Coleshill, Warks - NXWM service 90 - missed stop

[dvboy]

Used NXWM's service 90 to go to Coleshill last night with the intention of getting the 22:48 service back, which is the last one to Birmingham (a later one goes only as far as Ward End). On the stop outside the Town Hall (Sumner Road) this is advertised on a Warwickshire CC timetable.

Approx 22:45 a bus came from the other direction to terminate, stopped at the bus stop directly opposite to wait a while and changed its blinds to read Birmingham and then instead of going down the road and turning to come back to pick us up as we expected it to, it made three right turns and a left and re-joined the route ahead of us, missing our stop out.

No indication from the driver who has waited at the opposite stop with lights off for a good 5 minutes that he was going to do this, that we should board it there, or walk to the next stop to be picked up, but he could clearly see we were waiting at the bus stop opposite.

So the bus didn't pick us up and left us stranded in Coleshill with no other option but to get a taxi into Birmingham city centre. I have complained to NXWM via the web and asked for the £20 taxi fare to be reimbursed. I have told them I have a receipt for the taxi. I've also asked that they make sure their drivers are aware of the route and or they get Warks CC to change the timetable at this stop.

Does anyone know if they are likely to do this? If they don't, where should be my next port of call - Warwickshire CC?

 

[bb21]

NXWM timetable does not seem to give a clue as to where the bus leaves from.

However Traveline suggests that the bus arrives and departs from opposite sides of the street.

Transportdirect suggests that the bus leaves from the stop adjacent to Swan Hotel. I can't seem to find it on Google StreetView. Is it on the same side of the road as the town hall?

You might get your money back, provided that the company is happy to accept responsibility for the driver's actions, or that the driver even admits taking a shortcut. There is no guarantee that it will happen. From reports in this area, some bus companies (even those of large corporations) are happy to lie when questioned so I wouldn't hold out much hope if I were you.

 

[bluenoxid]

Used NXWM's service 90 to go to Coleshill last night with the intention of getting the 22:48 service back, which is the last one to Birmingham (a later one goes only as far as Ward End). On the stop outside the Town Hall (Sumner Road) this is advertised on a Warwickshire CC timetable.

Approx 22:45 a bus came from the other direction to terminate, stopped at the bus stop directly opposite to wait a while and changed its blinds to read Birmingham and then instead of going down the road and turning to come back to pick us up as we expected it to, it made three right turns and a left and re-joined the route ahead of us, missing our stop out.

No indication from the driver who has waited at the opposite stop with lights off for a good 5 minutes that he was going to do this, that we should board it there, or walk to the next stop to be picked up, but he could clearly see we were waiting at the bus stop opposite.

So the bus didn't pick us up and left us stranded in Coleshill with no other option but to get a taxi into Birmingham city centre. I have complained to NXWM via the web and asked for the £20 taxi fare to be reimbursed. I have told them I have a receipt for the taxi. I've also asked that they make sure their drivers are aware of the route and or they get Warks CC to change the timetable at this stop.

Does anyone know if they are likely to do this? If they don't, where should be my next port of call - Warwickshire CC?

It depends on the response but if you are unhappy with their response, you next stop is Bus Users UK.

 

[dvboy]

NXWM timetable does not seem to give a clue as to where the bus leaves from.

However Traveline suggests that the bus arrives and departs from opposite sides of the street.

Transportdirect suggests that the bus leaves from the stop adjacent to Swan Hotel. I can't seem to find it on Google StreetView. Is it on the same side of the road as the town hall?

You might get your money back, provided that the company is happy to accept responsibility for the driver's actions, or that the driver even admits taking a shortcut. There is no guarantee that it will happen. From reports in this area, some bus companies (even those of large corporations) are happy to lie when questioned so I wouldn't hold out much hope if I were you.

Outside the Swan Hotel is further up the route on the same side of the road a the Town Hall, so if we'd waited there it would have passed us and we could have boarded it.

On Traveline, ensure you have Inbound, Saturday selected, you'll see a 22:48 departure from "Coleshill, adj Sumner Road - on Coventry Road" with "Coleshill, adj Swan Hotel - on High Street" being the next stop if you "show all stops".

