It’s 30 years to the year since I last boarded Birmingham’s iconic 11C Outer Circular. And it’s time for something completely different blogwise, today.
The inspiration comes from comes elevenbus.co.uk.
Today, I’ve decided to participate in 11-11-11, an opportunity to sample National Express West Midlands’ service 11 on 11th day of the 11th month. Using my smartphone (or, who knows, even a laptop from the wi-fi enabled AMPM Travel competition), I aim to upload a brief journal throughout the day, so look out for updates on life from the top deck along Birmingham’s A4040 is it circles the city suburbs. Will the preconceptions hold? I trust everything works as I trek across the varying cultural landscapes that make up outer Birmingham, without actually going anywhere at all...
I have elected to use the Outer Circle 11C (clockwise) (the 11A, of course, operates anti-clockwise). And I shall alight where I think there is something of interest.
Outer Circle Facts
- The 11A runs anti-clockwise and 11C clockwise.
- The 11A/C is reported to be Europe’s longest urban bus route, at 26-27 miles, just within Domestic Driving Hours rules. Journey times vary by time of day & day of week but are about 2hr 30mins weekdays. This is about 15 minutes longer than in 1979.
- Since 2004, the commercial route is now part of a partnership with Centro PTE and the city council. As such, Volvo B7TL/Wrightbus Eclipse Geminis have replaced the MCW Metrobuses that in turn replaced Daimlers Fleetlines.
- In 1979 the weekday frequency was up to evey four minutes in each direction & every 12 on Sundays. Currently, it is advertised online at every eight and 20 respectively.
- The service carries some 50,000 passengers every day.
- As of 17 October, upstart AMPM Travel began every 20 minutes Mondays to Saturdays and historically is the third operator to compete on the Outer Circle along its entire length. I have to say that AMPM’s timetable looks a little haphazard.
- NXWM is said to deploy a PVR of 42 on the 11A/C. AMPM uses refurbish Volvo Olympians with wi-fi access.
- Number of pubs served by 11A/C: 49. No. of leisure facilities: 69. No. of schools: 233. No. of retail centres: 19. No. of dog tracks: two. No. of prisons: one.
- The service strays beyond Birmingham into Sandwell borough, at Bearwood.
2 comments:
Try alighting at Harborne and have a look at the Harborne Tennants' Estate, also known as Moorpool Estate. It is an early 20th century example from the 'Garden City' movement, and under threat from unappropriate developments,
The other Tony in Walsall
Thanks for this interesting 'live' account - a really enjoyable read. And no doubt the record for the longest Omnibuses post in one day has been absolutely smashed!
Maybe this sort of thing could become an occasional feature, covering some of the other iconic bus routes of the UK too.
Post a Comment