Agenda Item 4
Report to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services
12 October 2012
Report to the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Economy
15 October 2012
Sandwell Voluntary Multilateral Agreement for the Provision of Enhanced Bus and Passenger Services (Cabinet Forward Plan Ref. No. JE092)
1. Summary Statement
1.1 Centro, in partnership with local bus operators and the Council, have been undertaking a network review of bus services from March 2012. Details of the review were reported to the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Economy on 11 June 2012 (Decision No. 24/12 refers). A comprehensive public consultation exercise took place in summer 2012 with various comments and recommendations being received, which fed into the design of a new, modernised network. Proposed service changes are listed in Appendix 1.
1.2 Service changes coming out of the review process were publicised during October 2012. This was carried out through a mass marketing campaign, various media sources, and events across the borough, ahead of the launch date on 28th October.
1.3 During initial stages of the review process, a Voluntary Multilateral Agreement (VMA) approach was agreed and adopted between Centro, various bus operators, and the Council, for the provision of enhanced bus and passenger services, aspiring to achieve an increase in customer satisfaction with bus services, bus patronage growth and modal shift towards buses.
1.4 It is worth noting that every operator who runs both commercial and tendered services in the Sandwell area was invited to enter into the VMA, but several operators who run commercial services declined to do so. The VMA does not stop these operators running services on routes, or operators who may wish to register new commercial services. Centro are keen to see such operators participating in the VMA in the future, in particular those who share the aspirations set out in 1.3. IL0 - Unclassified
1.5 The major targets of the VMA are to be phased over a three year period and focus on increasing customer satisfaction, bus patronage and reliability and punctuality, carried out through bi-annual customer satisfaction surveys, a Joint Data Sharing Agreement between operators and Centro, and patronage/reliability monitoring:-
an increase in customer satisfaction from the 2012 baseline of 72% by 4% per year across the whole Partnership area to reach over 80% satisfaction by 2014-2015 growth in patronage across the whole Partnership area by 2014-2015 from the 2012 baseline; monitoring of service reliability and punctuality on ten key services (80, 87, 89, 120, 127, 311, 404, 410, 428, and 450). Operators will share patronage information quarterly with Centro for assessment of patronage growth or decline on the network over each 12 month period, to help identify areas for improvement and strengths/weaknesses of the service; various other targets have also been agreed and are listed under Item 7.6 below.
1.6 Measures to promote the VMA objectives include developing a new “Oyster” style Smartcard, enhancing the availability of RTI by installing displays at a further 40 locations, on-service cleaning trials for selected bus services at West Bromwich bus station, and development of a single joint customer charter. These are listed under item 7.7 below.
1.7 The VMA also sets out measures for the Council to:-
continue to liaise with operators to implement improvements on the highway network; to consider further schemes and priorities for Kassel kerb and hard- standing facilities where identified as part of an audit process to be carried out on the key routes by Centro during 2013; work with Centro and the bus operators to identify and address as appropriate through enforcement measures locations where bus services are delayed as a result of illegal parking; consult and liaise as early as possible with bus operators and Centro on those routes where bus services are directly affected to allow appropriate diversion or other measures to be agreed.
IL0 - Unclassified
Any proposed amendment to traffic regulation or proposed scheme on the public highway will be subject to public consultation. Objections will be received and considered by the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services with four possible outcomes:-
approval; approval with modifications; revised design with further consultation; rejection of the proposal.
1.8 The Sandwell VMA will come into effect on 28 October 2012 and will continue for a period of three years until 28 October 2015 unless otherwise terminated, replaced or extended. The VMA shall be reviewed by all parties after twelve months of its commencement. If any party decides to terminate its participation in the VMA, it is entitled to do so on giving at least three months prior notice to the other parties.
Further details are attached for your information.
2. Recommendations
2.1 That the changes to bus services as a result of the Sandwell Bus Network Review be noted.
2.2 That the objectives, targets and measures within the Sandwell Voluntary Multilateral Agreement (VMA) be approved and signed on behalf of the Council by the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Economy at a launch ceremony on 24 October 2012.
