JAN1029 Birmingham Bus Network Review Bus changes in West and South Birmingham July 2010
Introduction Centro has worked in partnership with local bus operators and Birmingham City Council on the West and South Birmingham Bus Network Review to bring about improvements to bus services in the area. The aspiration for these changes is that they will help to make bus travel a more attractive option for more people and bring about long term passenger growth on the network. Centro and bus operator National Express West Midlands with the support of Birmingham City Council, have pledged to improve the quality of the local bus network by investing in on-street infrastructure (bus shelters, stops and better vehicles), improved bus frequencies, highways improvements and marketing. As part of the West and South Birmingham Bus Network Review we undertook a period of public consultation and market research to understand what people living in and visiting the area want and need from their bus network. The results identified some key service requirements from the public within the West Birmingham area but also parts of the previously completed South Birmingham review (including Bartley Green, Harborne, Weoley Castle, Quinton, Northfield, Woodgate, Longbridge, Frankley, Rubery and Rednal). It further identified that people want to have an easy to understand bus network providing services to destinations with reasonable frequency and a reliable fleet of vehicles. The results did show a large level of satisfaction with many of the services within the area, but also identified some things that people do not like to see on the bus network including graffiti, damage to bus shelters, litter on buses and dirty vehicles. At ward meetings and presentations undertaken between February and June this year, we asked local councillors and constituents for their views of the bus network in West and South Birmingham. We were delighted with the amount of useful feedback and would like to thank you for the time that you gave to this matter. We have subsequently included a response document within this pack which addresses some of your questions and queries that arose throughout our consultation period. Also enclosed in this pack are a Monday to Saturday day-time map and an evening and Sunday map showing services in the West and South Birmingham review areas and one detailing the bus services that will operate within your ward from 25 th July 2010. We hope this is a useful quick reference for you to see any changes in your area.
Changes to services Some of the changes proposed for the West Birmingham bus network from July 25 th 2010, will see improved direct links to Birmingham City Centre and more regular bus services. There will also be more evening and Sunday services across the review area. New timetables will also be published in time for the launch which will show all operators services, rather than having separate timetables for each different bus company making it easy for passengers to see all available services. A leaflet detailing the changes will be distributed to thousands of homes in the West and South Birmingham areas, including Bartley Green, Harborne, Weoley Castle, Quinton, Northfield, Woodgate, Longbridge, Frankley, Rubery and Rednal. Route specific information leaflets will also be distributed to the Frankley, Rubery, Rednal, Weoley Castle and Welsh House Farm areas prior to our information exhibitions events and launch date. Several public exhibition events are planned throughout the West Birmingham Network review area two weeks prior to the formal review implementation date of July 25 th 2010. This information will also be available on our Network West Midlands web site www.networkwestmidlands/busreview - with more details, including exhibition dates and venues, in the main change leaflet enclosed within this booklet. Summary of key changes Welsh House Farm gets a new direct daytime, evening and Sunday link to Birmingham City Centre via QEH on the 636 service. Weoley Castle benefits from a new direct express link ( Service X64 ) to the city centre via Bristol Road and Selly Oak. Leach Green Lane in Rubery gets a new express link to Birmingham City Centre every 20 minutes and provides links to Rubery Great Park. Frankley will now get a direct link (service 63) and increased frequency to Rubery Village via Gannow. Weoley Castle, Rednal, Longbridge, Northfield and Selly Oak gain new limited stop services to Birmingham City Centre. Service 49 will be extended to Northfield and Weoley Castle, with a 10 minute frequency to Solihull, from Rubery Great Park. The revised service 49 will restore links from Frankley and Rubery to Longbridge rail station via the new Bournville College at Longbridge. Page 2 of 3
