West Midland bus matters

14 April 2010

A day long tour of parts of the West Midlands with our bus passenger manager for the West and East Midlands, Paul Fullwood.

Quick look at the issues facing bus passengers in central Birmingham, bus access is quite difficult in the city centre. National Express West Midlands X51 to Walsall – nice bus, fast. Walsall bus station crowded with buses, tricky access and cold for passengers! Black Diamond 401e to West Bromwich – good, well used. West Bromwich bus station good – well used, clean and lots of staff around. MCT 200 services around Smethwick and then a failed attempt to get a Sunny Travel 120 back to city centre. Jumped on National Express instead.

Digbeth coach station last stop. Nice modern station. Starbucks, lots of staff, bright – rail stations should look and feel like this!

Overall, good impression. Lots of information, buses generally clean and on time. Issues? Timekeeping in the peak, parking in bus lanes causes problems and I wonder what the system is like after dark.