2.3 That Sandwell officers work with Centro and the operators to ensure that targets in the Voluntary Multilateral Agreement (VMA) are met, and report back on performance against VMA objectives in 12 months time.
IL0 - Unclassified
In accordance with the authority delegated to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, the following course of action has been agreed, which will be set out in the formal record of the decisions taken by the Member:
(1) the recommendation(s) 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 above is/are approved.
(2) the recommendation(s) 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 above is/are approved as now amended.
(3) the recommendations 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 above are not approved.
______Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services
12th October 2012
In accordance with the authority delegated to the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Economy, the following course of action has been agreed, which will be set out in the formal record of the decisions taken by the Member:
(1) the recommendation(s) 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 above is/are approved.
(2) the recommendation(s) 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 above is/are approved as now amended.
(3) the recommendations 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 above are not approved.
______Cabinet Member for Jobs and Economy
15th October 2012
Nick Bubalo Area Director - Regeneration and Economy
Contact Officer Richard White Transportation Officer 0121 569 4894
IL0 - Unclassified
3. Strategic Resource Implications
3.1 Several measures in the VMA, especially those listed in 1.7 above, are the responsibility for Sandwell Council to implement. Centro are carrying out an audit on Kassel kerb and hard-standing facilities on key routes during 2013, and this could have strategic resource implications for the Council as the Highway Authority.
4. Risk Implications of the Proposal
4.1 The Corporate Risk Management Strategy (CRMS) has been complied with to identify and assess the significant risks associated with this decision. This includes (but is not limited to) political, legislation, financial, environmental and reputation risks.
4.2 Based on the information provided, it is the officers’ opinion that for the significant risks that have been identified, arrangements are in place to manage and mitigate these effectively.
4.3 This assessment has identified there are no current “red” risks that need to be reported.
5. Legal and Statutory Implications
5.1 The Sandwell VMA is a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Centro, the bus operators and Sandwell Council. It is based on provisions in the Local Transport Act 2008, which provides local authorities and transport authorities with a wide range of options to help them meet local peoples transport needs. It seeks to demonstrate the extent to which network modernisation, performance improvement and improved customer satisfaction can be achieved through a Voluntary Partnership Agreement. Public transport supports the Council’s commitment to promoting sustainable travel and accessibility along with the policies contained in both the Black Country Joint Core Strategy and the Local Transport Plan 3. National Express West Midlands have a statutory duty to consult on route changes, mergers, new services and service withdrawals.
6. Implications for the Council’s Scorecard Priorities
6.1 The approval of the Sandwell VMA will contribute towards “Active and Well People”, “A Safe and Clean Place to Live” and the “Educated and Skilled People in Employment” priorities because public transport is important to people in accessing schools, further education, employment, shopping and leisure.
IL0 - Unclassified
7. Background Details
7.1 Centro, in partnership with local bus operators and Sandwell Council, have been undertaking a network review of bus services from March 2012 (see earlier report entitled “Sandwell Bus Network Review”; Cabinet Forward Plan Ref. No. JE075). A comprehensive public consultation exercise took place in summer 2012 with various comments and recommendations being received, which fed into the design of a new, modernised network. The review will conclude in October 2012 with the launching of this new network. Proposed service changes are listed in Appendix 1.
7.2 Service changes coming out of the review process were publicised during September and October 2012. This was carried out through a mass marketing campaign, various media sources, and events across the borough, ahead of the launch date on 28th October.
7.3 During initial stages of the review process, a Voluntary Multilateral Agreement (VMA) approach was agreed and adopted between Centro, various bus operators, and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, for the provision of enhanced bus and passenger services, aspiring to achieve an increase in customer satisfaction with bus services, bus patronage growth and modal shift towards buses.
7.4 It is worth noting that every operator who runs both commercial and tendered services in the Sandwell area was invited to enter into the VMA, but several operators who run commercial services declined to do so. The VMA does not stop these operators running services on routes, or operators who may wish to register new commercial services. Centro are keen to see such operators participating in the VMA in the future, in particular those who share the aspirations set out in 1.3.