Increase 10 minute frequency to the 29 service, between Birmingham City Centre, Harborne and Weoley Castle. Extended 27 service from Kings Heath to Maypole via existing 69 route. Frankley gains a more reliable and faster link to Birmingham City Centre by the revised 61 route. The 448 evening and Sunday service will serve Barns Hill Bingo Hall. Further details of all changes can be seen in the enclosed leaflet detailing each current and new service number route by route. Our Network Review change leaflet is currently being distributed to over 10,000 households within the review area, together with updated information to over 750 bus stop sites within West & South Birmingham areas. Contact details for further information can be found at the back of this pack. Page 3 of 3
X62 NXWM Replaces 62. Extended to Great Park via Leach Green Lane, with limited stop on Bristol Road. Limited stop between Northfield and city centre (Town Hall). 20 minute daytime frequency with extra peak journeys. 30 min frequency evenings and Sundays. City centre to Rednal only after 19:00. Alternates with X64 for city to Selly Oak 10 min frequency (15 mins evening). X64 NXWM City centre (Town Hall) to Bangham Pit via Bristol Road. Extended from Bangham Pit via 18 route, then Ley Hill, Holly Hill Road terminating at Great Park. Between Weoley Park Road & city limited stop along Bristol Road. 20 min daytime frequency, with extra peak journeys. 30 min frequency evenings & Sundays. City centre to Bangham Pit only after 19:00. Alternates with X62 for city to Selly Oak 10 min frequency (15 min evening). All operators and changes are correct at time of going to print. Centro cannot be held responsible for any errors that may occur. NXWM National Express West Midlands; QEH Queen Elizabeth Hospital Key Improvements include: Welsh House Farm gets a new direct link to Birmingham city centre on the 636 Weoley Castle benefits from a direct link to the city centre via Bristol Road and Selly Oak 29 operates every 10 minutes between Weoley Castle and the city centre Leach Green Lane in Rubery gets a new link to the city centre, every 20 minutes Weoley Castle, Rednal, Longbridge, Northfield and Selly Oak gain new limited stop services to the city centre Buses between Selly Oak and city centre every 10 minutes daytime 49 extended to Northfield and Weoley Castle, with 10 minute frequency Solihull to Cotteridge. Network West Midlands Network West Midlands is the name that connects public transport in the West Midlands metropolitan area (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton). Centro, the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority, is responsible for developing and promoting public transport in the region. Centro works closely with the West Midlands metropolitan districts and the private companies who operate bus, train and Metro services. Centro also provides subsidy to the operator for all or some journeys. All partners in Network West Midlands are working together to provide better passenger information and to invest in improved facilities and services. Exhibitions Centro and National Express West Midlands will be holding exhibitions to tell people about the changes to services. These are detailed below: July Tues 13 Thurs 15 Sat 17 Mon 19 Tues 20 Thurs 22 Sat 24 St Francis Community Centre, Woodgate Valley, 10am-3pm Quinborne Community Centre, Quinton, 12pm-4pm Price s Square, Bristol Road South, Northfield, 10am-3pm Weoley Castle Library, 3pm-7pm Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Main Lobby, 10am-3pm Arden Road Shops, Frankley, 10am-3pm St Mary s Parish Centre, Harborne, 10am-3pm Please check the website www.networkwestmidlands.com/busreview for the latest information. If you require this leaflet in a format more suited to your needs, please call 0121 214 7214 or e-mail customerrelations@centro.org.uk MAR1059 Bus changes in West and South Birmingham West Bham DL leaflet.indd 1-3 21/06/2010 12:50
Bus changes in West and South Birmingham Some bus services in West and South Birmingham are changing from Sunday 25 th July. Following consultation with the public, the network has been reviewed to create routes that better meet the needs of local communities. The aim is to simplify some bus routes to provide easier access and improve links to key destinations, including the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and Harborne, Weoley Castle, Quinton, Northfield, Woodgate, Longbridge, Frankley, Rubery, Rednal and Bartley Green. Many services in West and South Birmingham overlap and interconnect, whilst serving their own areas, so these changes will make for an easier to understand bus network for local people. There will be better access to, and improved co-ordination between, services, transport interchanges and rail stations. The changes will be supported by improved passenger information. The new bus network will