National Express West Midlands routes 50 and 50A
Encyclopedia
West Midlands bus route 50 is a bus route in the West Midlands
, United Kingdom
. Service 50 links Birmingham
with Druids Heath
and is among the busiest bus routes in Europe. It was introduced in 1949 and is currently served by National Express West Midlands
and Diamond Bus
.
between the City Centre and Maypole
in October 1949 to replace a withdrawn tram route. Service 48 covered the section beyond Maypole to Druids Heath via Salisbury Road. Service 49 journeys provided additional buses between City Centre and Kings Heath. During the 1970s West Midlands PTE simplified these services so that at bus deregulation
in 1986 service 50 journeys covered the entire route.
Travel Your Bus
operated on the route under the heading 50Y before they were taken over by Travel West Midlands, now known as National Express West Midlands, in 1994 and the route renumbered to 50.
In 1999 route 50 became the first Travel West Midlands route to be operated using low-floor double-deck buses. It celebrated its 50th anniversary later in the same year.
In January 2006 the route was criticised by local councillor Paul Tilsley for being overly popular with drug users.
People's Express
operated a rival service before being taken over by Diamond Bus
. Sunrise Travel started operating on the 50 running every 30+ minutes in October 2006, but withdrew the service a couple of months later. Diamond Bus introduced a commercially operated night service 50N in September 2007. This was withdrawn in April 2008.
National Express West Midlands
introduced new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s to the 50 in February 2008, replacing the Dennis Trident 2
/Alexander ALX400
s previously used on the route.
In connection with the South Birmingham Bus Review service 50A, which previously ran between Birmingham and Maypole four times a day, was withdrawn in October 2008 due to Worcestershire County Council withdrawing their subsidy. However service 69 was extended to provide Wythall with a bus.
, the edges of Sparkbrook
, Moseley
, Kings Heath
, Maypole before ending at Druids Heath
. The service is usually run by Alexander Dennis Enviro400s, many of which are branded specifically for the 50, although Dennis Trident 2
/Alexander ALX400
s also appear. Services 50 is run at very frequent intervals.
Route 50, which is operated from a depot in central Birmingham, is claimed by National Express to be one of the busiest routes in Europe.
Service 50 also experiences competition from Diamond Bus
, who run from Birmingham
to Druids Heath
, although at a lower frequency than National Express West Midlands and with no evening service.
‘50’ is about racial tension in inner-city Birmingham; It seeks to explore and raise the awareness of important social issues such as racial conflict, teen pregnancy, violence on public transport and youth crime. The individuals of the number 50 bus are drawn together in a single event that will test their differences and explore the problems faced by their dwindling sense of community.
Twenty-two year old Shropshire-born director Ryan Vernava graduated from Westminster Film School with a first-class honors in 2009. His directing debut 'Lynx: Be Careful Who You Turn On' won 'Best Casting', 'Best in Brief' and 'Best Overall Advert' at the 2009 Kodak Commercial Awards hosted at Bafta.
His debut drama Prick won 'Best Short' at London Young Film Festival 2009 and Best Live Action Film at Exposures Festival 2009. It has also been selected for London Independent Film Festival 2010 and Screentest 2010. Ryan’s latest short Inept recently screened alongside Prick at the BFI’s 3rd Future Film Festival is association with BBC Blast.
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Service 50 links Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
with Druids Heath
Druids Heath
Not to be confused with Druid's Heath, WalsallDruids Heath is an area of southern Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is located on the A435 road. Nearby settlements include Kings Heath, Kings Norton and Yardley Wood.-Etymology:...
and is among the busiest bus routes in Europe. It was introduced in 1949 and is currently served by National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands , formerly known as Travel West Midlands , is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd , a company which operates bus services from depots in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West...
and Diamond Bus
Diamond Bus
Diamond is a bus operator in the West Midlands, formed in 1986 as The Birmingham Coach Company.-Birmingham Coach Company:The company was created in 1986 as the Birmingham Coach Company operating a single route, 16, in competition with West Midlands Travel....
.
History
Service 50 was introduced by Birmingham City TransportBirmingham City Transport
Birmingham City Transport was a municipal organisation that operated the passenger transport network in Birmingham between 1937 and 1969.-History:Birmingham City Transport was created out of Birmingham Corporation Tramways...
between the City Centre and Maypole
Maypole, Birmingham
Maypole, Birmingham is a suburb on the southern edge of Birmingham, West Midlands bordering the Bromsgrove district of Worcestershire.Attractions include an Aldi, a Sainsbury's and a Travelodge....
in October 1949 to replace a withdrawn tram route. Service 48 covered the section beyond Maypole to Druids Heath via Salisbury Road. Service 49 journeys provided additional buses between City Centre and Kings Heath. During the 1970s West Midlands PTE simplified these services so that at bus deregulation
Bus deregulation
Bus deregulation in Great Britain came into force on 26 October 1986, as part of the Transport Act 1985.The 'Buses' White Paper was the basis of the Transport Act 1985, which provided for the deregulation of local bus services in the whole of the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland and...
in 1986 service 50 journeys covered the entire route.
