The End of Worcester to Birmingham 144 !!

[SEVERNLINK]

There was a piece about the 144 on Central News last night including a ride on a Salt Road bus.They interviewed somebody from First who said the route between Bromsgrove and Birmingham was heavily loss making because passenger numbers had only returned to around 75% of pre Covid levels which begs the question how profitable was it before?

There was a council meeting last night and skimming through Twitter it seems there's cross party support to keep the service running and mention of being in talks with a couple of operators I presume one will be Diamond.

[ANDREW]

The best way forward would be to keep First running through to Birmingham with extra "help" or at least with First running to Rubery/Longbridge . Having to connect with a different operators connecting bus though will put some people off. I guess NXWM are not in contention at all ? Ther were 20+ people travelling north from Bromsgrove on the 144 I caught earlier today.

[ANDREW]

Not sure how these thing work , but , IF First were offered extra "help" with the "Birmingham" only 144 workings and they decided not to accept. Could another operator be brought in [with the "help" on offer] and just run the hourly Worcester to Birmingham journeys ?? I'm thinking Astons / LMS here . . . . . . .

[AdamH]

Yes, but the contract would only be for the section of the route that is withdrawn, plus maybe an extension to Bromsgrove bus station as that is the logical start and finish point. If another operator was to extend beyond that point to Droitwich, Worcester, or even Malvern Wells, they would be running commercially and that is a very big risk to take under current circumstances. I think it's unlikely.

I think it's unlikely any money to replace that part of the route will be offered as it crosses a county boundary. Worcestershire wont want to pay for buses in Centro territory, and visa versa.

[AdamH]

Contractors have been in and removed references to Birmingham from the Saltroad branded vehicles.

[Rich82]

Few of the vehicles in use on Thursday on the 144

[Rich82]

Contractors have been in and removed references to Birmingham from the Saltroad branded vehicles.

On of the already amended branded salt road Livery ones

[ANDREW]

Thank you Adam H for your insight, I guess thats it then . . . . . . .

[SEVERNLINK]

It's made The Guardian nicely illustrated with an Enviro 300 Crowngate
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... um=twitter

[DC54]

The notices of the 144 curtailing have been put up…I noted this one at the Rubery Library stop, but it was also at St. Chad’s.

So it’s now over to Worcestershire County Council and (if applicable) TfWM.