West Midlands bus route 991

The 991(now X35) is a bus route in the West Midlands and South Staffordshire areas of the United Kingdom. It is operated by Arriva Midlands, from its depot in Cannock and Wednesbury.
Present
The X35 is currently operated by Arriva Midlands on a subsidised basis between the two busy towns of Walsall and Lichfield. It operates to a peak hour only timetable with no weekend timetable and no off peak timetable.
It is one of three routes linking Walsall with Lichfield (the other two being also operated by Arriva Midlands service 35 and Central Buses route 35B).
From 26 March 2010, Midland Rider is now owned by Midland (formerly known as Choice Travel), in theory making it the second time this has occurred to an operator on the 991.
History
*1986 - Following deregulation, West Midlands Travel introduce a series of 'Timesaver' services. One of these is the 901, linking Walsall with Birmingham, via Lichfield, as per the current 991 route between Walsall and Lichfield. Some of these journeys follow a direct route into Birmingham, whilst during shopping periods, travel via Shenstone, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield, Erdington and the Aston Expressway. This services run at a half hourly frequency, with evening journeys also being operated.
*1988 - The frequency of the 901 between Walsall and Lichfield is reduced to hourly, whilst evening services are withdrawn.
*1990 - West Midlands Travel withdraw the section of the 901 between Walsall and Lichfield, instead replacing it with service 991, running at a half hourly frequency. Shortly afterwords service 991A is introduced, serving Dimbles Lane in Lichfield.
*Mid-1990s - West Midlands Travel replace the 901 with services 105 and 105A which link Birmingham with Roughley, therefore completely withdrawing the section between Roughley and Lichfield. These services then become the 105 and 905 in 2000, and still run to a regular frequency to this day.
*1999 - The 991 and 991A are both operated by National Express West Midlands (then Travel West Midlands) and Pete's Travel. Pete's Travel operate the 991 at an hourly daytime frequency on a Monday - Saturday, whilst TWM operate it at a half hourly frequency. The 991A is operated by both companies at irregular frequencies during peak times, in both directions. Additionally, irregular evening journeys are operated by TWM.
*2000 - Pete's Travel withdraw off the 991/A.
*2002 - Travel West Midlands significantly reduce the timetable on the 991, so that it now operates every 90 minutes during weekday daytimes and on Saturdays. The weekday peak timetable is irregular, with departures ranging from every 20 - 60 minutes. The evening journeys continue as they were running. The 991A is changed so that it only operates Walsall bound.
*2007 - Travel West Midlands withdraw off the 991 and 991A completely. A2Z Travel step in to save the route, running it at the same timetable as previously.
*April 2007 - the Express and Star newspaper published an article listing the Best Bus Routes elderly people could now travel on in the area with their new national bus passes. Despite people in the West Midlands area previously being allowed on the route, the 991 was listed due to its exceptional views of Lichfield Cathedral.
*Early 2008 - A2Z Travel decide to increase the frequency of its services on the 991/A.
*Mid 2008 - A2Z Travel reduce the timetable and frequency on the 991/A.
*January 2009 - A2Z Travel withdraw weekday off-peak daytime journeys on the 991/A, leaving just six peak return workings only. The Saturday timetable however, is unaffected by the change.
*March 2009 - After A2Z Travels license is revoked, Choice Travel step in to save the service.
*June 2009 - Choice Travel announce plans to withdraw off the 991. Midland Rider state they are to become the third operator in just 18-months to 'step-in and save the service'.
*July 2009 - The number of journeys is reduced to just four daily journeys to Lichfield, and five return journeys during Weekdays, with the Saturday timetable totally withdrawn as Midland Rider start operating the 991. All return journeys now also follow the same route, therefore resulting in the withdrawal of the 991A.
*September 2009 - Due to Midland Rider reviving the route they decide to increase the timetable on the service back to how it used to run during the later years of National Express West Midlands operation - the service running every 90 minutes Monday - Saturday, with additional journeys during the peak hours.
*March 2010 - Midland takeover operations at Midland Rider, meaning they become operator for the second time. The timetable is reduced to every 2 hours during off-peak hours
*March 2011 - Now subsidised by South Staffordshire County Council, the 991 is extended during off-peak hours to serve the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas.
*2012 - In 2012 the route was awarded to the present operator, Arriva Midland who stopped services to theNational Memorial Arboretum and shortened the route back toLichfield. This occurred because Arriva Midlands took over Midland Bus Company. They decided to run it Mondays to Fridays peak hours only as they created a new bus link between Walsall and Lichfield called the 35.

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