51/X51 Bus Route

I used X51 from Cannock. NOT a double decker so by time reached Bloxwich not many seats spare. Lots more got on at stops before Walsall, (other numbers running for the many only going to Walsall). There more got on than got off so few spare seats again. Picking up many more on route to Scott arms when they chose to crowd on, instead of waiting for an (almost empty) 51 which starts at Walsall & frequent. Crowded & with standees, lots more crowded on at Scot arms! I got off & in future go by car. Return trip (almost empty 51 to Walsall). Then another single decker from Walsall! Again crowded! Yet X51 advertised as a double decker, extra space, next stop announced, etc.... Single deckers no use between Walsall & B'ham, as already almost full at Walsall!

The 51 is a major bus route and for those who travel from Walsall to Birmingham and vice versa via Perry Barr and BCU campus, this is your main route … unless of course you travel by train.
The 51 is the standard daily option including on Sundays, which offers regular services throughout the day. At peak hours, one can come every 5 – 7 minutes, typically taking 35 – 40 minutes traffic depending.
The 51 runs during weekdays between 4:30am and midnight and is a usually efficient service providing no crimes or misdemeanours take place on the bus.
It is definitely a bus of cultural experiences — weed smokers, preachers, drunks, smelly people — and for those who love that, go for it! ;).
In all seriousness, the X51 is the faster cousin of the 51, often with higher more comfortable seating, quicker — cutting out the side routes around Birchfield and Perry Barr stopping less and being a more efficient option.
The X51 runs Monday to Saturday from around 7am and the last bus leaves usually Walsall and Brum shortly after 7pm.
If you live in Walsall, you are not spoilt by choice and options of getting to Brum and I would like to see a nightbus return to the 51 such as the 51N which did run once, to allow people to return home to Walsall throughout the night, especially Thursday through Saturday.
The need for nightbuses is an issue though for many of the major bus routes into Brum.