Route 50 turns 75 – memories sought

National Express West Midlands is urging customers to get in touch with their memories of its popular 50 bus route. Running between Druids Heath and Birmingham city centre via the Maypole, Kings Heath, Moseley and Highgate, the service is about to turn 75 years old.

The route hits the milestone age on 2 October 2024 and to celebrate the fact, National Express West Midlands is now appealing for locals past and present to share their stories and memories of travelling on the 50 bus over the past three quarters of a century.

“The 50 bus route has long-been a Brummie favourite” – Catherine Woolfe, Customer and Marketing Director for National Express

Catherine Woolfe, Customer and Marketing Director for National Express, said: “The 50 bus route has long-been a Brummie favourite and to celebrate its 75th year in operation we’re inviting our customers and colleagues to share their memories from years gone by.

“It is a vital part of daily life for a lot of passengers along the route and we’d love to hear their recollections. It may be memories of when they travelled on the 50 as a child, when they met their now wives or husbands onboard, or if they struck up a friendship which is still going strong many years later.

“Our 50 service runs up to every five minutes and single adult tickets are still only £2 until the end of this year, so it remains a very popular route and we hope our customers will join us on a trip down memory lane to mark this special anniversary.”

At the time of the photograph in the 1950s, the city terminus of the 50 was here with the bus pulling away from the stop.
Photo copyright: Transport Museum Wythall

The 50 bus service originally terminated at the Maypole and in 1981 was extended to Druids Heath, with the seven-mile journey taking around 40 minutes from the beginning to the end.

The 50 service runs out of National Express West Midlands Yardley Wood depot, having previously been at Birmingham Central and the former Moseley Road garage . Over 5 million passenger journeys are made along the 50 route each year, with 38 stops from Birmingham city centre to Druids Heath, and 37 stops in the other direction.

In 1997, the 50 service was the first National Express West Midlands route to have a fleet of low-floor double-deckers including 20 DAF DB250LF and Optare Spectras.

Stories and memories of National Express West Midlands’ 50 route should be submitted to [email protected] by 30 September 2024.