People in South Birmingham wanting to find out more about improvements to bus services in the area can go to a number of special exhibitions taking place over the next two weeks.
Centro and bus operator National Express West Midlands, in consultation with Birmingham City Council, are making a series of changes to bus routes in South Birmingham to build on the already extensive public transport network in the area.
The aim is to give people a more modern bus network which better connects them with the several new developments taking place in the area and enhances the quality of travel for passengers as set out in Centro’s transport strategy Transforming Bus Travel.
Fourteen public exhibitions, starting next week, are being held across South Birmingham to ensure passengers can get all the information they need before the changes come into effect on 25 October.
People can go along to find out more details about the improvements and pick up new timetables for their bus routes, while staff will be on hand to take any questions or comments.
People can go along to any of the following exhibitions:
- Wednesday 7 October, 0900 – 1500, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (west entrance)
- Friday 9 October, 1200 – 1600, Selly Oak Library, Bristol Road
- Saturday 10 October, 0900 – 1500, Frankley, Arden Road Shops
- Monday 12 October, 1500 – 1900, Maypole Sainsburys
- Tuesday 13 October, 0900 – 1500, Austin Sports and Social Centre, Longbridge
- Wednesday 14 October, 1200 – 1600, Birmingham Women’s Hospital
- Thursday 15 October, 0900 – 1500, Cotteridge, Friends’ Meeting House
- Friday 16 October, 1100 – 1500, Northfield, Town Centre Partnership Office
- Saturday 17 October, 0900 – 1500, Kings Heath and Moseley Baptist Church
- Monday 19 October, 1200 – 1600, Weoley Castle Library, Castle Square
- Tuesday 20 October, 1200 -1600, University of Birmingham, outside Staff House
- Wednesday 21 October, 1200 – 1600, Hawkesley Community Centre, Edgewood Rd
- Thursday 22 October, 1500 – 1900, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (café)
- Saturday 24 October, 0900 – 1500, Frankley, Arden Road Shops
Details of the exhibitions are also available on leaflets posted to over 200,000 South Birmingham residents, at www.networkwestmidlands.com/busreview and on posters at libraries, Neighbourhood Offices, community centres and on board buses.
The exhibition in Hawkesley Community Centre, Edgewood Road has been postponed from the date on the leaflet until Wednesday 21 October.
The South Birmingham bus network review covers an area running from Warstock in the east to Weoley Castle in the west including Alcester, Pershore and Bristol Roads.
The aim is to boost accessibility and improve transport links to a number of key regeneration projects, allowing for future growth at Longbridge, Bournville College and the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital which will become the city’s second largest employer when it opens next summer.
It is also hoped that is will help to simplify bus routes that have been in place across South Birmingham for over 20 years to give an easier to understand network with better co-ordinated bus and rail services.
Improvements include:
- New direct bus links to the new QE hospital from Pool Farm, Hawkesley, Primrose Hill, Kings Norton, Cotteridge, Bournville, Frankley, Holly Hill, Maypole, Yardley Wood, Billesley, Kings Heath, Selly Park and Bournbrook;
- Improved links to education facilities such as Cadbury Sixth Form College and Birmingham University which has over 30,000 staff and students on site every day;
- A direct bus service from Holly Hill Road in Frankley to Birmingham city centre;
- Improved links to Wythall, Rubery and Pool Farm
- All National Express West Midlands buses and Centro subsidised services run by low floor easy access buses helping people with limited mobility or young children board the bus (around 250 vehicles in total).
- 245 upgraded bus shelters to provide an enhanced waiting environment for passengers
- Increased evening and Sunday services
More information on the changes can be found at www.networkwestmidlands.com/busreview where route timetables will also be posted when they become available.
