Also TWM/NXWM toothpaste.

1808 with the special route 55 branding livery, running on 55A

Explore desmond.buses' 1203 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

And present platinum livery.

6885 | SN67WYB | Birmingham

Explore bigdan14025's 551618 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Also TWM/NXWM toothpaste.

1808 with the special route 55 branding livery, running on 55A

Explore desmond.buses' 1203 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

And present platinum livery.

6885 | SN67WYB | Birmingham

Explore bigdan14025's 551618 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

I was keeping to the main core liveries so not Platinum etc, otherwise you'd be including Timesaver, Coventry, Your Bus

Travel West Midlands 4680 080304 Wolverhampton*

Explore maljoe's 180267 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

Travel West Midlands D957NDA

Explore KA Transport Photography's 23058 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

West Midlands Travel 2956

Parked between journeys on route 900 at Coventry Pool Meadow, is West Midlands Travel 2956 (D956 NDA), a MCW Metrobus 2 in Timesaver livery. Route 900 operated between Coventry and Hasbury and has its roots in the original Midland Red route 159 between Coventry and Birmingham.

www.flickr.com

Travel Your Bus Volvo B6LE/Wright Crusader 620 (S620 VOA)

Travel Your Bus Volvo B6LE/Wright Crusader 620 (S620 VOA) heading for Cotteridge on the 53Y.

www.flickr.com

 

[Statto]

The best livery was that blue with lighter shade of silver & red from the Travel West Midlands era.

 

[Typhoon]

Cotteridge - now under housing?

Quite right. A gated retirement complex.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.4...4!1s3mycaRZgZBP_Qy4Uf2xs9A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

[WM Bus]

It has been announced on West Midland Bus Forum. That National Express Bus's NEAT operation will be running several Warwickhire routes from next week, previously run by A&M. Including 496 from Napton to Banbury.
Using NX Bus 765 - 768 as well as 732 on loan from NXWM Pensnett.

N.E.A.T. - Page 4

N.E.A.T. - Page 4

wmbusphotos.com

 

[Anthony ross]

Whats happened to A&M ?

 

[Snow1964]

It has been reported that National Express has stated it wants at least 500 zero emission buses by the Commonwealth Games (July 2022)

There are 29 electric buses (19 Birmingham, 10 Coventry) in service, 20 hydrogen buses on order. The recent electric bus city announcement means approx 170 more electric buses for Coventry

Which suggests another 280 (Approx) buses needed within 18 months

Seperately ADL is expected to start building BYD chassis from mid 2021. I have no idea if they will get the order, but the existing electric buses are BYD-ADL E400ev. (If rumours of RATP London having ordered about 150 more electric buses from ADL are true, then ADL could potentially end up with big orders)

NXWM wants '500 ZE buses by 2022 Commonwealth Games' - routeone

National Express West Midlands (NXWM) wants to run 500 zero-emission buses when the Commonwealth Games come to Birmingham in July 2022.

www.route-one.net

 

[GusB]

Thread reopened for further discussion.

 

[Typhoon]

On the thread National Express Bus Operations. (NXWM/NXC/NEAT) (now closed) it was reported that "West Midlands/Coventry have service cuts/changes on the 29th, just 13 days away and nothing on the website. They seem to be leaving publicising them very late." (@WM Bus)

I don't know how widespread they are but I found ones that I was interested in at Transport for West Midlands | Journey planning, tickets and help (tfwm.org.uk)

Clearly searching by timetable is not ideal in some cases but it at least gets the information. The Journey Planner also includes them! (I think it has been up for a few days as I found the 20 timetable last week)

 

[WM Bus]

On the thread National Express Bus Operations. (NXWM/NXC/NEAT) (now closed) it was reported that "West Midlands/Coventry have service cuts/changes on the 29th, just 13 days away and nothing on the website. They seem to be leaving publicising them very late." (@WM Bus)

I don't know how widespread they are but I found ones that I was interested in at Transport for West Midlands | Journey planning, tickets and help (tfwm.org.uk)

Clearly searching by timetable is not ideal in some cases but it at least gets the information. The Journey Planner also includes them! (I think it has been up for a few days as I found the 20 timetable last week)

The timetables on there are probably very unlikely to reach the general public though.
When they altered the 11 route and with the 2017/2018 changes they had notices on the bus you could take explaining the changes, information on the website, etc.

 

[Typhoon]

The timetables on there are probably very unlikely to reach the general public though.

