A2Z Travel route 360

Service 360 is a subsidised bus route operating in the West Midlands, England.

It links Walsall with Aldridge via Shelfield.

It is subsidised by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, Centro.

History

Service 360 was introduced in 1987 being operated by Chase Bus Services with subsidy from West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive. The purpose of service 360 was to provide a more comprehensive coverage of roads in the High Heath (Shelfield) area and re-introduce a regular frequency bus link to Aldridge. When the contract for subsidised operation came to an end Chase Bus Services decided to operate the service commercially. As part of this commercial initiative the service was extended to Pelsall : this extension to Pelsall did not last very long as the extra mileage had an impact on service timetable reliability. Chase Bus Services eventually withdrew the Saturday service as being non-viable. For a while the Saturday service was operated by West Midlands Travel before being totally withdrawn.

Previously the route was operated by Chase Bus Services and moved to Arriva Midlands following its takeover of the company.

Shortly before the tender of the route was changed to A2Z Travel, for their first subsidised service, an Arriva Midlands 360 service leaving Walsall was involved in an horrific incident in the bus station, which resulted in the death of one innocent pedestrian. An elderly lady from Bentley was crossing the zebra crossing in the bus station, when the bus turned at speed the wrong way around the bus stations one way system, crashing into pedestrians and other vehicles. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the event is still ongoing.

Upcoming Changes

From 26th October 2008 A2Z Travel are withdrawing off the 360. Green Bus Services are to operate a replacement service under the number 2. It is unknown, but believed, that this is an identical route to the 360.

Places Served

*Walsall Bus Station
*Shelfield
*Aldridge