National Express West Midlands and Central Connect Diamond route 243

The 243 route is a bus route in the West Midlands, United Kingdom.

History

These routes were originally routes 243 and 244. The 243 was originally operated by Travel Merry Hill in 1999 connecting Dudley and Timbertree. In late 2000 Travel Merry Hill gained route 244 (re-numbered 243A), route 245 and route 246. 6 months later, route 246 was re-numbered 249 as Travel Merry Hill’s owners, Travel West Midlands made major changes to the Dudley – Brierley Hill – Stourbridge corridor (311/312/313). This involved creating a new route 246 to replace route 313 between Dudley and Stourbridge. About 10 months after that, in 2002, Travel West Midlands re-numbered route 244 to route 243A, this was to free up a number for a replacement to the former Travel Merry Hill route 131 between Dudley and Halesowen. In 2003, Diamond Bus gained the 245 Centro contract off Travel West Midlands. Since then, National Express West Midlands ran the 243, 243A and 249 prior to the Dudley network review where the 249 was withdrawn along with routes 248 which it was interlinked in the morning peak.

Present

Service 243 is currently run by National Express West Midlands commercially weekdays and Saturdays between 05:00 - 19:00. The service is run by Diamond Bus weekday and Saturday evenings and all day Sunday under contract to Centro replacing route 245. [cite web |url=http://www.networkwestmidlands.co.uk/dudley/timetables/243.pdf |title=243 Official Timetable |publisher=Network West Midlands |accessdate=2008-07-03]

howcase

National Express West Midlands runs this route as a showcase route with branded Volvo B6 buses along with National Express West Midlands route 222.

Current route

243

‘’(NXWM & DIA)’’
*Dudley
*Netherton
*Old Hill
*Cradley Heath
*Cradley Heath rail station
*Timbertree Estate
*Cradley Heath
*Old Hill
*Netherton
*Dudley, Bus Station

243A

‘’NXWM, Early mornings only’’
*Dudley
*Netherton
*Old Hill
*Cradley Heath
*Cradley Heath rail station(Than as reverse to Dudley)

References

External links

* [http://www.travelwm.co.uk Official site]
* [http://west-midlands-buses.fpic.co.uk West Midlands Buses]
* [http://www.networkwestmidlands.co.uk/dudley/timetables/243.pdf 243 Official Timetable at Network West Midlands - Valid from 27/04/2008]