From a Chum in Brum [1]

But We Begin with This:-

Urbanists?

Urbanist : a member of an order of Franciscan nuns.

No matter, let's press on.

Environmental  psychology; that must be good, surely, if it has "environment" in it?

And there's more.

"More welcoming, engaging and easier to use." We all say "aye" to that as part of a public transport boosting project. And there are pretty diagrams, too.

Nod sagely even if you haven't a clue what they are talking about. It's costing hundreds of thousands so it must be good, whatever it is.

A chum from brum has sent fbb a leaflet which is produced for West Midlands PTE (sorry!) Centro (Sorry!) Network West Midlands. (The proposed renaming to "BrummieBus" "BrummieTram" and "BrummieTrain" is currently out for consultation.)

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's a "SUPERleaflet" produced for them ...

... by them.

Open it up and you will find a map.

It is of Birmingham's bus routes. CORRECTION. It is of SOME of Birmingham's bus routes but without any route numbers.

Hill Hook is the 902. Roughley is the 905; but there are lots missing. But there is a clue to the leaflet's purpose.

Transfomed? You can say that again! Once upon a time, not very long ago, multitudes of Birmingham bus routes used to circle the city shopping area, stopping on Corporation Street or Stephenson Street.

But the thirty or so bus routes ...

... have been unceremoniously thrown out to make way for one tram route.

There are those who consider that this draconian removal of buses from where people want to go is not the best policy for busy brummies bustling to buy their bits and pieces. That's because the plan relegates the buses to what are laughably called interchanges located on the periphery of the city centre.

This is just dandy-oh for any poor soul who wishes to go cross-city from one bus route to another.

Perhaps this expensively designed leaflet will help make this conundrum  "more welcoming, engaging and easier to use". 

So tomorrow, we will be brave and seek solace in this brilliantly designed publication and search for our required buses. Take a deep breath, though, and "engage" all available brain cells ...

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Rousdon Reprieved

Thanks to Greenline727 whose comment on yesterdays blog referred to Devon County's list of changes. This does, indeed, make reference to Axe Valley (Auntie Frances Searle) returning to a former haunt by running some 899s between Seaton and Lyme Regis. Timetable awaited with eager anticipation.

X53 Exeter - Seaton - Lyme Regis - Bridport - Weymouth - Poole
Service X53 is revised. The service will operate hourly between Bridport and Lyme Regis and all journeys will now continue to Axminster, providing a half-hourly service with service X51 between Bridport, Lyme Regis and Axminster. The section between Lyme Regis, Seaton, Beer and Exeter will be reduced to three journeys, with two of these operating via Axminster. Service 899 will provide some additional journeys between Seaton and Lyme Regis. (From 27th September)

899 Seaton - Lyme Regis
Will provide additional Monday - Friday journeys between Beer and Seaton and Seaton and Lyme Regis. Timetable revised.

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 Next brummie blog : Friday 21st August