West Midlands Bus Routes 337 & 338 - History

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 As a result, from this date the 338 is completely withdrawn, however, Choice Travel (since renamed Midland) (who entered into an agreement with A2Z Travel) start to operate A2Z Travels journeys on the number 330,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.