7.5 The VMA sets out various obligations for Centro, the Council and the bus operators to improve the journey experience for passengers through a variety of measures and targets. Objectives of the VMA include:
Increasing customer satisfaction, bus patronage and modal shift. Facilitating partnership between the local highway and transportation authorities, Centro and bus operators to improve the bus offer to passengers. Facilitating liaison with adjoining authority areas to enhance the bus offer in the Sandwell area. Meeting Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) / Public Transport Executive Group (PTEG) Position Statements and mutual objectives.
IL0 - Unclassified Meeting targets in the West Midlands Local Transport Plan, Centro’s Public Transport Prospectus, Transforming Bus Travel (TBT), and Environmental Strategy documents. Additional emerging local strategies and policies may be included.
The major targets of the VMA are to be phased over a three year period and focus on increasing customer satisfaction, bus patronage and reliability and punctuality, carried out through bi-annual customer satisfaction surveys, a Joint Data Sharing Agreement between operators and Centro, and patronage/reliability monitoring:
An increase in customer satisfaction from the 2012 baseline of 72% by 4% per year across the whole Partnership area to reach over 80% satisfaction by 2014-2015 Growth in patronage across the whole Partnership area by 2014-2015 from the 2012 baseline. Monitoring of service reliability and punctuality on ten key services (80, 87, 89, 120, 127, 311, 404, 410, 428, and 450). Operators will share patronage information quarterly with Centro for assessment of patronage growth or decline on the network over each 12 month period, to help identify areas for improvement and strengths/weaknesses of the service.
7.6 Various other targets have also been agreed. These include:
100% of newly registered vehicles to be used in the Sandwell area to meet Euro 5 emission standards. Achieve 100% of each operator’s fleet on the network as being compliant with Euro 3 emission standards by July 2015. Operators will maintain a low floor network across the Sandwell area by the agreed date of October 2012, ahead of the legally required date of 2015. Each Operator will advise Centro their objective for percentage of fleet that can be Real Time Information (RTI) enabled by July 2014. Operators will maintain a target of 95% of RTI-enabled vehicles reporting to the system for vehicles in operation at all times. If performance falls below target then Centro will produce a proposal for achieving partnership performance levels to be implemented on those displays. Operators will ensure that 100% of each operator’s fleet on the network to be fitted with electronic journey information blinds by July 2015. Each operator will advise Centro of their objectives for the percentage of their fleet fitted with CCTV by July 2015.
IL0 - Unclassified Each operator will submit a report to the Safer Travel Police Team (STPT) outlining all relevant incidents within 24 hours of their being known to the operator. Operators will ensure that any vehicles that have offensive graffiti damage will have the graffiti removed within 48 hours both internally and externally, including window etching. Operators will ensure that a minimum of 60% of drivers will be trained to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level II standards in customer care and disability awareness in line with the same standard requirements for Centro subsidised services (unless superseded by Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training).
7.7 Measures to promote the VMA objectives are as follows:
Centro will work with major employers to encourage bus use as part of green travel plans, workplace travel plans, University Travel Plans and similar initiatives. Operators will work with Centro to develop a new “Oyster” style Smartcard, to enable new commercial multi-operator ticketing. Centro will enhance the availability of RTI by installing displays at a further 40 locations along the line of the services outlined above in the Sandwell area by July 2014. Up to 40 buses will be installed with On Vehicle Displays and speakers to allow next stop audio and visual announcements, in line with the government backed Talking Buses scheme. This proposal will allow the biggest increase in talking buses within the West Midlands area and significantly improve passenger information. All vehicles to be cleaned prior to entry into daily service both internally and externally (externally subject to health and safety risks associated with low temperatures). The Operators agree to consider establishing, in co-operation with Centro, a litter removal service for the routes at agreed locations such as terminal points. Introduction of an on-service cleaning trial for selected bus services at West Bromwich bus station following the successful pilot in Wolverhampton. The Operators will work together with Centro and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to develop a single joint customer charter. Centro will produce local “spider maps” of various local centres to assist passengers with finding the right service to take. Operators will provide Centro with registration information to enable Centro to produce joint partnership timetables for each service within the Sandwell area. Operators will investigate the benefits of working towards a maximum number of six network stability date changes per year from the current 10 by 2013. IL0 - Unclassified Centro will agree to a range of shelter improvements on the key routes identified and implement Real Time Information within the shelters where the opportunity exists. Install new bus stop infrastructure at a minimum of 40 bus stop locations along the eight strategic routes. 25 bus stops along the strategic routes will be installed with Real Time Passenger Information. The stops will be those with the highest volume of passengers and potential for patronage growth.
