Trip to Bilston / Dudley 14-04-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4312	Bilston Interchange	Dudley BS	82	NX West Midlands
3304	Dudley BS	Stourbridge Interchange	246	NX West Midlands
6109	Stourbridge Interchange	Halesowen BS	9	NX West Midlands
6715	Halesowen BS	Merry Hill BS	X10	NX West Midlands
828	Merry Hill BS	Dudley BS	222	NX West Midlands
5421	Dudley BS	Wolverhampton, Tower Street (Stop AS)	1	NX West Midlands
KX57 FLJ	Wolverhampton, Police Station(Stop AJ)	Bilston Interchange	53	iGo

Today we decided to re-visit Bilston. We hadn't been to the West Midlands for quite a while now, so I suggested to Matthew that we return to Bilston and he said yes. Research for the trip consisted of checking the weather for today which was for cool mild air with some sunshine. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 onto the A5035 and we ran over the railway line into Trentham. We turned right onto the Northbound A34 and we ran up to Hanford where we passed First Potteries 67636 on a #22 to Longton. We turned left onto the A500 and we ran down to the juncrion with the A519/M6. We joined the Southbound M6 and we ran for 30 odd miles down to the West Midlands. As we travelled Sourgwards we saw Guru Travel R443 FWT, an unidentified Leon's coaches coach, Harry Shaw (Reeseheath College) YN15 EKY, An unidentified Amans Travel coach, The Travellers Choice 7351 RU & silver minibus GE07 PAR. We left the M6 at junction 10 and we went Westwards along the A454. We ran forwards onto the A463 and as we approahed Bilston we joined the Northbound A41. We turned left onto Church Stree and we followed it around onto Walsall Street where we parked up. We walked back onto Church Street and into Bilston Interchange. As we entered the Interchange we saw National Express West Midlands 810 on a #43 to West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 810 in Bilston interchange

Also we saw National Express West Midlands 4133 on a #82 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 4133 in Bilston interchange

We went into the Interchange and Matthew used the toilet. We met up with mum who was ordering food for dinner. Matthew had a breakfast with an addition portion of sausages on toast. He also helped mum with her susage and bean toastie. Matthew washed down his food with a can of Coke. When we had finished Matthew brough another small bottle of coke for later and we said goodbye to mum. We walked out of the cake and we went outside to see what we could catch. We saw Banga Travel V258 DRB on a #530 to Rocket Pool.

Banga Travel V258 DRB in Bilston interchange

A short time later we saw required National Express West Midlands 4312 on a #82 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 4312 in Bilston interchange

We decided to do this bus so we walked around the corner to the appropriate stand and we got on the bus. We booked nBus network tickets at £4.30 each and we went upstairs. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4312 before we sat down.

Inside NX West Midlands 4312

The bus set off out of the interchange and we went Southwards onto the A41. We turned right onto Loxdale Stree and over the tram line, going forwards onto Salop Street. We trundled through undulating housing estates full of near identical semi-detached houses and we went over the railway into Coseley. We stopped in the village briefly and we were overtaken by Rotala Diamond 20743 on a #229 to Sedgley. We were stopped outside a tanning shop where top body builders were having a conversation. There was a sign that said 'Tan of your life' and it made me thing of the moneysupermarket advert, He-man and Skeletor! We crossed a dual carriageway and we went through a small village called Roseville and we traveled South again through yet another housing estate of semi-detached houses. Eventually we joined a main road and we went South-Westwards into Dudley town centre. We turned right into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we went to find the toilet but it had been vandalised and was under repair. We walked to the East end of the bus station and in the layover area there we saw National Express West Midlands 5408 on layover in between runs on the #1 to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 5408 in Dudley bus station

We walked around the South side of the bus station and we spotted required National Express West Midlands 3304 on a #246 to Stourbridge.