I am in no way excusing NEx. Your statement is spot on, I just wanted to give readers of the forum, the heads up as to where they can be found - or at least some. I needed to plan a journey for after August and was able to do so and wanted to share this with forum members so they weren't inconvenienced because NEx can't get their act together. Unfortunately for bus travelers this is not an isolated example and you are right to call it out.

 

[DaveHarries]

How many West Midlands garages are still standing whether in use by them or in use by another company?

Whereabouts were the closed Depots as love to know whats there now on Google Streetview?

I get sent up Birmingham way for work once in a while: not my idea of fun but work is work. If I consider a couple I drove past last week, plus a search on the VOSA site for depots held under their O-Licence number (I checked the locations on Google Earth) I would say that the following NatEx West Midlands depots are certainly from the days before NX:

- Highters Heath: Yardley Wood Road, nr. junction with School Road
- Acock's Green: Fox Hollies Road. (Passed this the other day: still in use)
- Perry Barr: Wellhead Lane (certainly from before NatEx days)
- West Bromwich: Oak Lane. (Not sure if this counts but may be an original building at least in part, from before NatEx days)
- Bordesley: Liverpool Street. (Certainly from pre. NatEx days: Google Earth view dated 03/2021 shows Birmingham City Tramway & Omnibus depot sign)
- Wolverhampton: Park Lane.

Hope this is of interest,
Dave

 

[WM Bus]

I am in no way excusing NEx. Your statement is spot on, I just wanted to give readers of the forum, the heads up as to where they can be found - or at least some. I needed to plan a journey for after August and was able to do so and wanted to share this with forum members so they weren't inconvenienced because NEx can't get their act together. Unfortunately for bus travelers this is not an isolated example and you are right to call it out.

From my understanding I think the Birmingham area changes are.
94/95: 55 renumbered 95.
96: Rerouted in Warren Farm area, rerouted to serve Bucklands End and via part of 53 route. Extension to Old Oscott
X12/X13: X70 renumbered X13.
41: 1A renumbered 41 reroute via Westley Road, Fox Hollies Rd, Spring Road, Olton Boulevard West, Formans Road. To serve Pershore Rd and Pebble Mill in both directions.
46: QE Hosp to Northfield via 48 route.
48: To serve Gibbins Road, X21 route to Weoley Castle, then 48 route via Swarthmore Rd to Northfield.
X21/X22: X21 extended to Woodgate via Woodcock Lane, Cromwell Lane, Genners Lane, Field Lane, Romsley Road, Adams Hill, Wood Lane. Frequency down to every 10 minutes during the day with X20 withdrawl. X21 stops on the oppsite side of the road to X22/23 in Bartley Green.
X20: Withdrawn. 20: Cofton H to QE partial replacement.
45: to serve Coombes Road and Grovelly Lane in both directions.
27: Extension via Thurlestone Rd/Edenhurst Rd to Cofton Hackett. Rerouted via 61 route on Frankley Beeches Road.
61: Reroute via Allens Cross (27 route).
X4: Falcon Lodge to Birmingham. No longer running to Asda Minworth.
38: Withdrawn.
67: Extended via 38 route to Farnborough Road.
4A: 31 withdrawn. 4A extension via 31 route to Solihull.
5/73: Frequency down to every 30 minutes.
80: 80A Renumbered 80.

 

[DavidGrain]

I get sent up Birmingham way for work once in a while: not my idea of fun but work is work. If I consider a couple I drove past last week, plus a search on the VOSA site for depots held under their O-Licence number (I checked the locations on Google Earth) I would say that the following NatEx West Midlands depots are certainly from the days before NX:

- Highters Heath: Yardley Wood Road, nr. junction with School Road
- Acock's Green: Fox Hollies Road. (Passed this the other day: still in use)
- Perry Barr: Wellhead Lane (certainly from before NatEx days)
- West Bromwich: Oak Lane. (Not sure if this counts but may be an original building at least in part, from before NatEx days)
- Bordesley: Liverpool Street. (Certainly from pre. NatEx days: Google Earth view dated 03/2021 shows Birmingham City Tramway & Omnibus depot sign)
- Wolverhampton: Park Lane.

Hope this is of interest,
Dave

Thank you for the work you did on reseaching this list. I think Perry Barr and Birmingham Central (Liverpool Street) are due to close soon and moved to new premises.