7.8 The VMA also sets out measures for Sandwell Council to:
Continue to liaise with operators to implement improvements on the highway network with the aim of making journey time savings and improvements to reliability through measures such as traffic regulation orders, traffic management, parking enforcement etc. Consider further schemes and priorities for Kassel kerb and hard- standing facilities where identified as part of an audit process to be carried out on the key routes by Centro during 2013. Work with Centro and the bus operators to identify and address as appropriate through enforcement measures locations where bus services are delayed as a result of illegal parking. Consult and liaise as early as possible with bus operators and Centro on those routes where bus services are directly affected to allow appropriate diversion or other measures to be agreed. Any measures involving highway work/interventions will be subject to the approval of the Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and Economy. Using a mobile enforcement vehicle shared between local districts, to enforce offences covered by decriminalised parking regulations. This vehicle is being purchased by Walsall Council using money from Red Routes Package 1 Major Scheme funding. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding drawn up between authorities, there is the opportunity to use this vehicle to enforce the bus priority measures included in the Red Routes project.
Any proposed amendment to traffic regulation or proposed scheme on the public highway will be subject to public consultation. Objections will be received and considered by the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services with four possible outcomes:
Approval, Approval with modifications, Revised design with further consultation, Rejection of the proposal
IL0 - Unclassified 7.9 Centro, the Operators and Sandwell Council will work together to implement the improvements set out in the VMA in a coordinated manner. The Partnership Agreement will come into effect on 28 October 2012 and will continue for a period of three years until 28 October 2015 unless otherwise terminated, replaced or extended. The VMA shall be reviewed by all parties after twelve months of its commencement and at any time by Agreement of all partners during the lifetime of this Agreement, from its commencement in October 2012. If any party decides to terminate its participation in the VMA, it shall be entitled to do so on giving at least three months prior notice to the other parties.
Risks arising in the event that the report recommendations are not implemented
7.10 Sandwell Council is a key stakeholder in the Sandwell Bus Network Review, as well as the West Midlands Local Transport Plan, Centro’s Public Transport Prospectus and Transforming Bus Travel (TBT), and therefore the risk of Sandwell Council not entering into the Sandwell Voluntary Multilateral Agreement could be to a detrimental effect on increasing customer satisfaction, bus patronage and modal shift, facilitating partnership between the local highway and transportation authorities, Centro and bus operators to improve the bus offer to passengers. It could result in a breakdown in the ability to facilitate liaison with bus operators, Centro and adjoining authority areas to enhance the bus offer in the Sandwell area, and meeting Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) / Public Transport Executive Group (PTEG) Position Statements and mutual objectives. Most of all, opportunities to meet targets in the West Midlands Local Transport Plan, Centro’s Public Transport Prospectus, Transforming Bus Travel (TBT), and Environmental Strategy documents could be missed. It could result in issues such as access to employment, leisure facilities, housing and healthcare not being addressed. This could have a detrimental effect on social inclusion, as it could be more difficult to access employment, education and healthcare. A decent public transport network provides a vital public service, linking people to services, shops, friends and family. Public transport provides vital support to social inclusion and reduced services create a knock-on negative impact for local economies, for society and for the environment.
