Keen-eyed locals in the Black Country will have noticed a distinctly different bus livery that might take them back in time to the 1960s.
In a nod to Walsall’s transport history, National Express West Midlands fleet number 4601 has been repainted and is now touring the streets with a stunning blue and yellow Walsall Corporation livery.
The new fixture in the local bus operator’s fleet is a timely introduction, with the region’s heritage and culture currently being celebrated during this month’s bostin’ Black Country Festival.
Originally a two-tone blue, Walsall Corporation changed its livery to a simpler blue with yellow bands, which was then known as the Corporation’s final livery up to October 1969 when the Corporation bus fleets of Walsall, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Birmingham were absorbed into the then-newly formed West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.
In 1986 WMPTE transferred its vehicles and services to West Midlands Travel, which was subsequently bought by National Express in April 1995.
National Express West Midlands has invested millions of pounds in new buses to meet changing customer needs over the decades.
The bus operator took one of its premium Platinum buses along to the festival’s main event on Stone Street in Dudley for this year’s Black Country Day (Saturday July 14, 2018) and will be talking to locals about the benefits of bus travel, ticket offers and a number of express routes that run via the Black Country.
The first Platinum buses were introduced on services between Wolverhampton and Walsall in August 2016. Now, passengers in every district of the Black Country are being carried by the luxurious grey buses, with more Platinums being introduced later this year.
When passengers were asked what they thought about Platinum, overall satisfaction was 94%, which is not surprising considering the buses boast comfy seats, extra leg room, free wi-fi, USB chargers, next stop announcements and contactless payment. You can discover more about Platinum here.
With town centers expected to be busy during the Black Country Festival celebrations, customers can take advantage of cheaper bus fares within the Sandwell and Dudley Low Fare Zone. The cheapest fares are available on the National Express West Midlands mTicket app.
The Low Fare Zone includes Stourbridge, Merry Hill, Dudley, Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Oldbury, Blackheath and Halesowen. The M5 is the eastern border of the zone. Visit www.nxbus.co.uk/paylocal for full details.
