Trip to Tamworth / Sutton Coldfield 01-03-2025

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4411	Tamworth bus interchange	Sutton Coldfield, Stop SH	110	Arriva Midlands
6807	Sutton Coldfield, Stop SH	West Bromwich BS	5	NX West Midlands
1886	West Bromwich BS	Stone Cross, Hall Green Road	4	NX West Midlands
820	Stone Cross, Jervoise Lane	Charlemont, Church Vale	40	NX West Midlands
6962	Charlemont, Church Vale	New Oscott, Beggars Bush	5	NX West Midlands
4746	Oscott, Beggars Bush	Sutton Coldfield, (Stop SC)	5	NX West Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Tamworth. We asked Matthew on Friday where he'd like t go and he chose Tamworth. Research for the trip consisted of looking at various bus stickets in the area and checking the weather, which ws for dry sunny weather, warm for the time of year. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We got ready to go out and we left arounbd 11:50. We set off thr Blurton onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. We turned right onto City Road so that we could joined the Southbound A500. Whilst we waited to joined the A500 we joined the Southbound A500 and we ran Southwards through Hanford down to the M6. We joined the Southbound M6 and we headed through Staffordshire. Travelling down the M6 we saw Selwyns BV74 LMM(#550) and 2 unidentified grey coaches. We came off the M6 at junction 12 and we joined the Eastbound A5. We went for a couple of miles before stopping at the Truckers Rest truck stop. We sat down and mum ordered dinner for us. For dinner Matthew had a full English breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Afterwards Matthew went to the toilet. We order cake and custard for Matthew which he took to the car to eat. We set off out of the car park onto the A5 and we headed Eastwards. We ran to the South of Cannock and through Brownhills past the former Rising Sun pub. WeCrossed the A38 we ran through the HS2 roadworks. We came off the A5 to the West of Tamworth onto the A453. We ran into town and we turned right onto the Northbound A51. We turned right onto Lichfield Street and we passed former Arriva NW& Enviro 300, now Arriva Midlands 3582 on a #110 to Birmingham. We turned left onto Aldergate and we turned right into the car park. After parking up we walked across the car to the bus station. We saw Arriva Midlands 4411 on layover in between runs on the #110 to Birmingham.

Arriva Midlands 4411 in Tamworth bus interchange

Behind that was Bus Link 73 on a X66 to Lichfield.

Bus Link 73 in Tamworth bus interchange

We decided to go towards Sutton Colfield on the next #110, which just happened to be Arriva Midlands 4411. We got on the bus and we booked singles to Sutton Coldfield at £3 each before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off out of the interchange before turning right to head towards Lichfield. Just after the fire station we turned left to go down towards ventura Park. We turned left following the Eastbound A51 before turning right onto the A4091. We crossed under the A5 and then we crossed the canal. At Fazeley we turned right for the run down to Mile Oak. At Mile Oak we turned left onto the A453. We carried on South over the A38 at the Bassetts Pole roundabout and we carried on into town. When we got to Sutton Coldfeld the bus pull into the main thoroughfare were all the buses stop on The Lower Parade. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 4411 before it carried on towards Birmingham.

Arriva Midlands 4411 in Sutton Coldfield

Once off the bus we walked along Lower Parade onto South Parade to go to the pub. The pub that we used to go to has closed down and is currently empty. We walked back around the corner onto Lower Parade and we crossed over the ring road and we went into the sports bar there. Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we went to the bar and a had a glass of Coke each. When we had finished we went back outside and we met up with uncle Dave. We crossed over the ring road and we walked back down Lower Parade. We looked for another bus to catch. We saw a bus going to West Bromwich on stand. As we got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 6807 on a #5 to West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 6807 in Sutton Coldfield

We got on the bus and we an nBus group ticket at £8.50 before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off along Lower Parade and we turned left onto South Parade past fromer pub. We turned right onto the A5127 and we ran up to Boldmere. We turned right onto the A453 and we continued down through New Oscott and onto the B4149 and we headed up to Kingstanding and we ran to Pheasey. We passed the former the Buffet Island site which is going to be a new McDonald's. We turned left onto the B4154 and we ran through Queslett and we joined the the A4041 and we headed towards Pheasey and we continued into Great Barr and we travelled Westwards through Newton and we saw National Express West Midlands 4747 on a #5 to Sutton Coldfield. We crossed over the M5 and the road veered left onto the A4034. We headed Southwards into West Bromwich and we crossed over the A41 onto New Street. We ran forwards onto St Michaels Street and we turned left onto the West Bromwich Ringway. We turned left and we entered the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a look around the bus station. We headed to the toilet. On the way we saw National Express West Midlands 4679 on layover.

