National Express West Midlands routes 377, 377A and 379

The 377 route is a bus route in the West Midlands, United Kingdom.

History

*September 1999 - National Express West Midlands, then Travel West Midlands, operate the 377 at on Mondays - Saturdays at a 20-minute frequency. Some evening journeys are also operated by National Express West Midlands. One 377E journey is operated by Travel West Midlands between Walsall and Streetly Church. Pete's Travel also operate on the route with Express Service 377X, which runs on Monday - Saturday peaks and half hourly throughout the day. Metrobuses are the main vehicle used by Travel West Midlands on the service.
*November 1999 - Travel West Midlands withdraw their evening services and the 377E journey. Pete's Travel also withdraw the 377X, instead operating only a few 377E journeys during weekday peaks between Walsall and New Oscott
*2003 - Travel West Midlands and Pete's Travel withdraw their 377E journeys. The 379 is also introduced by TWM.
*2004 - Zak's Buses start operating early morning 377 journeys from Old Oscott - Walsall.
*2005 - School Service 377A is introduced.
*2007 - TWM start using Leyland Lynx on the route. Additionally new owners of Zak's Buses, Central Connect take over the early morning 377E journeys.
*November 2007 - TWM introduce the new 377 Route. Running at a 12-20 minute frequency and using recently refurbished Volvo B10L single decks, the service is one of six in the West Midlands to offer a refund if the bus is more than 15 minutes late, in a partnership with the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.

Centro/ NXWM Partnership

Since the November 2007, the 377 was brought into a partnership of just six bus routes in the West Midlands, which sees passenger receive a refund if their bus is more than 15 minutes late. As part of this agreement the low floor Volvo B10Ls which used to operate on the 301 service were refurbished and branded for the 377.

It is operated during the daytime by National Express West Midlands linking Walsall with Sutton Coldfield via Streetly. There are two early morning journeys from New Oscott to Walsall operated by Central Connect on weekdays only.

377A and 379

The 377A is a bus route which operates between Walsall and Streetly. There is only one afternoon journey in this direction only on weekdays. Also only on weekdays is the 379, between Walsall and Sutton Coldfield via Streetly, which operates Walsall bound in the morning and Sutton Coldfield bound in the afternoon only during school term.

Future

From 26th October, several changes are taking place to the route. The main 377 route is adjusted to serve Kingstanding Circle. However, peak time journeys are not changing route and as a result are renumbered 377B. Additionally, a school time extra service is introduced, the 377S. This service will run from Sutton Girls School to Walsall.

Current routes

;Service 377, (NXWM)
*Walsall
*Barr Beacon
*Streetly
*New Oscott
*Sutton Coldfield

;Service 377, (Central Connect)
*New Oscott
*Streetly
*Barr Beacon
*Walsall

;Service 377A, "This Direction Only" (NXWM)
*Walsall
*Streetly

;Service 377B, (NXWM) "From October 26th"
*Walsall
*Barr Beacon
*Streetly
*New Oscott
*Sutton Coldfield

;Service 377S, (NXWM) "From October 26th. This Direction Only"
*Sutton Girls School
*New Oscott
*Streetly
*Barr Beacon
*Walsall

;Service 379, "Term Time Only" (NXWM)
*Walsall
*Streetly
*Sutton Coldfield

External links

* [http://www.networkwestmidlands.co.uk/partnership/Routes/Route997.asp Centro Partnership information]
* [http://www.travelwm.co.uk Official site]
* [http://west-midlands-buses.fpic.co.uk West Midlands Buses]