West Midlands bus route 319

The 319 and 319A are two bus routes operating in the West Midlands, England.

The services link Walsall with Bloxwich via the deprived areas of Goscote, Harden and Blakenall. The 319 then extends to the wealthy Turnberry Estate. These journeys are subsidised by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.

The two services also follow a slightly different route in the Harden, Goscote and Blakenall areas. This is why the 319A is numbered so (previously NXWM and Arriva Midlands operated the 319 during daytime hours, but in mid-2008 NXWM rerouted the service creating the 319A and in late 2008 Arriva Midlands withdrew from the route causing the slightly random number).

History

Service number 49 was used for many years for this route, it originating from Walsall Corporation Transport, being taken over by West Midlands Transport Exceutive on 1 October 1969. Towards the end of 1970 the 49 service was one of the first in Walsall to be converted permanently to one man operation. Initially the buses used a fare box plus a TIM motorised ticket machine. On conversion to one man operation the fare scale was simplified in view of the farebox and no change given mode of operation. The TIM ticket machines were subsequently replaced by Bell Punch Autofare ticket machines. In recent years Wayfarer ticket machines have been used. In 2008, almost 38 years after introduction the farebox and no change given system, this is still in use.

• 1999 - National Express West Midlands (then Travel West Midlands) operates the 319 to Bloxwich at a half hourly Monday - Friday daytime frequency, as do Chase Bus Services. During the evenings TWM operate the service at an hourly frequency.

Both companies operate then service at an hourly Saturday morning frequency, before turning it into a half hourly one for the remainder of the day. TWM then operate the service on the evening at an hourly frequency and then all day Sunday, again at an hourly frequency. TWM use Volvo B6LEs with Wright Crusader buses on the route, whilst Chase Bus Services use Leyland Nationals.

• 2000 - The evening and Sunday service is extended to the Turnberry Estate. The frequency remains the same. This change is due to subsidisation from the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.
• Early-2007 - Chase Bus Services is taken over by Arriva Midlands.
• Early-2008 - Evening services on the 319 switch to Choice Travel, following a round of tendering by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.
• Mid-2008 - NXWM reroute the 319 in the Goscote area and renumber it the 319A.
• Late-2008 - Arriva Midlands withdraw off the 319.

Future

No changes are due in the near future.

Places served

• Walsall Bus Station
• Harden
• Goscote
• Blakenall
• Bloxwich