NX West Midlands 3304 in Dudley bus station

We decied to do the Stourbridge bus so we got on and we flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside the upper saloon of National Express West Midlands 3304 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside NX West Midlands 3304

We set off Southwards and we turned right onto Flood Street and forwards onto King Street. We ran forwards onto the A4101 and we ran South Westwards to the roundabout with the Pagasus statue. continued along the A4101 to the next roundabout and we turned right into Russells Hall hospital. We came back out of the hospital and we crossed over the A4101 onto Pensett Road. At the next junction we turned right onto Stourbridge Road towards Brierly Hill. About 1/2 down the road we saw former Stanton's of Stoke minibus VU06 KFA. We continued through Brierley Hill and forwards onto Church Street. Further West we went forwards onto Brettell Lane. We turned left onto High Street and we ran the last mile or so towards town. We joined the ring road and we ran to the South Eastern corner of town to the Transport Interchange. We climbed a short ramp and we entered the interchange where we saw National Express West Midlands 4198 broken down. We got up and got off the bus and we had a look around. We walked around the West side of the interchange and we saw Rotala Diamond 20574 on a #299 Pedmore Fields circular.

Rotala Diamond 20574 in Stourbridge Interchange

We walked around to the North side of the interchange to see National Express West Midlands 4198 receiving some attention.

NX West Midlands 4198 in Stourbridge Interchange

Also seen was dud Rotala Diamond 30972 on a #125 to Bridgenorth.

Rotala Diamond 30972 in Stourbridge Interchange

We had this bus back in February 2017 when it was Central Buses 255 from Bewdly to Kidderminster. We walked up to the North end of the interchange to the railway and we saw Parry People Mover 139001 arrive. We returned to the bus side of the interchange so we could decided what to catch next. A few minutes later we saw required National Express West Midlands 6109 on a #9 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6109 in Stourbridge Interchange

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set of out of the interchange onto the A458. We ran Eastwards for around 2 miles into Lye. In the town we saw a yard of minibuses followed by the Prospect Coaches depot. We continued along the A458 for another 4 miles through Cradley and into Halesowen. We turned right onto the High Street and we went into the town centre to the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and we crossed over the road to get a few pictures. Behind us was required National Express West Midlands 6103 on a #9 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6103 in Halesowen bus station

We crossed back over and walked up the High Street to a shop. Matthew had a can of Coke and a can of Barr raspberryade as well as a coupke of chocolate bars. We walked back to the bus station and we decided to catch something up to the Merry Hill shopping centre which was back in the right direction towards Bilston. We stood at the stop to wait for a 002 service, but whilst we waited we saw National Express West Midlands 6715 on a X10 service to the Merry Hill shopping centre.

NX West Midlands 6715 in Halesowen bus station

We walked around the corner to the right stop and we got on the bus. We flashed the nBus ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 6715 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside NX West Midlands 6715

We set off out of the bus station and onto Queensway. We joined the Northbound A459 and We ran Northwards for a coupke of miles and into the centre of Old Hill. At the roundabout we went left onto the A4100. We ran Westwards for a couple of miles and stopped briefly at Cradley Heath Interchange. We left the interchange and we continued for mile or so up Quarry Bank to Merry Hill. We turned right onto the A4036 and left onto The Boulevard. We ran down the hill and forwards onto Times Square Avenue and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew wanted the toilet so we went into the shopping centre to use the facilities. Afterwards we returned to the bus station and we saw required National Express West Midlands 4553 on layover.

NX West Midlands 4553 in Merry Hill bus station

The plan was to head back towards Dudley so we went uo to tbe appropriate stop. A few minutes later we saw required National Express West Midlands 828 on a #222 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 828 in Merry Hill bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto the Boulevards and we went past Asda and onto the Westbouned A4100. We continued onto Milss Street and we turned right onto Brierly Hill High Street. SAfter a brief stop we continued Northwards and we turned left onto the B4179. We turned right onto Blewitt Street an we headed North Eastwards up to Queen Street. We turned right onto Chapel Street and we ran through the estate onto the A4101. At the next roundabout we turned left and we entered the Russells Hall hospital. After a brief stop we returned onto the A4101 and we turned left onto Bushey Fields Road. We turned right onto Middlepark Road and left onto Overfield Road. At the end we turned right onto Russells Hall Road. We turned left onto Grange Road and we turnned right onto the B4176. We turned right onto Stafford Street and we ran onto High Street before coming into Dudley bus station from Birmingham Street. We got up and got off the bus. I was intending catching a #82 but Matthew had other ideas. A few mnutes later we saw National Express West Midlands 5421 on a #1 to Wolverhamnpton.

