National Express West Midlands routes 639 and 639E

The 639 & 639E are two bus routes operated by National Express West Midlands and Choice Travel in the West Midlands, England.

History

*1998 - National Express West Midlands (then Travel West Midlands) operate the 639 between Walsall and West Bromwich via Manor Hospital, Alumwell Darlaston, Herberts Park & Wednesbury at an hourly daytime frequency. During Evenings they operate the 639A, a service subsidised by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (CENTRO), between Walsall and Herberts Park via Manor Hopsital, Alumwell & Darlaston. The 639A is very similar to the 639, but follows a slightly different route in the Alumwell area and also serves Franchise Street in Darlaston.
*Early-1999 - Arriva Midlands start operating the 639A in place of Travel West Midlands under their Stevensons operation.
*Mid-1999 - Travel West Midlands start operating another variation of the 639, the 639E. This service operates irregularly during weekday morning peaks and during the day and follows the same route as the normal 639.
*2000 - All operators on the 639/A/E start using Low Floor Easy Access Buses
*2001 - Birmingham Motor Traction take over Arriva Midlands as operator on the 639A. These journeys are renumbered 639.
*2004 - The 639E is withdrawn by Travel West Midlands.
*2005 - Birmingham Motor Traction are replaced by Choice Travel on the evening 639 journeys to Herberts Park. Travel West Midlands shorten the 639 to terminate at Wednesbury instead of West Bromwich. Additionally they adjust their last journey on the 639 to be a 639E service terminating at Herberts Park. This follows the same route as evening workings.
*2008 - Travel West Midlands becomes National Express West Midlands for 10 years they have been using the same type of bus (Volvo B6LE) on the 639/E.
*October 2008 - Choice Travel services on the 639 are withdrawn due to a termination of subsidisation by Centro.

Present

Currently National Express West Midlands operate the 639 between Walsall and Wednesbury, Monday - Saturday at an hourly frequency between 09:30 and 17:00. They also operate several 639E workings at the beginning and end of the day. These journeys terminate at Herberts Park, Darlaston and follow a slightly different route in Alumwell as well as serving Franchise Street.

During early evenings, Choice Travel operate three journeys on the 639E, however number the service 639. This journeys are subsidised by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority.

The 639 and 639E all serve Walsall Manor Hospital, Alumwell and Darlaston.

Future

Choice Travel are withdrawing off the 639. This is because the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (Centro), are to terminate the funding of there subsidised journeys.

Current route

;Service 639
*Walsall
*Walsall Manor Hospital
*Alumwell
*James Bridge
*Darlaston
*Herberts Park
*Wednesbury;Service 639E
*Walsall
*Walsall Manor Hospital
*Alumwell
*James Bridge
*Darlaston
*Herberts Park