Noticed on the VOSA web site FMR have a new effective date of 6 September 2010 for the Redditch 143. Anybody any idea what is to happen to this service?
more than likely a case of re timeing to make it more reliable, i know that alot of the bromsgrove timeings run late from birmingham and early from redditch
the other possibility is it being cut back, as no one seems to use it between malbrook and birmingham
I've also seen it rather empty between Rubery and Birmingham and have always wondered why First don't send it over the Lickeys and through Rednal, I think it would be something of a publicity coup for First, they could brag about creating new connections from the Old Birmingham Road to the City, it'd be marginally quicker and it may rejuvenate interest in the route. The question is wheather the Lances be able to cope with such a steep gradient?
Men are at war with each other because every man is at war with himself.
i believe the 292 in kiddiminster to be a tough route which explains why most of there lances are tired but most of them will cope unless its a pathfinder
I think routing it via the Old Birmingham Road and Rednal is a brilliant suggestion and would of course restore it to the route of the original 143 route from its' Midland Red days. If a FEDD could cope with Rose Hill in days past, it doesn't say an awful lot for the Lances!
My fear, however, is that it's going to be curtailed in some way. It certainly doesn't carry many passengers between Marlbrook and Bromsgrove nor indeed between Birmingham and Bromsgrove, particularly on the outward journey. The reason for this, I am sure, is that many potential passengers seeing the plain destination "REDDITCH" have no idea that it goes via the Bristol Road, Rubery and Bromsgrove. Yet another example of those in charge believing that passengers (or potential passengers) know as much about bus routes as they do (or, perhaps, as they ought to). The fact is if you don't tell 'em, they won't know!
My understanding is that the 143 is being retimed because of the changes of the 144 and 244. The aim being to space out the 143 and 144 in/out of Birmingham.
Noticed on the VOSA web site FMR have a new effective date of 6 September 2010 for the Redditch 143. Anybody any idea what is to happen to this service?
What has been said by all of you sounds possible. Had another look at the VOSA site and it does list the 143 / 343 as via Northfield / Longbridge / Bromsgrove on this alone over the lickeys it will go.
As Molly said about the 144 re timing.I had a look at the VOSA web site, and VOSA has put this via Licky end and does not mention Catshill.
From this I can only assume both 143 and 144 will revert back to original Midland Red Routing.
Service Numbers 33,143,144 have on Vosa "NOT" had Route/Stopping places amemded so it is more than likely that the existing Route is retained but timing alterations or frequency reduced.
I've also seen it rather empty between Rubery and Birmingham and have always wondered why First don't send it over the Lickeys and through Rednal, I think it would be something of a publicity coup for First, they could brag about creating new connections from the Old Birmingham Road to the City, it'd be marginally quicker and it may rejuvenate interest in the route. The question is wheather the Lances be able to cope with such a steep gradient?
Lances can cope quite well with gradients, and that includes the Pathfinders. The main problem being that most of the drivers haven't been trained (or haven't worked out) that they can be held in a lower gear manually on the gear selectors. You can normally just about get 30 out of them in 3rd gear, 25 on a bad one. Fuel consumption is another issue though - why send a 15 year old bus thrashing itself to pieces that way for minimal passenger gain, when there is a much flatter alternative route? Incidentally, and I've tested this several times in my car, the quickest way from Brum to Bromsgrove is over the Lickeys, down Groveley Lane, Rednal Road and Pershore Road, as there are a lot less traffic lights and no Northfield and Selly Oak to contend with! I suspect the 143 will remain the same route-wise though, with the only possible rerouting being in the Aston Fields area because of selfish car-driver residents complaining on Clive Road and Warwick Avenue.
From September 6 2010 Service Number "33/4" will operate Crowngate Bus Station. Worcester - Warndon Estate only Six Ways Park & Ride Site will be deleted. Also from the same date Service Number "244" Crowngate Bus Station. Worcester - Droitwich will be "CANCELLED".
Also I understand that the 144 is being increased in frequency to every 15minutes from Worcester to Catshill, but will only be every 30minutes from Catshill to Birmingham.
Hence the change to the 143 or you would have 143s and 144s booked to run at the same time.
From September 6 2010 Service Number "33/4" will operate Crowngate Bus Station. Worcester - Warndon Estate only Six Ways Park & Ride Site will be deleted. Also from the same date Service Number "244" Crowngate Bus Station. Worcester - Droitwich will be "CANCELLED".
Not sure if people are aware but national express west midlands have started launching express buses - one of which is down the Bristol Road - may have an effect on the 144?
Again I would reply eveyone has made good comments and all is possible. Only the other day and previous weeks, WCC were doing a survey on the 143/144 , but they would not comment on their knowledge. Drivers have also said they know nothing regarding changes to these sevices.
As a passenger I would say to First. Tell your customers your plans so we can plan.
I do understand the name of the game, tell the other bus companys nothing, but if I want to get somewhere, I will take the first bus.
The 143 may well survive in some form, but at a cost to the rate payer
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