Travel Your Bus
Travel Your Bus
Your Bus was a trading name of Smiths Coaches Ltd who were also known as Smiths of Tysoe. The company was based on the Arden Forest Industrial Estate in Alcester in Warwickshire.-History:...
operated on the route under the heading 50Y before they were taken over by Travel West Midlands, now known as National Express West Midlands, in 1994 and the route renumbered to 50.
In 1999 route 50 became the first Travel West Midlands route to be operated using low-floor double-deck buses. It celebrated its 50th anniversary later in the same year.
In January 2006 the route was criticised by local councillor Paul Tilsley for being overly popular with drug users.
People's Express
People's Express
People's Express was the trading name of Salelink, a bus company in the West Midlands which was acquired by Probus Management in 1998 and then by the Go-Ahead Group in 2006....
operated a rival service before being taken over by Diamond Bus
Diamond Bus
Diamond is a bus operator in the West Midlands, formed in 1986 as The Birmingham Coach Company.-Birmingham Coach Company:The company was created in 1986 as the Birmingham Coach Company operating a single route, 16, in competition with West Midlands Travel....
. Sunrise Travel started operating on the 50 running every 30+ minutes in October 2006, but withdrew the service a couple of months later. Diamond Bus introduced a commercially operated night service 50N in September 2007. This was withdrawn in April 2008.
National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands , formerly known as Travel West Midlands , is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd , a company which operates bus services from depots in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West...
introduced new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s to the 50 in February 2008, replacing the Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
/Alexander ALX400
Alexander ALX400
The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
s previously used on the route.
In connection with the South Birmingham Bus Review service 50A, which previously ran between Birmingham and Maypole four times a day, was withdrawn in October 2008 due to Worcestershire County Council withdrawing their subsidy. However service 69 was extended to provide Wythall with a bus.
Present
Service 50 currently serves BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, the edges of Sparkbrook
Sparkbrook
Sparkbrook is an inner-city area in south-east Birmingham, England. It is one of the four wards forming the Hall Green formal district within Birmingham City Council.-Etymology:...
, Moseley
Moseley
Moseley is a suburb of Birmingham, England, two miles south of the city centre. The area is a popular cosmopolitan residential location and leisure destination, with a number of bars and restaurants...
, Kings Heath
Kings Heath
Kings Heath is a suburb of Birmingham, England, five miles south of the city centre. It is the next suburb south from Moseley on the Alcester Road.-History:...
, Maypole before ending at Druids Heath
Druids Heath
Not to be confused with Druid's Heath, WalsallDruids Heath is an area of southern Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is located on the A435 road. Nearby settlements include Kings Heath, Kings Norton and Yardley Wood.-Etymology:...
. The service is usually run by Alexander Dennis Enviro400s, many of which are branded specifically for the 50, although Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
/Alexander ALX400
Alexander ALX400
The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
s also appear. Services 50 is run at very frequent intervals.
Route 50, which is operated from a depot in central Birmingham, is claimed by National Express to be one of the busiest routes in Europe.
Service 50 also experiences competition from Diamond Bus
Central Connect
Connect Buses is the brand name used to cover all aspects of the Rotala Group bus operations. It operates in a number of mainly urban places in the United Kingdom, with the regional brand names reflecting the places served.-Central Connect/Blue Diamond:...
, who run from Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
to Druids Heath
Druids Heath
Not to be confused with Druid's Heath, WalsallDruids Heath is an area of southern Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is located on the A435 road. Nearby settlements include Kings Heath, Kings Norton and Yardley Wood.-Etymology:...
, although at a lower frequency than National Express West Midlands and with no evening service.
'Fifty'
Fifty is a new short set in Birmingham and produced in association with Screen West Midlands and the UK Film Council.‘50’ is about racial tension in inner-city Birmingham; It seeks to explore and raise the awareness of important social issues such as racial conflict, teen pregnancy, violence on public transport and youth crime. The individuals of the number 50 bus are drawn together in a single event that will test their differences and explore the problems faced by their dwindling sense of community.
Twenty-two year old Shropshire-born director Ryan Vernava graduated from Westminster Film School with a first-class honors in 2009. His directing debut 'Lynx: Be Careful Who You Turn On' won 'Best Casting', 'Best in Brief' and 'Best Overall Advert' at the 2009 Kodak Commercial Awards hosted at Bafta.
His debut drama Prick won 'Best Short' at London Young Film Festival 2009 and Best Live Action Film at Exposures Festival 2009. It has also been selected for London Independent Film Festival 2010 and Screentest 2010. Ryan’s latest short Inept recently screened alongside Prick at the BFI’s 3rd Future Film Festival is association with BBC Blast.