City bus services face big cuts
A series of devastating cuts to bus services has been announced in Wolverhampton, the Express & Star can today reveal. National Express West Midlands is slashing services on 12 buses in July.
A series of devastating cuts to bus services has been announced in Wolverhampton, the Express & Star can today reveal. National Express West Midlands is slashing services on 12 buses in July.
The move was described as "devastating for the entire community" by critics. Some services will be cut tot two an hour, with areas such as Wednesfield, Bilston, Tettenhall and Fordhouses hardest.The 501 Tettenhall Wood to Wolverhampton service frequency after 6pm will be cut to every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday instead of every twenty minutes now.
The 513 service between Warstones and Wolverhampton, via Merry Hill, is being cut to every 15 minutes on a Saturday instead of 12 minutes, as well as the 535 between Codsall and the city.
People wanting to get from Northwood Park to Wolverhampton on a Saturday on the 532 will find services reduced to one every hour after 6pm, instead of two.
The changes have been heavily criticised by a leading member of the Passenger Transport Authority (PTA), a body made of up 27 councillors which oversees policy.
Councillor Judith Rowley, who represents Blakenhall, said: "The service between Tettenhall Wood and Wolverhampton is every 20 minutes, but it'll be reduced to every 30 minutes.
"That's just one example of the cuts, one of many that will devastate the entire community.
"I am really angry about this, I certainly was not consulted over it.
"People from all walks of life rely on these services to get them around, it really isn't on. It is our communities that will pay for this decision."
A new timetable has been produced by transport body Centro, confirming that the change will apply from July 26.
National Express West Midlands says that the changes are a response to passenger numbers, and have not revealed how much money it will save.
A spokesman for the firm said: "We have informed Centro of the changes and will continue to operate a frequent service."
List of changes to services
* 501 Tettenhall Wood to Wolverhampton: Every 30 minutes rather than eight minutes
* 503 Wolverhampton to Fordhouses: Peak journeys reduced Monday to Friday
* 511 Wolverhampton to Underhill: Every 15 minutes instead of 12 minutes on a Saturday
* 512 Wolverhampton to Penn Fields: Every 15 minutes instead of 12 minutes on a Saturday
* 513 Warstones to Wolverhampton: Every 15 minutes instead of 12 minutes on a Saturday
* 528 Bilston to Wolverhampton: Journeys to Ashmore Park withdrawn off-peak
* 532 Wolverhampton to Northwood Park: Every hour instead of two per hour during evenings
* 533 Wolverhampton to Northwood Park: One every hour after 6pm instead of every 30 minutes
* 535 Codsall to Wolverhampton: Every 15 minutes on Saturdays rather than 12 minutes
* 559 Ashmore Park to Wolverhampton: Every 12 minutes rather than six minutes on a Saturday
* 598 Wolverhampton to Bushbury Hill: Number of Saturday journeys will be reduced
* 126 Birmingham to Wolverhampton: Sunday evening services every 30 minutes instead of 20
