NATIONAL EXPRESS WEST MIDLANDS ADL ENVIRO 400S ON UPPER DEAN STREET
With a population of approximately 1,140,000, Birmingham is the second largest city in the United Kingdom, which is reflected in its public transport network. Over 300 million passenger journeys per annum on its buses makes it the country's busiest bus network outside of London.
Birmingham has local bus service connections to other areas all over the West Midlands county, and also in neighbouring counties, such as Worcestershire and Warwickshire. National Express West Midlands operate the majority of the local bus services in the West Midlands county, including in Birmingham, covering services to Dudley, West Bromwich, Merry Hill, Stourbridge, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, Chelmsley Wood and Longbridge.
Longer distance coach services also serve Birmingham, providing links to the North East, North West, Scotland, London and other parts of the United Kingdom. These are mostly operated by National Express, Megabus and Flixbus, who each have their own dedicated stopping places in the city centre. All three companies' use of sub-contractors sees coach operators such as Travelstar European, Bruce's and Ridley's Coaches appearing in the city.
| Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Variety |  In Birmingham, many different types of vehicle can usually be found, including Wright-bodied Volvos and VDLs and Scania integral buses, however the type of vehicle most used is the ADL Enviro 400 / MMC, which NX West Midlands use on many of their services in the city. |
| Operator Variety |  The majority of local bus services in Birmingham are operated by National Express West Midlands, especially the higher-frequency services. Smaller operators used to have a presence in the city centre, however Diamond have now acquired Johnsons Excelbus and Claribels. Various coach operators can also be seen operating the coach services as sub-contractors for National Express, Megabus and Flixbus. |
| Quantity of Buses |  With the second busiest bus network in the United Kingdom, Birmingham has a very high quantity of buses. Many of the city services have a frequency of better than 10 minutes between buses, some with two operators running at high frequency. |
| Photograph Opportunities | Birmingham city centre has plenty of locations to choose from to take photographs of buses, due to buses to different places stopping in different parts of the city centre. |
Stott's Coaches' BK14 LFF, a Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante, loading passengers for a Megabus M38 service towards Bradford
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NX West Midlands' 2217, an ADL Enviro 200 MMC, arriving into Birmingham through Digbeth on a 37 service (now re-numbered to 4) from Solihull
NX West Midlands' 6126, an ADL Enviro 400 MMC, drops passengers off by Birmingham Markets, ready to operate a number 50 service back to Druids Heath
De Courcey's MD37, a Caetano Levante 2-bodied Scania K440EB6 in National Express livery, departs Digbeth Coach Station on a 777 service to Stansted Airport (now operated by West Midlands Travel since De Courcey's closure in 2020)
Ridley's Coaches' BV69 LPJ, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo, departing Dudley Street, passing under Smallbrook Queensway, as it works a FlixBus 021 service to Liverpool
Turners Coachways of Bristol's Van Hool coach YJ67 CZY parked on Dudley Street as it waits to depart for its next service, the 070 to Leeds
Diamond's 32316, a Wright StreetLite DF, parked on Station Street (near Dudley Street) after arriving into the city centre on a 16 service from West Bromwich
Johnsons Excelbus' PN09 EMJ, an Optare Olympus-bodied Scania, on Moor Street Queensway whilst operating an X20 to Stratford-upon-Avon
Diamond's 30826, a Plaxton Centro-bodied Volvo B7RLE with Royale Black Diamond branding (since removed) operating a 16 service to Hamstead along Moor Street Queensway
NX West Midlands' Walsall-based Volvo B11R / Caetano Levante 3 336 on Moor Street Queensway as it makes its way out of Birmingham on a 409 service from Aberystwyth to London
Diamond's 30929, an ADL Dart with ADL Enviro 200 bodywork, loading passengers outside the Bullring Shopping Centre on Moor Street, for a 50 service to Maypole
National Express' ADL Trident 2 with ADL Enviro 400 bodywork and route branding for the '16', 4802, operating a 16 service along Moor Street Queensway
Diamond's 30639, an Optare Solo, making its way up Priory Queensway whilst operating a 16 service to Hamstead, passing a Claribels Wright Cadet
Arriva Midlands' 4414, an ADL Enviro 400 in Sapphire livery with 110 route branding, departs Priory Queensway to operate a 110 service to Tamworth
National Express 7021, a Scania OmniLink, on the roundabout joining Priory Queensway and Corporation Street in Birmingham City Centre on a 66 short working to Star City
National Express' 4494, a Wright Eclipse Gemini-bodied Volvo B7TL, loading passengers on Priory Queensway for Perry Common via Slade Road on a 65 service
Diamond's 30825, a Plaxton Centro-bodied Volvo B7RLE, operating a 16 service to Hamstead on the roundabout on Priory Queensway
National Express' 6710, an ADL Enviro 400 MMC in Platinum livery with route 'X12' branding, loading passengers for an X12 service to Solihull via Chelmsley Wood and Birmingham Airport
Claribels Wright Pulsar 2-bodied VDL SB220 YJ12 CKO, approaches Priory Queensway from the roundabout to operate a 94 service to Chelmsley Wood
National Express' 1833, a Scania OmniLink, operating a 55 service (since withdrawn) towards Chelmsley Wood along Priory Queensway
Diamond's 30952, a Plaxton Centro-bodied Volvo B7RLE, on Priory Queensway arriving into Birmingham after working a 16 service from Hamstead
National Express' 4756, an ADL Enviro 400-bodied ADL Trident 2 with 'Dudley Road' route branding, arrives into Birmingham along Smallbrook Queensway
First Worcester's 63366, a Wright StreetLite DF, loading for a 144 service to Worcester on Smallbrook Queensway, followed by a NXWM Alexander ALX400 and Wright Eclipse
Stagecoach Midlands' 54268, a Plaxton Elite bodied-Volvo B11RT in Megabus livery, on Smallbrook Queensway making its way towards the Megabus coach stop on Brunel Street
National Express West Midlands' 2142, a Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse 2 bodywork, arriving into Birmingham on a 98 service from Rubery (now withdrawn), followed closely by 2144 on the X64
First Worcester's 69453, a Wright Eclipse 2-bodied Volvo B7RLE, waiting on Smallbrook Queensway before working a 144 service to Worcester
National Express West Midlands' 4909, an ADL Enviro 400 with 'Pershore Road' route branding, operates a 45E service along Smallbrook Queensway towards West Heath via Pershore Road
National Express West Midlands' 4921, an ADL Enviro 400 with '80' route branding, on Smallbrook Queensway operating an 80 service to West Bromwich
Diamond Bus' 16-branded Wright StreetLite DF 32319 stopped on Smallbrook Queensway between trips on rail replacement services
More info coming soon!
More info coming soon!
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