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National Express West Midlands to deliver improved bus service for Bromsgrove residents

Posted: 13 April 2023 | | No comments yet

The new and enhanced bus service between Bromsgrove and Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital will provide passengers with enhanced frequency, extended operating hours and affordable ticket options.

National Express West Midlands to deliver improved bus service for Bromsgrove residents

Credit: National Express

National Express West Midlands has announced that it will begin operating an improved seven-days-a-week bus service between Bromsgrove and Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital from 16 April 2023.

The new, extended service 20 replaces service 144A on an hourly frequency, Monday to Saturday, between Bromsgrove bus station and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham via Rubery, Longbridge and Northfield.

The enhanced service means that passengers can benefit from buses that start earlier and finish later, with services now also running every two hours on a Sunday.

Councillor Mike Rouse, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways & Transport at Worcestershire County Council, said: “My mission to secure and enhance bus services for Worcestershire is making good progress with the extension of this service, running on a Sunday, and improved regularity. These are the things people who use this service asked us for, and we listened to them before retendering the service. Whilst I know some people will be anxious about the change to the number on the front of the bus, it is important we focus on the service and the benefits to passengers both in Worcestershire and in Birmingham first and foremost.”

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“We’re really pleased to be able to continue working with Worcestershire County Council to ensure that local communities do not lose their vital bus connections,” said David Bradford, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands. “We hope that new and existing customers will take advantage of our new 20 service and great value tickets to ensure that the service goes from strength to strength.”

Councillor Karen May, Leader of Bromsgrove District Council, said: “Whilst we recognise that some residents will be disappointed at the allocated number; this service will enable more of our residents to connect with the facilities and services in Birmingham, whilst living in the lovely District of Bromsgrove.”

In May 2022, National Express West Midlands had worked with Worcestershire County Council to quickly mobilise a new 144A service, providing Bromsgrove residents with a bus link to Longbridge, where they could change to frequent onward services to and from Birmingham. This new and enhanced service 20 replaces the 144A service, which will be withdrawn.

With tap and cap, National Express West Midlands passengers can make as many bus journeys as they like using the same contactless card or device and the bus operator caps the fare so that passengers do not pay more than they should.