IL0 - Unclassified
Appendix 1 : Service Changes in the Sandwell Area from 28th October 2012
Key for operators – ARR = Arriva Midlands, BDIA = Blue Diamond, CEN = Central Buses, DIA = Diamond HAN = Hansons, NXWM = National Express West Midlands
T = Tendered service funded by Centro, t = Tendered service partly funded by Centro. Operators as listed:
Number Route Operator(s) Change X1 Wolverhampton to Merry Hill NXWM New express service. via Dudley and Sedgley 4 Walsall to Blackheath via NXWM/DIA Renumbered from West Bromwich and Oldbury 404/404A/404H/417. 4H Walsall to Halesowen/Hayley No change to route. 4M Green via West Bromwich, extends to Merry Hill Oldbury and Blackheath every day and 4H 4M Walsall to Merry Hill via West extends Mon - Sat to Bromwich, Oldbury, Halesowen. Gives Blackheath and Cradley improved links to Merry Heath Hill, Halesowen and Rowley Regis Hospital. Co-ordinated timetable where possible between operators. 5 Sutton Coldfield to West NXWM Renumbered from 451. Bromwich via Scott Arms Extra Saturday journeys and higher frequency at peak times. 9 Birmingham to Stourbridge NXWM Minor evening timetable via Quinton change to co-ordinate with 140 and 141. 19 West Bromwich to Oldbury CEN T Renumbered from 419 via Great Bridge (day) and to and 459. Gives a new Great Bridge (eves) daytime link to West Bromwich and extended timetable. 20 Oldbury to Bearwood via ARR T Replaces parts of Whiteheath, Brandhall and 200/201 route in Warley Brandhall. New link for Oldbury for parts of Warley and new link to Bearwood for Whiteheath. 21 Oldbury to Bearwood via ARR T Replaces 200/201 route Londonderry between Oldbury and Bearwood through Londonderry. 22 Wolverhampton to Princes T No change. End via Parkfields and Coseley
IL0 - Unclassified Number Route Operator(s) Change 23 Wednesbury to Portobello via T No change. Bilston and Stowlawn 24 Foxyards Estate to Merry Hill T Renumbered from 224. via Dudley and Cradley Heath 30 West Bromwich to Great T Renumbered from 430 Bridge and extended to Great Bridge via Dunkirk Avenue. 38 Walsall to Wednesbury via NXWM No change. Darlaston 40 West Bromwich to NXWM/DIA/T Renumbered from 410. Wednesbury via Stone Cross NXWM – extra Sunday morning journeys and minor timetable changes. 41 West Bromwich to Friar Park NXWM t Renumbered from 414. via Stone cross Minor timetable changes. 42 West Bromwich to Tipton Rail NXWM/DIA t Renumbered from Station/Dudley 402/402A. All journeys will be numbered 42. Route extended to serve either Tipton Rail Station or Dudley. Joint operator co-ordinated timetable. 43 West Bromwich to Bilston via NXWM/DIA t Renumbered from 401. Princes End Joint operator co- ordinated timetable. 44 West Bromwich to Tipton NXWM (day) t Renumbered from 644. T (eves/Sun) 45 Walsall to West Bromwich via NXWM Renumbered from 405. Bescot, Stone Cross Minor timetable changes. 45 Darlaston to Woods Estate DIA T Renumbered to 65. See (Kent Road) via Wednesbury 65 46 Scott Arms to West NXWM t Renumbered from 406. Bromwich/Londonderry via Extended every half hour Hamstead Village to Londonderry giving new links to Scott Arms and Sandwell General Hospital. 47/47A West Bromwich to NXWM Renumbered from Wednesbury 428/429 and replaces 478 between West Bromwich and Wednesbury with improved evening and Sunday service. 48 Bartley Green to West NXWM t Renumbered from 448, Bromwich via University, 448A/B. All journeys after Bearwood and Smethwick 09.30 will serve Barnes Hill, Bingo Club. 49 West Bromwich to Bearwood NXWM t Renumbered from 449 and extended to Bearwood. New links to Bearwood for Rood End/ Causeway Green. Increased frequency for some roads and new evening and Sunday service. IL0 - Unclassified Number Route Operator(s) Change 53 West Bromwich to Merry Hill NXWM t Renumbered from 450 via Bearwood, Londonderry and extended to Merry and Blackheath Hill to give new links for Hawthorns, Smethwick and Londonderry with evening and Sunday service between West Bromwich and Bearwood. Replaces 123 between Bearwood and Merry Hill and 478 between West Bromwich and Bearwood (evenings and Sundays). 