Alterations to services

[bmmoboy]

Speaking to a very good 'informed source' recently, and he told me that the 44 service to Malvern is to be increased to a 15 minute headway shortly, instead of the present 30 minutes. He also said that serious consideration is being given to reinstating the 144 to Birmingham, with the service terminating at a new 'bus station' near to Moor Street Station. I know that a lot of people have requested this, but I suspect that this is down to the forthcoming franchising of the West Midlands, we will have to wait and see.
I expect that this will cause a lot of comment here, it's been a bit quiet lately.

[TimBrown]

Speaking to a very good 'informed source' recently, and he told me that the 44 service to Malvern is to be increased to a 15 minute headway shortly, instead of the present 30 minutes. He also said that serious consideration is being given to reinstating the 144 to Birmingham, with the service terminating at a new 'bus station' near to Moor Street Station. I know that a lot of people have requested this, but I suspect that this is down to the forthcoming franchising of the West Midlands, we will have to wait and see.
I expect that this will cause a lot of comment here, it's been a bit quiet lately.

Good to see Malvern services increased to 15 minute headway; needs some special fare offers to attract passengers back on this service.
The possibility of the 144 running through to Birmingham again sometime in the new year confirms a conversation I had with a trusted source in Crowngate Bus station a few weeks ago. The service would take a different route in Birmingham Centre via Moor Street and Curzon Street if I heard correctly. If it comes to pass, a number of Euro 6 emission buses will be needed and ADL E400 MMC double-deckers were mentioned. Ironic that Worcester has only recently transferred a fleet of Euro 6 buses to South Wales and Bristol. If WR does receive these buses I just hope they are in better condition than the scruffy vehicles cascaded into Worcester recently. That said, I hope it comes off – could never understand why First couldn’t make the Worcester to Birmingham service profitable, reckon it could have done a roaring trade when the maximum single fare was only £2! Apparently towards the end of the Birmingham leg, First had allowed so much time between Rubery and City Centre that it was much quicker on the West Midland services. The big question mark is going to be the timetable schedule and I can see passenger resistance if it is two hours or more each way, which may be on the cards as some of the peak timings from Worcester to Bromsgrove currently in excess of one hour because of all the traffic lights, roundabouts and open road speed restrictions on the A38.

[ANDREW]

Interesting times ahead ! Maybe with "Cornwall" coming to an end , First may send some cash/buses Worcesters way ?