A2Z Travel

Infobox Bus transit
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logo_size = 190


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founded = 1998
headquarters = 61 Marlow Street, Walsall
locale = West Midlands
service_area =
service_type = bus service, coach, taxi
alliance = Network West Midlands
routes = 27
destinations =
stops =
hubs =
stations =
lounge =
fleet = 55
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website = [http://www.a2z-travel.co.uk/ a2z-travel.co.uk]

A2Z Travel is a diversified transportation company operating mainly in the Walsall and Wolverhampton areas of the West Midlands in west central England, also providing some bus service in South Staffordshire and Birmingham. The company, which started in the taxi business in 1998, expanded into minibus and coach service in 2003 and has now undertaken local bus service. [ [http://www.a2z-travel.co.uk/about_us.php A2Z about us] ]

They operate a variety of buses on numerous commercial and subsidised services as part of Network West Midlands.

Fleet

All of the buses operated have had previous owners.
* 23 Dennis Darts - Seating between 27 and 40. 18 are low floor. Mostly all from Metroline.
* 14 Dennis Lance (Seating between 34 and 46. 7 are low floor. Some from Stagecoach and others from London United)
* 1 Optare Delta (Seating 53)
* 1 Mercedes 0815D (Seating 29)

Routes

Below is a list of the 28 bus routes operated by A2Z Travel:
*3^ Wolverhampton - Penkridge (Sundays Only)
*18^ Lyndale Park - Wolverhampton (Saturdays Only)
*23^ Bloxwich - Brownhills (Saturdays Only)
*33^ Hednesford - Norton Canes (Sundays Only)
*56A^ Brownhills - Birmingham (Evenings/Sundays only)
*62^ Cannock - Lichfield (Sundays Only)
*70^ Wolverhampton - Hednesford (Sundays Only)
*76^ Wolverhampton - Stafford (Sundays Only)
*301 Walsall - Mossley (Mon - Sat)
*302 Walsall - Lower Farm (Mon - Sat)
*303^ Bilston - County Bridge (Mon - Sat)
*327^ Willenhall - Wednesbury (Mon - Sat)
*328 Walsall Circular (Mon - Fri)
*329 Walsall Circular (Mon - Sat)
*331 Walsall - Willenhall (Mon - Fri)
*339 Walsall - Bilston (Mon - Sat)
*341E^ Walsall - New Invention (Mon - Sat)
*351^ Hednesford - Walsall (Sundays Only)
*360^ Walsall - Aldridge (Mon - Fri)
*511 Wolverhampton - Underhill (Mon - Sat)
*522^ Wolverhampton - Princes End (Mon - Sat)
*529 Walsall - Wolverhampton (Sundays Only)
*562^ Wolverhampton - Bloxwich (Evenings/Sundays only)
*645^ Woods Estate - Darlaston (Mon - Sat)
*756 Kingstanding - St Francis Of Assisi School (School Service)
*880^ Stafford - Perton (Mon - Sat)
*991 Walsall - Lichfield (Mon - Sat)
*991A Lichfield - Walsall (Mon - Sat)

^ = Denotes this service is subsidised by either South Staffordshire County Council or Centro.

It is worth noting that over 60% of the services operated by A2Z Travel are with subsidised.

Changes from 19 October

* Service 302 is withdrawn
* Service 339 is withdrawn

Changes from 26 October

* Service 322^ is introduced between Walsall and The Paddocks via The Butts
* Service 375^ is introduced between Aldridge and Old Oscott, Monday - Saturday
* Service 376^ is introduced between Walsall and Kingstanding, Monday - Saturday
* Service 360^ is withdrawn
* Service 425^ is introduced between Hamstead and Great Barr, Monday - Saturday
* Service 562^ is withdrawn
* Service 575^ is introduced between Wolverhampton and Willenhall, Monday - Saturday
* Service 680^ is introduced between Moxley and Bilston, Monday - Saturday.

Licence Revoking

In November 2007, a VOSA inspection at A2Z Travel found that 11 buses had defects. A2Z immediately took these vehicles off the road and withdrew them from service (these buses being Leyland Olympian Double Decks), however, in January 2008, another VOSA inspection found a further 5 buses to be in a unfit condition. For this matter the company was fined over £19,000.

In October 2008, it was reported in the Express & Star Newspaper [ [http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/10/11/bus-firm-could-lose-licence/ E&S Article about Revokation] ] that the company had had its Licence Revoked with immediate effect by the West Midland Traffic Commisioner, however A2Z decided to appeal, and as such the company can continue to operate until this happens in January 2009. The report revealed damming claims about the company including:
* A check on the running of its service revealed that of 692 buses checked, 513 (nearly 75%) were either running early, late or did not turn up at all.
* The Company Director, Sarfaiz Ali, was critised for lacking management control of the business.
* The Company Transport Manager, Shahzad Ali, was critised for failing to maintain a traffic roadworthy fleet of vehicles despite promises to VOSA.

Despite this, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, Centro, continue to allow the company to win contracts to operate new susidised services in the area.

It understood that A2Z are hopeful of overturning the decision, due to new 'Operating Procedures'.

References