Bus services saved by funding injection
Bus services which were under threat in the Black Country have been saved, it was announced today.
Bus services which were under threat in the Black Country have been saved, it was announced today.
Services in Bilston, Coseley, Sedgley and Tipton had been faced with the axe but transport authority Centro has stepped in to offer a taxpayer-funded subsidy.
The 546 and Monday to Saturday daytime services on the 545 route, linking Wolverhampton and Dudley via the towns, both run by National Express West Midlands, were to be withdrawn because they were losing money.
But Centro has arranged to replace the services with the new 225 and 229 services which will be operated under subsidy from Centro by the Diamond Bus Company.
The 229 will run every half an hour between Bilston and Sedgley along the old 545 and 546 route, and will have a diversion into Coseley promising passengers better links to the local shops.
The 245 will operate hourly between Sedgley and Dudley via Tipton along the 545 route to complement the existing 224 service.
The timetable of the 245 will be improved so that the 245 and the 224 run at regular intervals along the common section of the route.
It will mean passengers will no longer face a long wait between buses, unlike at present when the two hourly services come close together.
Councillor Jon Hunt, lead member for bus and highways at Centro, said: "If a bus company needs to withdraw a service, we have the tools we need to work together to ensure that replacements can be provided.
"This is the perfect example of how this pioneering vision works - by not only saving these services for local residents but also taking the opportunity to improve the timetables and provide better links to local shops."
The section of the 546 around Northway will not be replaced as the 541 and 541A already provide a regular service for residents along the same roads as the 546.
The new services will come into effect from July 19.
There will be no change to the 545 evening and Sunday services or any of the 544 operated by National Express West Midlands, or the 545 run by Banga Buses.