54/54a Quinton to West Bromwich T Renumbered from 445 via Europa Village, and extended to West Smethwick and Brandhall Bromwich giving new links for Europa Village and increased frequency. Mon-Sat daytime services operate via The Oval. Evenings and Sunday service (54a) serves Norman Road. Gives new links to West Bromwich for parts of Warley. 56 Brandhall to Cape Hill via DIA T Renumbered from 446. Londonderry, Smethwick Slight change of route to serve Bristnall Hall Lane. 61 Perry Barr to Bearwood via CEN T Renumbered from 616 Handsworth and extended to Bearwood to cover 123. 64 West Bromwich to T Renumbered from 640. Wednesbury via Hill Top. New links for current 640 passengers to Wednesbury. Europa Village now served by 54. 65 Darlaston to Woods Estate DIA T Renumbered from 45. (Kent Road) via Wednesbury 66 Stone Cross to West ARR T Renumbered from 646. Bromwich via Wigmore Farm 67 Wednesbury to Yew Tree T Renumbered from 679. Estate via Friar Park 74 Birmingham to Dudley via NXWM Earlier Sunday journeys. West Bromwich, Great Bridge 74A Dudley to West Bromwich via CEN T 74A extended to West Greets Green and Great Bromwich replacing part Bridge of 431 service. Gives improved links. 75 Birmingham to Wednesbury NXWM Minor timetable changes. via West Bromwich 79 Wolverhampton to West NXWM No change. Bromwich via Wednesbury 80 Birmingham to West NXWM Minor timetable changes. Bromwich via Smethwick
IL0 - Unclassified Number Route Operator(s) Change 81 Birmingham to Brandhall via T 81 replaced by 54a Warley (evenings and between Brandhall and Sundays) Smethwick and 83 between Smethwick and Birmingham. 82 Bearwood to Birmingham via NXWM No change. City Hospital 83 West Bromwich to City NXWM t New service to City Hospital and Birmingham via Hospital from West Smethwick Bromwich. Replaces parts of 444, 478 and 81. More buses from Dudley Road to Birmingham 87 Birmingham to Dudley via NXWM No change. Smethwick and Oldbury 89 Birmingham to Blackheath via NXWM Extended from Oldbury to Oldbury and Londonderry Blackheath via 128 route. Gives new links to City Hospital for Lion Farm and Blackheath. 120 Birmingham to Dudley via NXWM Earlier journeys into Five Ways, Bearwood and Birmingham Monday to Oldbury Friday 121 Dudley to West Bromwich via NXWM Renumbered from 688. Oldbury Minor timetable changes. 122 Oldbury to Bearwood via T New service for Langley Langley High Street, Bristnall High Street and Bristnall Fields and Warley Fields. 123 Perry Barr to Merry Hill Replaced by 53 between Centre via Bearwood Bearwood and Merry Hill and 61 between Perry Barr and Bearwood. 124 Cradley Heath to Dudley via HAN No change. Netherton 126 Birmingham to NXWM Following customer Wolverhampton via Bearwood requests service changed and Dudley to serve the Bullring markets in July 2012. 127 Birmingham to Blackheath via NXWM Co-ordinated timetable Brandhall between 127, 128 and 129 gives 10 min frequency from George Road to Birmingham 128 Birmingham to Oldbury via NXWM Terminates at Oldbury, Bearwood 89 replaces Oldbury to Blackheath. Combined with 129 gives improved frequency and links for George Road and Bristnall Hall Road. 129 Bearwood to West Bromwich NXWM New service giving via Londonderry quicker links. Replaces parts of 444 and 447. 140 Birmingham to Dudley via NXWM/T Evening timetable co- Bearwood and Blackheath ordinated with 9 and 141. 141 Birmingham to Merry Hill via NXWM No change. Halesowen
