National Express West Midlands route 97

Infobox West Midlands Buses
number=97


operator=National Express West Midlands, Central Connect, A Line of Coventry and Redwing Contracts
garage=Lea Hall Depot
vehicle=Scania OmniLink, Dennis Trident 2/ Any
start=Birmingham
via=Bordesley Green
end=Chelmsley Wood
length=About ?? Miles
level=Daily
frequency=Every 2-5 minutes daytime
day=04:30 - 04:40 - 00:05 Monday - Saturday
06:35 - 00:05 Sunday
night=Every 10-15 minutes until 0005

The 97 is a bus route in the West Midlands, United Kingdom.

The route links Birmingham and Chelmsley Wood.

History

* 31st August 2008 - A Line of Coventry will start operations on the 97.

* 18th August 2008 - Central Connect start operating service 97, 'on hire' to Diamond Bus.

* 17th August 2008 - Travel Ride Corporation withdraw off the 97.

* 20th July 2008 - Diamond Bus withdrew the registration for the withdrawal of service 97. Instead, a further reduction in frequency of every 12 minutes is seen with the evening service withdrawn. Diamond Bus retain service.

* 07th May 2008 - Diamond Bus timetable is amended showing slight decreases in frequency.

* 28th October 2007 - National Express West Midlands service 97 had a general increase in frequency. Between the 97 and 97A both services would now be more frequent up to Chelmsley Wood against Diamond Bus

* 25th October 2007 - The Scania OmniLinks start to make an appearance on the route. They will start to displace the Dennis Tridents and Mercedes-Benz O405N usually found on the route.

* 22 July 2007 - Diamond Bus experienced a service increase with a evening service added. Service no longer serves Fazeley Street.

Travel Your Bus used to operate on the same route under the heading 97Y before they were taken over by Travel West Midlands, now known as National Express West Midlands and renumbered their service to 97. Equally of note is that People's Express used to operate a rival service before being taken over by Diamond Bus.

Present

The service currently serves Bordesley Green, Stechford, Garretts Green and then Chelmsley Wood before going on to the terminus in Helmswood Drive. National Express West Midlands service 97 runs every 7-9 minutes during the day before reducing to every 20 minutes in the evening and on Sundays. The service is usually run with branded Scania OmniLinks however the Dennis Tridents are known for making an appearance when needed. The service is run commercially.

The only other major competition on the service is from operators Central Connect and Redwing Contracts. Travel Ride Corpoation used to run a service, however this was suddenly withdrawn in August.

National Express West Midlands currently charge a maximum fare of £1.50 on this service.

Trivia

* The service passes two National Express West Midlands garages - Bordesley and Birmingham Central en route, yet is operated by neither.
* The service also passes National Express West Midlands Bordesley headquarters and the St. Andrews Football ground.

External links

* [http://www.travelwm.co.uk Travel West Midlands website]
* [http://west-midlands-buses.fpic.co.uk West Midlands Buses (Photographs)]