Diamond bus to stop three West Midlands routes connecting to Birmingham

Different types of businesses in the West Midlands have been affected by the rise in costs. From restaurants and bars to transport companies - they are all feeling the heat.

Now, a bus company in the West Midlands has said that they will stop running three of their routes as they are making losses on those routes. And Diamond Bus say all their commercial services in the West Midlands are all loss-making ones.

The transport company recently said they were reviewing the viability of their commercial services operating in the West Midlands County. These are the services which don’t have any level of subsidy and only make earnings through ticket sales, the income received though accepting network cards (such as nBus and nNetwork) and National Concessionary Passes.

The bus company will be cancelling their 45, 002 and 226 services from April 15, 2023 (for more information on these routes see below).

Route 45: This service connected Walsall, Bradford Place - West Bromwich, Bus Station. It travels through Yew Tree, Stone Cross & Charlemont Farm.

In December 2022, National Express West Midlands had announced that this West Bromwich route will be run by Diamond on a revised timetable as 45 & 45A from January 1, 2023. This also replaces Diamond bus’ 401E.

The Diamond Bus number 45 is different from the National Express West Midlands number 45 bus that runs from Birmingham to Longbridge via Selly Park, Stirchley, Cotteridge, Kings Norton & West Heath.

Route 002 : The service traveled from Weoley Castle, Castle Square to Merry Hill Bus Station.

Route 226: This service connected Merry Hill Bus Station to Dudley Bus Station.

What has Diamond Bus said about these cuts in their own words?

The company said: “Since COVID we have been working in partnership with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in the hope that these services would recover. Since the end of August 2022 we have continued to sustain losses. The decline in viability of these routes is linked to the escalation in labour and operating costs and the lack of income growth.

“In January 2023, service revisions were put in place to try and align the income and expenditure of these routes and improve their viability.

“Diamond will continue to work with TfWM, as they assess options to maintain service provision in those areas affected by these withdrawals and we will keep passengers updated with further details over the coming weeks.”

For more details, see the Diamond bus website.