begin from start of service on 25 th July and in the run up to that date you will see some numbers and timetables changing at bus stops and shelters in key centres, and on roads across the area. Listed below are bus routes and changes: Route Operator Changes 002 Diamond No change 10/10H Central Connect 11A/C NXWM / AMPM Daytime via Harborne High Street numbered 10H Sunday frequency every 15 min on NXWM services from Sun 29 August 18 NXWM 23:48 journey from Bartley Green withdrawn 19 Diamond Rerouted in West Heath to serve Post Office & Fairfax Road 20 NXWM Replaced by 49 between Rubery, Holly Hill Road & Northfield. Runs every 20 mins daytime, & every 30 mins evenings/sundays. Arden Road & Holly Hill Road replaced by new limited stop service X64 to city centre, via Ley Hill Farm, Bangham Pit, Weoley Castle & Selly Oak. X64 runs every 20 mins weekdays & every 30 mins Sundays. Evening service operates city centre to Bangham Pit only. Swarthmore Road linked to Northfield, Harborne & city centre by 29 every 20 mins daytime, every 30 mins evenings & Sundays. QEH linked to city centre by extended 636 (every 20 mins) & new weekday evening & Sunday service. 448/448A covers QEH to Weoley Castle route. 21 NXWM Replaced by X64 between city centre & Bangham Pit via Bristol Road & Weoley Castle. Bartley Green linked to Weoley Castle, QEH & Harborne High Street by 448. 22/23/24 NXWM No change. 24 stops at Town Hall in both directions allowing interchange with X62 and X64. 27 NXWM / Central Connect Extended Kings Heath to Maypole via 69 route with a 20 min frequency. 29/29A NXWM 29 will serve Swarthmore Road into Northfield. 29A terminates Long Mynd Road, serving Shenley Lane.Weoley Castle linked to Northfield via Shenley Lane by 49. Frequency Weoley Castle to city centre via Harborne every 10 mins weekdays & every 15 mins Saturdays. Evening & Sunday buses no longer serve Barnes Hill. 38 Diamond No change 39 Grovesnor Coaches 42 Central Buses Alternative buses renumbered 39A terminate at Woodgate Valley South (covering the 86) instead of World s End. No change 49 NXWM Solihull to Rubery extended to Northfield and Weoley Castle. Buses every 20 mins daytime & every 30 mins evenings between Weoley Castle and Solihull and every 10 mins day time Cotteridge to Solihull. The 49 will be the link from Holly Hill Road & Allens Cross to Northfield. 61 NXWM From Northfield via Frankley Beeches Road, Boleyn Road & Ormond Road to Arden Road, every 8-10 mins most of the day & every 15 mins Sundays 62 NXWM Renumbered X62 & extended from Rednal via Leach Green Lane through Rubery, terminating at Great Park. Limited stop between Northfield & city centre (Town Hall). 63 NXWM Follows current route from city centre to Callowbrook Lane then New Inns Lane, Boleyn Road and Ormond Road to present terminus. 8-10 min frequency most of the day & every 15 mins Sundays. 69/69A NXWM Kings Heath to Maypole replaced by 27. Maypole to Wythall covered by the 175/7/8/9 (Mon-Sat daytime). 76 NXWM No change 84 NXWM Revised route round Hawkesley estate with hourly frequency. Serves QEH. 86 Diamond South Woodgate to Weoley Castle covered by 39A. 143/144 First No change 202/204 Diamond No change 443/445 Diamond No change 448/448A NXWM Extended from QEH via 20 route to Weoley Castle & 21 route to Bartley Green. 636 NXWM Extended to city centre (markets) via Wheeleys Lane, Bath Row & Holloway Circus every 20 mins. Diverted in Welsh House Farm via Blandford Road. Runs via 20 route Halesowen via QEH to city. Daytime Sunday service introduced. 647 Choice Travel Route extended from Moor Pool to & from Five Ways via 10 route. West Bham DL leaflet.indd 4-6 21/06/2010 12:50
West & South Birmingham Network Review Communications Plan: Exhibitions & Support Staff Exhibitions are to be held at Birmingham, Weoley Castle, Harborne, Woodgate, Quinton, Frankley, Northfield and Queen Elizabeth Hospital between 13-24 July. The new timetables will be available and exhibitions will be staffed and staff briefed ahead of distributing route specific leaflets on buses. Additionally Centro Customer Relations and travel shop staff will also be briefed to the changes. Leaflet A leaflet with a detailed summary of the bus service changes will be distributed to thousands of homes in West and South Birmingham. Leaflets will also be available on buses, at relevant travel centres and other selected outlets. Route specific leaflets for Frankley, Weoley Castle and Welsh House Farm will be distributed by Centro TIS staff. Posters Posters will be sent to key public places telling people about the changes and exhibitions, and will include a link to the Network West Midlands website for downloadable timetable information and other service and exhibition details. Posters will also be up at relevant bus stations, interchanges, rail stations and