West Midlands bus routes 337 & 338

333E
Overview
Operator	National Express West Midlands (Walsall Depot)
Vehicle	Volvo B6LE
Route
Start	Walsall, Bradford Place Bus Station
Via	Pleck
End	Darlaston, Bus Interchange

National Express West Midlands route 333E is a bus route, operating in the Walsall area of the West Midlands, England.

The same route is also followed by Midland service 9 (which extends to Lodge Farm via Bentley), National Express West Midlands route 333 (which extends to Wolverhampton via Lodge Farm & Willenhall), National Express West Midlands, Finesse Coaches & Sandwell Travel route 334 (which extends to Bilston via Rough Hay) and National Express West Midlands & Midland Bus Company route 339 (which extends to Bilston via Moxley).

Present

Services 333E currently links Walsall with Darlaston via Pleck, travelling along the Wednesbury, Walsall and Darlaston Roads. This is the same route which is followed by buses on services 333, 334 & 339.

The 333E, which was previously numbered the 337, was initially set up in July 2008 as an attempt by NXWM to 'steal' customers back from the increased competition its services 333, 334 & 339 were facing along the corridor, however, this appears to have gone drastically wrong with the introduction of a 'copy-cat' service (338) running at a six-minute frequency from January 2009, operated by A2Z Travel.

However, thanks to a bit of good luck on National Express West Midlands behalf, A2Z Travel had their licence revoked on 31st March 2009, meaning they completely withdrew from the corridor.

It is worth noting that, while operators had withdrawn from the route since the 337 has been introduced, they were instantly replaced by other companies up until early December 2009, when Golden Line withdrew its journeys on the 334 without replacement.

Currently over 15 buses an hour serve the corridor, National Express West Midlands operate their services to a combined six minute frequency, whilst the other operators run their services at a half hourly basis. Evening and Sundays see a drastic reduction in services, just two buses, both run by National Express West Midlands run along the corridor per hour.

The 333E is now operated using Volvo B6LEs. Previously it was operated using MCW Metrobuses, with regular appearances from the B6LEs. It is however quite regular to see variety on the route, it is quite regular for Volvo B10Ls, Volvo B7RLEs and Volvo B7TLs to appear on the route.

Other National Express West Midlands services along the corridor are operated by Volvo B6LEs, Volvo B7RLEs and Volvo B10Ls.

Dennis Darts, (Step-Entrance) operate on all other services on the corridor, with the exception of the 9, which is operated by low floor Darts and also run by Optare Solos.

History

• 1998 - National Express West Midlands (then Travel West Midlands) withdraws the regular daytime journeys between Walsall and Darlaston numbered the 339E. Journeys between these two areas continue during the early morning only until 2008 as 333E's.
• 20 July 2008 - National Express West Midlands introduce service 337 between Walsall and Darlaston. This in an attempt to regain customers back along this corrdior and elminate competition from these routes, which are mostly operated by NXWM. The corrdior is served by Arriva Midlands service 9, NXWM's service 333, NXWM's, Golden Line Buses, Finesse Coaches & Sandwell Travel service 334 and NXWM's and A2Z Travel service 339.
• 19 October 2008 - A2Z Travel withdraw off the 339, following a loss in custom, however they are instantly replaced by another operator, Midland Bus Company
• 25 January 2009 - A2Z Travel introduce a new service on the 337 route between Walsall and Darlaston, however decide to number the service the 338. This service runs at a 6 minute frequency.
• 28 March 2009 - Arriva Midlands withdraw off service 9 (Walsall - Lodge Farm) after more than 20 years operating the service indirectly via Chase Bus Services. Initially, Choice Travel were to take over the route, but they decide not to do so.
• 29 March 2009 - A2Z Travel place a registration to run service 9, in place of certain 338 journeys, however, they number the service 330. It is worth noting they never actually ran on the 330.
• 1 April 2009 - A2Z Travel withdraw all services after their licence is revoked from 23:59 on the 31st March 2009. As a result, from this date the 338 is completely withdrawn, however, Choice Travel (since renamed Midland) (who entered into an agreement with A2Z Travel) start to operate A2Z Travels journeys on the number 330, reverting back to the original number of 9.
• 29 November 2009 - The 337 is renumbered the 333E. Additionally, Golden Line withdraw their journeys on the 334, a service which follows the same line of route as the 333E between Walsall and Darlaston.

Future

No known changes are due.

Route

• Walsall Bus Station
• Pleck
• Darlaston Bus Station