NX West Midlands 4679 in West Bromwich bus station

We continued down the bus station and we saw National Express West Midlands 4742 on a #74 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 4742 in West Bromwich bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we had a look around to see what we might catch. We wanted to head back in the direction of Sutton Coldfield so we had a look at #4's and #5's. A short time later a #4 came on stand. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 1886 on a #4 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 1886 in West Bromwich bus station

We got on and we flashed the nBus ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station. We turned right onto the West Bromwich Ringway and we turned right onto St Michaels Street. We ran forwards onto New Street. At the roundabout we crossed over the A41 an we ran forwards onto the A4031. We ran into Stone Cross and we got up and got off the bus. Once of the bus we took another picture of National Express West Midlands 1886 as it continued towards Walsall.

NX West Midlands 1886 in Stone Cross

Once off the bus we walked around the central island towads the West Bromiwich bound bus stop. We went into a shop and Matthew had a can of Irn Bru and a Twirl. We went outside and we sat at the bus stop and Matthew ate his Twirl. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 820 on a #40 to West Bromwich. We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A4031 and at the end we turned right onto Jervois Lane and we continued onto Bustleholme Lane. We continued onto Hollyhedge Road and we ran forwards onto the A4031. We ran along All Saints Way past the hospital and we got up and got off by the war memorial an Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 820 before it carried on towards West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 820 in Charlemont

Once we had watch the bus depart we crossed over the road to catch a #5 towards Sutton Coldfield. Whilst we waited we saw Rotala Diamond 30922 on a #4H to Walsall.

Rotala Diamond 30922 in Charlemont

A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required National Express West Midlands 6962 on a #5 to Sutton Coldfield.

NX West Midlands 6962 in Charlemont

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off out of the A4031 and we ran out into a more open route before crossing over the M5 we continued Eastwards for around a mile and into Great Barr and we saw National Express West Midlands 2234 on a #5 to West Bromwich. After crossing the A34 we went under the M6 and up the hill into Pheasey. The bus turned left onto the B4154 and we turned right onto the Collingwood Drive and we passed the former the Buffet Island site which is going to be a new McDonald's. We turnede crossed over the B4149 and we continued down through New Oscott and We got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 6962 as it continued towards Sutton Coldfield.

NX West Midlands 6962 in New Oscott

We went into Tesco and Matthew used the toilet. Afterwards we bought a bottle of Coke. We went outside to wait for a bus back to Sutton Coldfield. Whilst we waited we saw Nationl Express West Midlands 803 on a #77 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 803 in New Oscott

A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 4746 on a #5 to Sutton Coldfield.

NX West Midlands 4746 in New Oscott

We got on the bus bus we flashed the nBus Day ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs. The bus set off the B4149 and we continued down through the A453. We ran through Boldmere and we re-joined the A454 near to Sutton Coldfield. We ran around to the A5127 and we turned right onto The Lower Parade. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of National Experss West Midlands 4746 before it carried on towards Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 4746 in Sutton Coldfield

We crossed over Lower Parade and we took a few more pictures before left. We saw National Experss West Midlands 1895 on a X3 to Hill Hook.

NX West Midlands 1895 in Sutton Coldfield

We crossed over the ring road and we headed into the pub. Matthew went the toilet before having a glass of coke. When we had finished our drinks we crossed over Mill Street and we walked up to the Church and sat on the wall. A short time later mum arrived with the support vehicle. We got in the car and after turning around we headed out of town along the A5127. We turned left onto A454 and we climbed the hill through Four Oaks. We turned right onto Four Oaks Common Road and we turned right onto Clarence Road. We turned left onto the B4151 and we turned left onto London Road and we turned left onto the A38. We carried on along the A446 and we turned right onto Holly Lane and we turned right onto Lindridge Road and we turned left onto Springfield Road. We turned right into Churchill Road and we parked up. I went to the chips shop and came back with food. Whilst we were parked up we saw National Express E195 on a X4 to Birmingham. Matthew had sausage and chips washed down with some Cherry Coke. When I had finished eating we set off along Churchill Road and we turned right onto Carhampton Road. We turned right onto Rectory Road and left onto Lindridge Road. We turned right onto the B4148 and right onto the A453. We crossed over the M6 toll and at Bassett's Pole roundabout we turned left onto the Northbound A38. We ran North for a few miles and at the roundabout we ran forwards onto London Road. On the edge of Lichfield we turned left onto the A461 and right onto the A5127. We ran forwards onto the A51 and we ran out of Lichfield. We ran through Longdon and Brereton Cross and we ran to the East of Rugeley. We ran through the roadworks where they are constructing a new link road. We continued out of town through Wolseley Bridge and Great Haywood. We continued through Weston and Sandon and we joind the A34 South of Stone. We ran to the West of Stone and past Darlaston Roundabout where they are constructing a new petrol station. We continued through Titensor and Trentham and we turned left onto the A5035. We ran over the cananl and railway line into Blurton and we got back just after 20:00. Matthew had his medication and bottle of Coke. I took uncle Dave home and Matthew uploaded his pictures to the computer. Later on we did the Blog and Matthew had a chocolate muffin. We did an e-mail and we went to bed just after 00:00... Mark.