information points. On Bus Information Bus operators have agreed to display posters and public information notices on buses, advising people of the new bus network changes and planned exhibitions. Contact telephone numbers will also be made available for further details. Maps There will be new detailed map diagrams of the revised bus network produced and on display at key interchange points. Website People can click on the special Network West Midlands webpage www.networkwestmidlands.com/busreview to see a copy of the leaflet, details of the exhibitions, and, once available, copies of the new timetables. There will also be links to partner websites (e.g. Birmingham City Council, National Express West Midlands). E-mail When we undertook consultation and market research people were given the chance to leave their e-mail address to receive details of the changes and a link to the website for full details. Timetables There will be new printed bus timetable leaflets that will include a map of each route in the review area. They will combine routes operating in the same area and all operators details. They will be on the website and available at the staffed exhibitions. At-stop Notices Information and flags at stops and shelters will be updated prior to 25 July. To ensure people are aware that their stop information and flag is changing a notice will be put up in the shelter/stop to tell people about the review and give details of where they can get more information. Media The review changes, exhibitions and leaflet availability will be supported by media activity in the form of press releases. These press releases intend to generate follow-up interest from the media recipients.
10 10H 647 19 22 23 24 27 29 39 39A 49 49A 61 63 West and South Birmingham Network Review 25th July 2010 X62 X64 76 Timetables 84 142 143 144 175 177 178 179 443 445 446 444 447 448 449 636
West & South Birmingham Bus Network Review Summary of Councillor Queries and Response Document March - July 2010. Ref Councillor Ward Query / Comment No Partnership Response 1 All Cllrs Quinton Changing bus numbers causes confusion. As part of this West Birmingham Bus Network Review we have not re-numbered any existing services, except new limited stop service X62 (old service number 62) 2 All Cllrs Quinton The current terminus arrangements for 103 are not ideal for passengers due to the relatively long one-way loop - National Express West Midlands (NXWM) would like this to be addressed through the review. Concern expressed by Cllrs that running buses two way on roads already in poor condition would cause more severe deterioration of the road surface. Consideration to two way bus operation on Simmonds Road was investigated as part of this review but due to highway issues has remained to its current service route. 3 All Cllrs Quinton Cllrs were interested in the future of the service 10 - it is currently understood that this route would continue to operate commercially as peak hour patronage was good. 4 All Cllrs Quinton Loss 004 was of some concern although covered by either 103 or 636, some direct links now required interchange - NXWM were considering possibilities for how those links could be provided but were extremely unlikely to operate a service exactly replicating the old 004. 5 All Cllrs Quinton A new Netto supermarket is due to be built in Quinton and Cllrs felt there would be local demand for a link to this when open - could 103 be extended? Service 10 s existing peak hour service remains unchanged, daytime journeys are diverted to Harborne High Street. Centro has provided a 647 diversion via Augustus Road to retain bus links. Consideration was given to reinstatement of the 004, however we are now investigating capacity improvements on the 636 The 636 service provides this link via Quinton. 6 All Cllrs Quinton Cllrs would like to see a shelter at the stop at the Court Oak Pub Centro surveys had previously concluded that a shelter could not be justified here on the basis of low passenger numbers. Page 1 of 5
Ref No Councillor Ward Query / Comment 7 All Cllrs Quinton Cllrs were concerned about poor access to Quinton Business Park by public transport - Centro had discussed with Central Connect the possibility of extending service 10 but they were only willing to do this if it was subsidised. There is a shuttle bus available for use by only one company as they pay for it - the best solution could well be to get all businesses on the park to jointly fund some sort of shuttle bus service. It is unlikely that the bus network review will address the issue of bus service provision to the business park. 8 All Cllrs Quinton Cllrs were concerned about the proximity of the bus stop at Worlds End School (adjacent to Overdale Road) to the school entrance. 