Major changes announced for West Midlands bus routes - including services that run through Birmingham

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) proposes changes or cuts to regular bus services across the region.

TfWM insisted that most people would see "no or very small changes" and that some areas will experience more frequent buses to "better meet local demand."

Talking about the changes, Pete Bond, director of integrated transport services for TfWM said that where there are reductions - there will be a "vast majority" of suitable alternatives available.

Mr Bond said: "We have, working with the bus operators, used the funding available to secure the maximum benefits for bus passengers – especially those living in areas where commercial services are not financially sustainable.

"There are changes to some services and where there is a reduction for the vast majority there are suitable alternatives. I urge people to check the TfWM website for full details ahead of January.

"The bus industry is facing severe cost challenges and is increasingly reliant on subsidy support – that is why at TfWM we are developing a bus reform plan to better secure the long-term sustainability of our bus network.".

The following services in Solihull will be revised, withdrawn, or renumbered:

* A1 - Solihull Damsonwood Circular (Diamond Bus)

* A2 – Solihull Buryfield Road Circular (Diamond Bus)

* A3 - Solihull to Knowle via Widney Manor & Dorridge (Landflight)

* A4 - Solihull to Inkford Brook via Dickens Heath (Landflight)

* A5 - Solihull to Cheswick Green via Dickens Heath (Landflight)

* A7/A8 - Solihull Circulars via Knowle, Dorridge, Hockley Heath & Blythe Valley (Landflight)

* A12 - Solihull to Acocks Green via Olton (Landflight)

* A15 - Solihull to Shirley Station via Acocks Green & Lyndon (Diamond Bus)

* 87 - Solihull to Coventry via Balsall Common (Stagecoach)

* 87A - Solihull to Coventry via Balsall Common (Stagecoach)

* 88 - Solihull to Balsall Common via Warwick Road (Stagecoach)

The new group of services in Solihull that will operate from 5 January 2025:

* 188 - Solihull to Coventry via Knowle, Dorridge and Balsall Common

The service will be operated by Stagecoach, every 60 minutes, Monday to Saturday daytime. Buses will follow a new route in Solihull to cover the previous Landflight service A3 (Solihull to Knowle). Additionally, buses will extend from Balsall Common to Coventry via Torrington Avenue.

* 601 - Elmdon Park to Solihull Circular

This service will be renumbered from A1 and will be operated by Landflight with no change to route or timetable.

* 602 - Kineton Green to Solihull Circular

This service will be renumbered from A2 and will be operated by Landflight with no change to route or timetable.

* 630 - Solihull to Shirley via Lyndon and Acocks Green

This service will be operated by Landflight, every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday daytime. This replaces the A12 and A15 services.

* 664 / 665 - Solihull Circulars via Dickens Heath, Wythall & Maypole

This service will run every 60 minutes each direction, providing two buses per hour overall in the daytime from Monday to Saturday. An hourly Solihull to Dickens Heath service is provided on Sundays, operated by Landflight. This replaces the A4 and A5 service. The section of route to Hollywood and Wythall is funded by Worcestershire County Council.

* A6 - Solihull to Dorridge via Knowle

This service will be operated by Landflight, every 60 minutes between 09:30 and 14:30. This service replaces the A3 along Longdon Road and Purnells Way.

* A7/A8 - Solihull Circulars via Knowle, Dorridge, Hockley Heath & Blythe Valley

The timetable and route has been amended in Blythe Valley Park to improve punctuality.

Services are affected after Transport for #WestMidlands (TfWM), which subsidises services that do not make money, reviewed contracts with operators across the region.

Most of the changes will come into force from 5 January, while negotiations over further changes continue with grants to shield operators from rising costs due to expire in March.

For more information press here.