NX West Midlands 5421 in Dudley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. We set off out of the bus station and onto Castle Street. At the roundanout we turnd left onto the Northbound A459. We ran straight up the A459 through Sedgley to the edge of Wolverhampton. We crossed over the ring road onto Snow Hill and we ran forwards onto Market Street. Due to roadworks near to the bus station the bus terminated here. We got up and got off the bus and then Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 5421 before it carried on towards tettenhall Wood.

NX West Midlands 5421 in Wolverhampton

Afterwards we also saw required National Express West Midlands 4139 on a #3 to Fordhouses.

NX West Midlands 4139 in Wolverhampton

Matthew wanted the toilet so we walked along Castle Street to the bus station. The toilets had been refurbished and should have been open, but the work had over-run and they were still closed. We were directed by staff to Costa Coffee over the road. Using the toilet ended up Costing abnother £5 as Matthew had to have cakes and a bottle of Pepsi. We returned to the bus station and there didn't seem to be a bus directlt to Bilston out of the bus station with the roadworks. We saw Selwyn's FN62 CCV.

Selwyn's FN62 CCV in Wolverhampton bus station

Afterwards we saw Bruce's Coaches FN63 PWK on a Plymouth bound service.

Bruce's Coaches FN63 PWK in Wolverhampton bus station

I persuded Matthew to leabe the bus station to walk to Bilston Street in attempt to get back to Bilston. On the way we saw Arriva Midlands 2150 on a #10 to Wolverhampton.

Arriva Midlands 2150 in Wolverhampton

By the police station we saw National Express West Midlands 6791 on a #126 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6791 in Wolverhampton

Eventually we saw a bus to Bilston. It was required iGo KX57 FLJ on a #53 to Rocket Pool.

iGo KX57 FLJ in Wolverhampton

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus ticket to the driver for the final time today. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside iGo KX57 FLJ before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside iGo KX57 FLJ

The bus set off along Bilston Street and onto the A41 and we travelled Eastwards out of town. We turned right onto the A4126. We crossed over the A41 and we ran North up Stow Heath Lane. We turned left onto the A454 and we started to head back towards Wolverhampton. It was at this point I check the timetable online. The bus was schedueled to take 50 minutes to get from Wolverhampton to Bilston. We turned right onto Old Heath Road and we ran Northwards upto New Cross Hospital. After going around the hospital we then went around Bentley Retail Park. We ran Northwards up WEll Lane to the Guru Nanak temple and we turned right into Alfred Squire Road. We turned right onto Neachells Lane and we ran Southwards. We crossed over the A454 again and we travelled through Portobello along Moseley Road. We turned right onto Proud's Lane and we ran to the edge of Bilston. We joined the A41 and we turned right onto Hall Street and we enetered the Interchange. We got up and got off the bus. Also in the bus station was National Express West Midlands on a #25 to Pendeford.

NX West Midlands 2015 in Bilston interchange

We walked through the Interchange onto Church Street. Matthew decide to go to the pub. He used the toilet and then had a can of Coke from the bar. We returned to the car and we met up with mum. We set off up Greencroft and at the end we turned right onto The Crescent. We turned right onto the A41 and headed Southwards. We turned left onto the A463 and we ran fast to the A454. When we reached the A454 we carried on over the flyover and a couple of mile later we were on the Northbound M6. As we travelled up the M6 we saw Barnes WA15 BVR, 4 Belgium aramy buses, 3 x Country Lion coaches (2 x Maroon, 1 x black red and gold). Kingdoms YOD 544, Happy Days 229 & Ausden Clarke CRZ 6377. We went North up to junction 15 and we came off onto A500. We ran North to the Sideway and then we went Eastwards along the A50 and we saw an unidentified Viking Coaches coach, an unidentified maroon double decker coach & Intercity WF07 FFG. We came off the A50 at Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. The spare ground was empty tonight.

spare ground in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see what we could see. We saw Z Carz Ford minibus FP06 WTW with cars parked in front of it. We re-joined the A50 and we ran Westwards to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran down the hill into Blurton. In Blurton we saw Alfa 64 by the BP garage. We continued up to Chgurch Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Avenue and back home at 19:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread bicuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.