9 Deirdre Alden 10 Deirdre Alden 11 Deirdre Alden 12 Vivienne Barton Edgbaston Edgbaston Edgbaston Bartley Green Bus access within the QE hospital is a key issue - Cllr Alden questioned how such a development can get planning approval without appropriate provision for buses. Cllr Alden would like to see either a shelter or seating if required at the 103 bus stop near Selfridges. Cllr Alden raised the issue of the 448 changing to 84 on Vincent Drive - passengers being made to get off and pay again to travel one or two stops further was a concern. Maps in pack (handed out as part of review process) are not clear/helpful. 13 Vivienne Barton Bartley Green Buses drive on grass verges in Bartley Green (and Quinton). 14 Len Clark Quinton Opposed to renumbering, 7million spent on Network West Midlands and now we re changing it! Some changes appear for the sake of it though accepts the need for the review as a whole. Partnership Response Discussions are in progress with regards to accessibility improvements to Quinton Business Park. Travelwise initiative underway with a number of businesses. Further audit works will be conducted to investigate and confirm all health & safety compliance and any associated highway improvement measures. Services 448 and 636 have been improved and routes extended to provide better links to the QE Hospital. This bus stopping location houses several location constraints preventing the implementation of a shelter provision. As part of this review services 84 and 448 are no longer operationally linked together. The 448 is extended form the QE Hospital to Weoley Castle and Bartley Green, reducing the need for people to change between these two services. These issues have since been addressed and improved mapping formats and information has been implemented throughout this network review process. This has been identified and raised with the associated bus operators. As part of the Network West Midlands funding mechanisms all network service information changes are recharged to the associated bus operators. Network West Midlands also aims to make bus services easier to understand for passengers and by grouping service numbers along similar routes makes them more easily recognisable. Page 2 of 5
Ref No Councillor Ward Query / Comment 15 Bruce Bartley Would like to see improved access from Bartley Green Ward to Lines Green Longbridge, the Black Country and Bromsgrove. The review should have started with the City Centre then worked outwards. 16 Jane James Quinton Concerned about larger bus in Welsh House Farm Estate, roads not suitable. Why not just run more buses? 17 Barton Longbridge Cllr Barton queried the numbers of passengers using the 20 to travel to QEH. 18 Barton, Cruise Longbridge There was some concern regarding rest facilities for drivers at Great Park terminus. An arrangement with Greens fitness centre had been in place. 19 Cruise Longbridge Cllr Cruise asked if it would be possible to improve the facilities at the Arden Road terminus including shelter and perhaps toilet facilities. 20 All Cllrs Quinton 636 is a very important route due to low car ownership along much of the route and Cllrs would not like to see this service lost. Parking on-street causes problems for buses but Police have been reluctant to get involved. If parking were restricted then off-street facilities would need to be provided. NXWM would like to run larger buses on 636 as at times the service is oversubscribed and people are left behind - Cllrs not aware of this as a problem. NXWM would also like a revised 636 to provide a direct service to City Centre but could only do this if a larger bus was used. A number of alternative options were discussed though some would still require parking restrictions on junctions. On balance, Cllrs did not feel that the benefits of a larger bus / link to City Centre outweighed the dis-benefits of changing the route through the estate. Partnership Response The City Centre review area has been treated as a separate piece of work which runs parallel to the current and planned Network Reviews. Discussions are ongoing with operators with a view to implement changes for this area at a later date. Buses currently running on the estate are often full leading to passengers being left behind slightly larger vehicles would help to satisfy this demand. A number of route tests and bus trials have been successfully completed as a result the bus vehicles in the route in the estate will be larger. National Express West Midlands have confirmed patronage levels were reasonably low and do not justify the retention of a direct link however the new route proposed as part of this review provides interchange links within this area. National Express have confirmed that this is now in place and measures have been taken to ensure that this protocol is used. Centro will evaluate usage of the new routes implemented as part of this review and will implement a shelter if findings of this evaluation are justified. The 636 will be reinstained and improvements made to periods of operation. Centro, BCC and National Express are currently working together to find a solution with regards to highway parking restrictions. Page 3 of 5
