Bus route shake-up planned

Dozens of bus routes in Dudley are to be reviewed and replaced under plans which transport bosses insist will improve and simplify public transport.

Centro, the West Midlands passenger transport authority, is reviewing every bus service in the borough with changes due to come into effect from April 27.

Bosses say the review, which will see routes re-numbered, will cut down on situations such as several buses arriving at the same place within minutes of each other and long gaps between services.

They are keeping the precise details under wraps until they are finalised but have promised that passengers will be kept fully informed.

Residents have hit out at plans by operator Travel West Midlands to axe the 264 and 265 circular bus routes which connect Dudley with the Merry Hill shopping centre.

They are to be replaced by the TWM X96 service, which will give residents in the Woodside area an extra bus an hour, running every 20 minutes instead of every half hour.

The 226 service operated by Hanson's Travel will cover the section between Merry Hill and Dudley via Russells Hall Hospital after an extension to the service from Kingswinford.

Centro's bus and highways director Stephen Rhodes said: "Our research shows us that the existing bus network does not serve the people of Dudley as well as it should.

"The bus routes and times do not tie in with modern working and shopping hours and the network is often confusing and complex with several different bus services running along similar routes without co-ordinating with each other."