A2Z Travel Route 991
Encyclopedia
The 991 is a bus route in the West Midlands
and South Staffordshire
areas of the United Kingdom
. It is operated by Midland
, from its depot in Wednesfield
.
on a subsidised basis between the two busy towns of Walsall
and Lichfield
, before continuing during off-peak hours to the National Memorial Arboretum
. It operates to a 90-Minute frequency between 6.30am and 7.20pm on weekdays, with the recently introduced Saturday timetable operating to the same frequency between 8.55am and 5.10pm. There is currently no evening or Sunday service on the route.
It is one of two routes linking Walsall
with Lichfield
(the other one being Midlands
service 81).
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.
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
and South Staffordshire
South Staffordshire
South Staffordshire is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. The district lies to the north and west of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands, bordering Shropshire to the west and Worcestershire to the south...
areas of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is operated by Midland
Choice Travel
Midland, previously known as Choice Travel is a limited bus company operating mostly in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands. Some services also operate in the Staffordshire area.-History:...
, from its depot in Wednesfield
Wednesfield
Wednesfield lies at , and is located to the northeast of Wolverhampton city centre on the northern fringe of the West Midlands conurbation...
.
Present
The 991 is currently operated by MidlandChoice Travel
Midland, previously known as Choice Travel is a limited bus company operating mostly in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands. Some services also operate in the Staffordshire area.-History:...
on a subsidised basis between the two busy towns of Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
and Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, before continuing during off-peak hours to the National Memorial Arboretum
National Memorial Arboretum
The National Memorial Arboretum is a national site of remembrance at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It gives its purpose as:-Origins:...
. It operates to a 90-Minute frequency between 6.30am and 7.20pm on weekdays, with the recently introduced Saturday timetable operating to the same frequency between 8.55am and 5.10pm. There is currently no evening or Sunday service on the route.
It is one of two routes linking Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
with Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
(the other one being Midlands
Choice Travel
Midland, previously known as Choice Travel is a limited bus company operating mostly in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands. Some services also operate in the Staffordshire area.-History:...
service 81).
From 26 March 2010, Midland Rider is now owned by Midland
Choice Travel
Midland, previously known as Choice Travel is a limited bus company operating mostly in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands. Some services also operate in the Staffordshire area.-History:...
(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 WalsallWalsallWalsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
with BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, via LichfieldLichfieldLichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, as per the current 991 route between WalsallWalsallWalsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
and LichfieldLichfieldLichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
. Some of these journeys follow a direct route into BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, whilst during shopping periods, travel via ShenstoneShenstone, StaffordshireShenstone is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, close to Stonnall and between Lichfield and Birmingham. In a recent survey Shenstone was found to be one of the ten worst places in England for finding single women....
, Mere GreenMere GreenMere Green may refer to:*Mere Green, Birmingham, England*Mere Green, Worcestershire, England...
, Sutton ColdfieldSutton ColdfieldSutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
, ErdingtonErdingtonErdington is a suburb northeast of Birmingham city centre, England and bordering Sutton Coldfield. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...
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 WalsallWalsallWalsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
and LichfieldLichfieldLichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
is reduced to hourly, whilst evening services are withdrawn. - 1990 - West Midlands Travel withdraw the section of the 901 between WalsallWalsallWalsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
and LichfieldLichfieldLichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, instead replacing it with service 991, running at a half hourly frequency. Shortly afterwords service 991A is introduced, serving Dimbles Lane in LichfieldLichfieldLichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
. - Mid-1990s - West Midlands Travel replace the 901 with services 105 and 105A which link BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
with RoughleyRoughleyRoughley is a part of Sutton Coldfield, which is in Birmingham in the West Midlands. It is north of Sutton Coldfield close to Mere Green and Four Oaks.- Transport :...
, therefore completely withdrawing the section between RoughleyRoughleyRoughley is a part of Sutton Coldfield, which is in Birmingham in the West Midlands. It is north of Sutton Coldfield close to Mere Green and Four Oaks.- Transport :...
and LichfieldLichfieldLichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
. 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 MidlandsNational Express West MidlandsNational Express West Midlands , formerly known as Travel West Midlands , is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd , a company which operates bus services from depots in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West...
(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 WalsallWalsallWalsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
bound. - 2007 - Travel West Midlands withdraw off the 991 and 991A completely. A2Z TravelA2Z TravelA2Z Travel was a diversified transportation company operating mainly in the Walsall and Wolverhampton areas of the West Midlands in west central England, also providing some bus services in South Staffordshire and Birmingham...
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 CathedralLichfield CathedralLichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
. - Early 2008 - A2Z TravelA2Z TravelA2Z Travel was a diversified transportation company operating mainly in the Walsall and Wolverhampton areas of the West Midlands in west central England, also providing some bus services in South Staffordshire and Birmingham...
decide to increase the frequency of its services on the 991/A. - Mid 2008 - A2Z TravelA2Z TravelA2Z Travel was a diversified transportation company operating mainly in the Walsall and Wolverhampton areas of the West Midlands in west central England, also providing some bus services in South Staffordshire and Birmingham...
reduce the timetable and frequency on the 991/A. - January 2009 - A2Z TravelA2Z TravelA2Z Travel was a diversified transportation company operating mainly in the Walsall and Wolverhampton areas of the West Midlands in west central England, also providing some bus services in South Staffordshire and Birmingham...
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 TravelA2Z TravelA2Z Travel was a diversified transportation company operating mainly in the Walsall and Wolverhampton areas of the West Midlands in west central England, also providing some bus services in South Staffordshire and Birmingham...
s license is revoked, Choice TravelChoice TravelMidland, previously known as Choice Travel is a limited bus company operating mostly in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands. Some services also operate in the Staffordshire area.-History:...
step in to save the service. - June 2009 - Choice TravelChoice TravelMidland, previously known as Choice Travel is a limited bus company operating mostly in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands. Some services also operate in the Staffordshire area.-History:...
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 LichfieldLichfieldLichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, 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 MidlandsNational Express West MidlandsNational Express West Midlands , formerly known as Travel West Midlands , is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd , a company which operates bus services from depots in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West...
operation - the service running every 90 minutes Monday - Saturday, with additional journeys during the peak hours. - March 2010 - MidlandChoice TravelMidland, previously known as Choice Travel is a limited bus company operating mostly in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands. Some services also operate in the Staffordshire area.-History:...
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 ArboretumNational Memorial ArboretumThe National Memorial Arboretum is a national site of remembrance at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It gives its purpose as:-Origins:...
in AlrewasAlrewasAlrewas is a large village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the A38 road, approximately 5 miles north of Lichfield...
.