 

[adrock1976]

From my understanding I think the Birmingham area changes are.
94/95: 55 renumbered 95.
96: Rerouted in Warren Farm area, rerouted to serve Bucklands End and via part of 53 route. Extension to Old Oscott
X12/X13: X70 renumbered X13.
41: 1A renumbered 41 reroute via Westley Road, Fox Hollies Rd, Spring Road, Olton Boulevard West, Formans Road. To serve Pershore Rd and Pebble Mill in both directions.
46: QE Hosp to Northfield via 48 route.
48: To serve Gibbins Road, X21 route to Weoley Castle, then 48 route via Swarthmore Rd to Northfield.
X21/X22: X21 extended to Woodgate via Woodcock Lane, Cromwell Lane, Genners Lane, Field Lane, Romsley Road, Adams Hill, Wood Lane. Frequency down to every 10 minutes during the day with X20 withdrawl. X21 stops on the oppsite side of the road to X22/23 in Bartley Green.
X20: Withdrawn. 20: Cofton H to QE partial replacement.
45: to serve Coombes Road and Grovelly Lane in both directions.
27: Extension via Thurlestone Rd/Edenhurst Rd to Cofton Hackett. Rerouted via 61 route on Frankley Beeches Road.
61: Reroute via Allens Cross (27 route).
X4: Falcon Lodge to Birmingham. No longer running to Asda Minworth.
38: Withdrawn.
67: Extended via 38 route to Farnborough Road.
4A: 31 withdrawn. 4A extension via 31 route to Solihull.
5/73: Frequency down to every 30 minutes.
80: 80A Renumbered 80.

Regarding the 61, when did it stop running via Hoggs Lane and Allens Cross?

It ran that way for a good number of years, and alongside the 18, they both passed the end of the road of where my mum was born in 1939.

Also, by having a quick look on Google Maps, what has happened to the 49? This ran from Solihull to Northfield (Travellers Rest, along the Bristol Road between Bell Lane and the Orthopaedic Hospital.

My grandmother on my mum's side resided in Northfield.

 

[WM Bus]

Regarding the 61, when did it stop running via Hoggs Lane and Allens Cross?

It ran that way for a good number of years, and alongside the 18, they both passed the end of the road of where my mum was born in 1939.

Also, by having a quick look on Google Maps, what has happened to the 49? This ran from Solihull to Northfield (Travellers Rest, along the Bristol Road between Bell Lane and the Orthopaedic Hospital.

My grandmother on my mum's side resided in Northfield.

I think about 10 years ago from what I can see.
The 49 runs Rubery Great Park to Solihull Station nowadays, until last year it went to Solihull - Northfield via Frankley, which the 27 covers these days (rerouted away from Allens Cross shortly). At one point it ran into Weoley Castle I think as well.
What way did it run from Orthopaedic Hospital?

 

[adrock1976]

I think about 10 years ago from what I can see.
The 49 runs Rubery Great Park to Solihull Station nowadays, until last year it went to Solihull - Northfield via Frankley, which the 27 covers these days. At one point it ran into Weoley Castle I think as well.
What way did it run from Orthopaedic Hospital?

Many thanks regarding the 61.

I can recall the 49 starting/finishing from the Travellers Rest, which then ran from how I remember it via Bristol Road to The Black Horse, then Frankly Beeches Road to The Dingle, Egghill Lane, Holly Hill Centre, Gannow, Callowbrook Lane, Rubbery, Longbridge Lane, West Heath, Wychall Lane, Pershore Road to Kings Norton station before coming back on itself, Sporting Parson, Bell Lane, Maypole, Solihull Lodge, Shirley Station, Stratford Road, Blossomfield Road, Sharmans Cross, Streetsbrook Road, Solihull Station, Solihull Poplar Road/Station Road.

 

[WM Bus]

Timetable and route changes from 29th August 2021 | NX Bus West Midlands

 

[GusB]

Recent posts pertaining to Diamond Bus have been moved to this thread:

Diamond Bus (Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire)

** Mod Note ** Posts in this thread were originally here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/2nd-hand-unrepainted-buses.204959/ They have been moved in order to separate the Diamond Bus discussion from the rest. It has taken some considerable time to do this, so I would ask you to please...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[stait.john]

49 used to have its layover at the Orthpaedic Hospital. This was changed several years ago and had a very tight 7 mins turn around in Northfield until it was cut back to Rubery Great Park last year, the 27 covering that part of the 49. There have been lots of changes in that area over the years and they just can’t seem to get it right!