Ref Councillor Ward Query / Comment No Partnership Response 21 Deirdre Alden Edgbaston Cllr Alden would not like to see service 10 lost. This service is not to be withdrawn as part of this network review. However daytime journeys will be rerouted via Harborne High Street. 22 Deirdre Alden Edgbaston 23 Deirdre Alden 24 Deirdre Alden Edgbaston Edgbaston In the context of discussions around services 21 and 29, Cllr Alden expressed that any changes should not leave gaps in service provision through Edgbaston Constituency e.g. services should not use Bristol Road at expense of frequency via Harborne. The loss of a bus service from Wheeleys Road would not be acceptable. The loss of the link to Merry Hill from some parts of the Constituency previously provided by service 004 was an issue of local concern. This had also resulted in overcrowding on the 636 route on some sections. A meeting between Centro, NXWM and Quinton Councillors had taken place already where the issue of the 636 in Welsh House Farm estate had been discussed; There was a possibility of a new route from Quinton via Welsh House Farm and the Hospital to City (which would probably cover Wheeleys Road) though the exact route still needed to be identified Cllr Alden felt that this was a good idea in principle. Links across the constituency currently provided by the service 21 will be provided by the revised service 448, service 29 will also be revised between Weoley Castle and Northfield so passengers will see an increase in service frequencies. Wheeleys road will see an increase in service provision, with enhancements to service 636, including additional evening and Sunday services. Slightly larger vehicles will be provided as part of the 636 service improvements to assist in minimising overcrowding. The service will also provide interchange provision from Halesowen Bus Station to Merry Hill. 25 Cruise Longbridge Cllr Cruise asked if there was a trial period for the review. The review partners will be monitoring bus services in West Birmingham after the changes take place but intend to keep services the same for at least 12 months to allow them time to be in and for people to get used to them. 26 Barton Longbridge Cllr Barton asked whether it was possible to run buses along Leech Green Lane. 27 Cruise Longbridge Cllr Cruise raised the issue of integration of services on Bristol Road from Longbridge interchanging with services at Selly Oak serving QEH. The new limited stop service X62 will provide a bus service along Leech Green lane providing improved links to the City Centre. Currently further options are to be investigated; however for this review the interchange points will stay the same for connection form Longbridge via Selly oak to the QE hospital. Page 4 of 5
Ref No Councillor Ward Query / Comment 28 Freeman Weoley Cllr Freeman asked about the 29 and whether double deckers would be introduced on Black Haynes Road and Swarthmore Road. 29 Osborn Weoley Cllr Douglas Osborn asked that information be provided of the changes via email. 30 Freeman, Osborn Weoley Both Cllrs suggested it was important to emphasise the improvements to services from Weoley Castle Square towards the city centre. 31 Osborn Weoley Cllr Douglas Osborn asked what services would serve the RSPCA site on Barnes Hill, where proposals exist for a Supermarket development 32 Freeman Weoley Cllr Freeman asked whether 63 would serve the college on Longbridge Lane Partnership Response National Express West Midlands have confirmed that the service would be run by single deckers due to overhanging trees and low telephone cables. Centro will provide all members an after pack explaining in detail the network changes. In addition to this pack a number of information exhibitions will take place prior to the Network change date of the 25th July. All information will also be posted on www.networkwestmidlands.com. Centro in partnership with National Express have produced bespoke area leaflets for distribution in Weoley Castle about changes to bus services in the area. As part of this review the Barnes Hill area will be served by the 29, 29A and 39 routes. This will serve the college and service 63 is to increase in service frequency. Page 5 of 5
Contacts For further details please contact: Centro Centro Customer Relations: 0121 214 7214 Email: customerrelations@centro.org.uk Please check our website: www.networkwestmidlands.com/busreview Guy Craddock Area Manager Transport Operations Centro Email guycraddock@centro.org.uk