We take a ride on the Number 50 bus in Birmingham like never before with driver Herbie

On most days, our interaction with bus drivers starts with a “hello” and ends with a “thank you”. But we had the opportunity to delve deeper into the life of a bus driver in Birmingham recently.

It’s Catch the Bus month, so we got on board one of the most popular services in Birmingham - the Number 50 - which travels from Birmingham city centre through Moseley and Kings Heath to Druids Heath and back - for a special journey with driver Herbie Rose.

Like most of the buses in Brum, the 50 is run by National Express West Midlands (NXWM). The route is 74 years old - with the first ever Number 50 bus travelling along the Alcester Road on October 2, 1949. It was introduced by Birmingham City Transport as a direct replacement for Moseley Road tram routes. It’s one of the busiest routes in Brum, along with the Outer Circle Number 11.

A lot has changed over the years. The Number 50 was previously operated from the former Moseley Road depot, then it moved to NXWM Birmingham Central depot in Digbeth, and then on to NXWM Yardley Wood depot, which it still operates out of now. One regular passenger commented: “Some of the best nights out start on the Number 50.”

It was pouring with rain when we joined Herbie at around 1pm on Wednesday (September 20) and the bus provided the perfect shelter for those looking to escape the wet autumn weather as they made their way to the shops or back home.

We got on board at Moor Street, along with several students with their backpacks who filled the bus with laughter as they chatted together.

There are 38 stops on the seven mile 50 route route from Moor Street to Druids Heath and 37 on the way back.

If you are coming into the city centre, this iconic bus route brings you to the doorstep of the Bullring & Grand Central. You can get a selfie with the world famous bull - if you haven’t got one already. From there, you can make your way towards all the amazing things like the canals and theatres that the city centre has to offer.

And, if you are taking the bus to go towards the neighbourhoods, you can get off at Moseley and take a closer look at landmarks like the Moseley Baths and Moseley Park and Pool. There’s also its incredible High Street worth exploring.

And just a few stops away is Kings Heath, you can visit the beautiful Highbury and Kings Heath parks, listen to live music at the Hare & Hounds or enjoy some great food at Kings Court on the High Street which also has an abundance of shops.

Herbie explained that his favourite stop is Moor Street as he is a people person, and that is one of the busier bus stops for people getting on his bus. It takes around 40 minutes to complete the journey - but it can be longer during peak traffic times.

Herbie has been a NXWM bus driver for over 10 years and lives on the Number 50 route himself, so uses the service as a passenger as well. He has been driving the 50 route since he started working with the company in 2013.

Herbie passed his practical bus driver test in December 2012 just before Christmas. He said it was a “lovely Christmas present”. He was on a split shift when we met him.

Herbie told BirminghamWorld: “I started at Yardley Wood garage in January 2013. The job itself has been really rewarding for me. I love driving and I like meeting new people. This job, for me, offers both.

“I am a regular driver on the 50 route. My day basically starts with me going into the garage, checking the bus, making sure that everything is okay, taking the bus to start the route and generally spending four-and-a-half to five hours generally driving, then having a break, and then doing another four hours or so.

“The 50 route is a really really busy route. We tend to meet a lot of interesting people from all walks of life.”

Herbie is particularly proud of the regularity of the Number 50 service. He said: “I know it’s hard to believe, sometimes, but the Number 50 buses are quite regular. You may have been aware on your journey that there is possibly, I would imagine, about 15 buses on route at any one time - which is quite a good number. I think the service is roughly about every five minutes. The frequency is a good thing and the buses are fairly new, which makes them comfortable - and I’m speaking both as a driver and as a passenger.”

While Herbie does have knowledge of the other bus routes operating from the Yardley Wood garage and sometimes works on them, his regular route and favourite is the No. 50.

He is one of over 50 drivers covering the 50 route, with nearly 300 drivers in total at the Yardley Wood garage, where it operates from. Diamond Buses operate a separate Number 50 bus which goes from Moor Street to the Maypole.

As we made our way back into the city centre from the bus terminus at Alcester Lanes End in Kings Heath, it was time for schools to end and children in uniforms boarded in groups with most of them busy on their phones and catching up with each other.

There was a chance meeting between neighbours who had a quick catch up on the latest happenings in the area, including the closure of a local entertainment venue.

It was a fascinating journey and it’s certainly made us look at the Number 50 in a new light. Before we got off the bus, we got a bit of feedback from one regular on the route. Julie Kopicz, told BirminghamWorld: “The 50 is alright - when it turns up.”

What is Catch the Bus Month?

This September marks the celebration of Catch the Bus Month, organised by Bus Users UK, and Transport for West Midlands.

Laura Shoaf, chief executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), said: "By taking part in Catch the Bus Month we are underscoring our commitment to providing and supporting sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport services throughout the West Midlands.

“The bus is the workhorse of the transport network, carrying up to 250 million journeys a year! We hope that this celebration will highlight the importance of bus travel in stimulating economic growth, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening community bonds. We aim to encourage more people to use buses, recognising the numerous benefits they provide to our community."

Claire Walters, Chief Executive of Bus Users UK the charity behind Catch the Bus Month said: “Buses are a lifeline for millions and bring huge health, social and environmental benefits to us all. As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, we need affordable, sustainable transport more than ever so it’s great to see Transport for West Midlands celebrating these vital services and encouraging more people to get on board.”

The No. 50 bus route destinations worth a visit

If you’re looking at things to do on the Number 50 bus route our Digbeth Bucket List, Kings Heath bucket list and Moseley Bucket list are worth checking out. You can also read National Express’ ‘50 things to do on the 50‘ guide.