Transport Direct defaults to the Swan Hotel as the centre of Coleshill if you just put Coleshill, Warwickshire as your start point but if you specifically enter "Coleshill (Warwicks), adj Sumner Road (on Coventry Road)" as the starting point as a bus stop (as attached), it will show a journey from this stop (as attached 2)

 

[34D]

I can't speak for the systems in the West Midlands, however up here in Yorkshire there are a lot of mistakes with the RTI (real time information) system in terms of stop setup. Indeed, for one medium-sized operator the only route that did NOT have a mistake was a hail and ride minibus route that takes 7 minutes and has 2 stops.

Do I follow correctly that this is a NXWM service, contracted to Worcester County Council?

Is there an 'official' realtime information section on any of the official websites?

For example, this is the link to the stop list for one of the services in Yorkshire.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

I can't speak for the systems in the West Midlands, however up here in Yorkshire there are a lot of mistakes with the RTI (real time information) system in terms of stop setup. Indeed, for one medium-sized operator the only route that did NOT have a mistake was a hail and ride minibus route that takes 7 minutes and has 2 stops.

Do I follow correctly that this is a NXWM service, contracted to Worcester County Council?

Is there an 'official' realtime information section on any of the official websites?

For example, this is the link to the stop list for one of the services in Yorkshire.

It's a commercial NXWM service

 

[OwlMan]

That is the normal route to turn the services that terminate at Coleshill (there is no other safe alternative in the town).

 

[dvboy]

I disagree - looking on Google Maps, although longer, there appears to be a route via Hall Walk and Wingfield Road, alternatively the roundabout on the A446 just past where the M42/M6 Toll link from the M6 passes underneath.

Regardless, if the bus does not stop at the bus stop, it should not be advertised as doing so.

 

[OwlMan]

I disagree - looking on Google Maps, although longer, there appears to be a route via Hall Walk and Wingfield Road, alternatively the roundabout on the A446 just past where the M42/M6 Toll link from the M6 passes underneath.

Regardless, if the bus does not stop at the bus stop, it should not be advertised as doing so.

The first of your routes is not really suitable for a bus. If it went as far as the A446 then it would not terminate in the centre of the town.
I think you are meant to get on the bus opposite where you were waiting. Didn't you try while it was waiting there?

 

[dvboy]

The first of your routes is not really suitable for a bus. If it went as far as the A446 then it would not terminate in the centre of the town.
I think you are meant to get on the bus opposite where you were waiting. Didn't you try while it was waiting there?

No because it wasn't obvious that we should.

 

[34D]

No because it wasn't obvious that we should.

What was on the destination screen, while the bus was at the stop opposite? Did you talk to the driver at all.

(Please appreciate that my main bus operations management experience is friendly local routes where drivers get taken on their break for tea and cake by passengers, and I realise that night time urban routes are very different).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's a commercial NXWM service

Fair enough. But this location is outside Centro (ie the authority with which NXWM has 95% of its dealings with)? Could explain the disconnect?

It certainly wants raising with the operator.

 

[dvboy]

What was on the destination screen, while the bus was at the stop opposite? Did you talk to the driver at all.

"Coleshill, Sumner Street" on arrival (i.e. where it stopped), then turned off along with all the lights inside, then "Birmingham" when it moved off, but nothing to suggest it wouldn't pick up from the stop on the other side of the road where we were. We assume the driver saw us while he was there, as we could see him, so why not tell us he wasn't stopping there?

(Please appreciate that my main bus operations management experience is friendly local routes where drivers get taken on their break for tea and cake by passengers, and I realise that night time urban routes are very different).

Yes, well my experience of NXWM drivers is very few of them like to get into conversation with passengers if it involves saying anything other than "two pounds".

It certainly wants raising with the operator.

Have done, but no response yet.

 

[dvboy]

Finally a result

 

[bb21]

Well done. Many bus companies don't tend to make much effort so it is good to see some positive outcome.

 

[34D]

Well done. Many bus companies don't tend to make much effort so it is good to see some positive outcome.

Indeed. It is a good result.

Can you (or another member) check this shelter?

And indeed, check traveline/other RTI systems.

 

[dvboy]

Indeed. It is a good result.

Can you (or another member) check this shelter?

And indeed, check traveline/other RTI systems.

It's just a pole in the ground rather than a shelter, but next time I'm in Coleshill I'll check (as I promised NX I would in my reply).