IL0 - Unclassified Number Route Operator(s) Change 200/201 Oldbury to Bearwood Circular Replaced by 20, 21, 49 and 122. 205 Wall Heath to Blackheath via NXWM/DIA T Minor timetable changes. Kingswinford, Dudley and Oakham 208 Dudley to Merry Hill Centre HAN/ARR T No change. via Oakham and Cradley Heath 213/214 Brierley Hill to Fatherless ARR T No change. Barn 217 Halesowen to Merry Hill via ARR T No change. Cradley Heath 224/224A Bilston to Sedgley ARR T Change to route due to Sedgley to Bilston being registered commercially. Foxyards to Cradley Heath section replaced by new service 24. See 24. 226W West Bromwich to Merry Hill DIA t Gives new link for West via Dudley (Sundays only) Bromwich to Merry Hill. 229 Bilston to Dudley via Sedgley NXWM Extended 229 replaces 245 between Sedgley and Dudley, and also evenings and Sunday 545 between Bilston and Dudley. 231 Halesowen to Blackheath via HAN T No change. Olive Lane 238 West Bromwich to Merry Hill Renumbered 289. See Centre via Oldbury and 289. Blackheath 240 Stourbridge to Cradley Heath T No change. via Lye and Colley Gate 241 Dudley to Halesowen via NXWM t No change. Blackheath 243 Dudley to Merry Hill via NXWM t No change. Netherton and Cradley Heath 244 Dudley to Hasbury via NXWM t No change. Netherton and Halesowen 245 Sedgley to Dudley Replaced by 229. See 229. 289 West Bromwich to Merry Hill NXWM Renumbered from 238. Centre via Oldbury and Timings changed to Blackheath improve reliability and co- ordinate with 89 Oldbury to Blackheath. Some earlier and later journeys. 297/297A Stickley to Halesowen via NXWM t Minor timetable changes. Russells Hall Hospital and Merry Hill Centre 311/ 311A Dudley to Walsall via NXWM All 311A journeys will Wednesbury now operate as 313 and follow 313 route. 313 Dudley to Walsall via Princes NXWM More journeys as all End 311A journeys will now operate as 313 and follow 313 route. IL0 - Unclassified Number Route Operator(s) Change 327 Wednesbury to Willenhall via ARR T No change. Darlaston
401 Bilston to West Bromwich via Renumbered 43. See 43. Princes End 402 and West Bromwich to Tipton Rail All journeys renumbered 402/A Station/Dudley 42. See 42. 404/404A/ Walsall to Blackheath/Cradley Renumbered 4, 4M and 404H Heath/Merry Hill 4H. See 4, 4M and 4H. 405 Walsall to West Bromwich via Renumbered 45. See Bescot and Stone Cross 45. 406 West Bromwich to Scott Arms Renumbered 46. See 46. via Hamstead Village 410 West Bromwich to Renumbered 40. See 40. Wednesbury via Stone Cross 414 West Bromwich to Friar Park Renumbered 41. See via Stone cross 41. 417 Hayley Green to West Combined with 404 and Bromwich via Blackheath renumbered 4H. See 4H. 419 West Bromwich to Oldbury Renumbered 19. See 19. via Great Bridge 428/429 West Bromwich to Renumbered 47 and Wednesbury 47A. See 47. 430 West Bromwich to Greets Renumbered 30. See Green 30. 431 West Bromwich to Guns 431 replaced by 74A Village Circular giving enhanced timetable and new links to Dudley for Guns Village. 444 Bearwood to West Bromwich Replaced by 20, 21, 46, 854, 83, 122 and 129. 445 Quinton to Smethwick via Renumbered 54. See 54. Brandhall 446 Brandhall to Cape Hill via Renumbered 56. See Londonderry and Smethwick 56. 447 Bearwood to West Bromwich Replaced by 129 and 48. via Londonderry See 129 and 48. 448/ Bartley Green to West All journeys renumbered 448A/B Bromwich via University, 48. See 48. Bearwood and Smethwick 449 West Bromwich to Bearwood Renumbered 49. See 49. 450 ???? via Londonderry and Renumbered 53. See Blackheath 53. 451 Sutton Coldfield to West Renumbered 5. See 5. Bromwich via Scott Arms 459 Oldbury to Stone Cross via Replaced by 19 and 30. Great Bridge See 19 and 30. 478 Wednesbury to Bearwood via Replaced by 47/47A and West Bromwich 53/83. 545 Wolverhampton to Dudley via ARR T Will terminate at Bilston. Bilston (evenings and Bilston to Dudley section Sundays) replaced by 229. See 229 610 Wednesbury to Dudley via ARR No change. Great Bridge 616 Perry Barr to Booth Street Renumbered 61. See 61. Metro via IL0 - Unclassified Number Route Operator(s) Change 640 West Bromwich to Hill Top Renumbered 64 See 64. 644 West Bromwich to Tipton Renumbered 44. See 44. 646 Stone Cross to West Renumbered to 66. See Bromwich via Wigmore Farm 66. 679 Wednesbury to Yew Tree Renumbered to 67. Estate via Friar Park 688 Dudley to West Bromwich via Renumbered 121. Oldbury
Improvements for customers
The review has led to a number of improvements for people travelling, visiting, living and working in Sandwell including:
Quicker link between Bearwood and West Bromwich via Londonderry (service 129). New link for Langley High Street and Farm Road (service 122) New link to Brandhall for The Oval and Edmonds Road (service 54). New link to Oldbury and Langley Green for Norman Road (service 21/122) New link to City Hospital for West Bromwich - Trinity Road, Glover Street, Kenrick Way and Devonshire Road (service 83). New link to City Hospital from West Bromwich (service 83) and from Lion Farm and Black Heath (service 89) New link to Sandwell Hospital and Scott Arms for Londonderry (service 46). New link to Merry Hill for West Bromwich, Oldbury and Blackheath (service 4M). Also later journeys to Merry Hill on Saturdays. New link to Blackheath for Smethwick, Rood End, Cape Hill and Dudley Road (service 89). New link to Dudley, Burnt Tree and Tipton for Greets Green, St Mark’s Road, Central Avenue and Locarno Avenue (service 42). New link to Dudley and Great Bridge for Claypit Lane, Turner Street and Dartmouth Street (service 74A). New link to West Bromwich for Stanhope Road, Norman Road and Kingsway (service 54). New link to Smethwick and Brandhall for Europa Village with enhanced timetable including evenings and Sundays (service 54). New links to Merry Hill and Cradley Heath for Hawthorns, Smethwick and Londonderry (service 53). New link to Bearwood for Cemetery Road, Rood End Road, Joinings Bank, Causeway Green Road, Grafton Road, Queensway and Brennand Road (service 21 and 49) New link from West Bromwich to Bearwood and Merry Hill (service 53). Improved link to Great Bridge for Albion Road, Clifford Road, Bromford Lane, Lyttleton Street and Gill Street (service 30).
IL0 - Unclassified Joint NXWM and DIA timetable to give even spacing between buses, where possible. (services 4, 42, 43). Improved services for Owen Street, Tipton (service 42). Improved evening and Sunday service between West Bromwich and Wednesbury (services 47/47A). Improved frequency and new evening and Sunday service for Europa Village and Kingsway (service 54). Earlier Sunday journeys between Birmingham and Dudley via West Bromwich and Great Bridge (74/75). New links to Merry Hill for Springfield and Foxyards (service 24). New service for Lawrence Lane (service 24). New express service for Sedgley, Tipton and Dudley to Wolverhampton and Merry Hill (service X1). Extra Sunday morning journeys between West Bromwich and Wednesbury (service 40). Earlier arrivals into Birmingham from Dudley Monday to Friday (service 120). More buses to Birmingham from West Bromwich via Dudley Road (service 83).
Services to Main Hospitals
Detailed below are the bus numbers that serve the main hospitals. Some of them have had their routes changed, some have been extended giving new links and some have extra journeys.
City Hospital City Hospital is served by 80, 82, 83, 87 and 89. Rowley Regis Hospital Rowley Regis Hospital is served by 4M, 24, 208 and 289. Sandwell General Hospital 4, 5, 40, 45, 46, 64 and 66
IL0 - Unclassified