THE NEW extended bus service from Bromsgrove to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, via Rubery, Longbridge and Northfield, gets under way this Sunday, April 16.
The new number 20 replaces service 144A on an hourly frequency Monday to Saturday, meaning buses start earlier and finish later and also run every two hours on a Sunday.
David Bradford, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands which operates the bus, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to continue working with Worcestershire County Council to ensure local communities do not lose their vital bus connections.”
He added the company was committed to making bus travel more affordable and accessible with the £2 adult single and £1 child single tickets extended for another three months.
Price capping when passengers tap their cards also means they will never pay more than £4-a-day, no matter how many NXWM buses they catch.
Coun Mike Rouse, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transport, 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.”
Coun Karen May, Bromsgrove District Council leader, said: “I really welcome the extension of this bus service to include a Sunday service.
“Whilst we recognise 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 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 This new and enhanced service 20 replaces the 144A service which will be withdrawn.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 passengers don’t pay more than they should.
Click here for the Monday to Friday timetable.
Click here for the Sunday service.
Service 20A – Rednal to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, via Longbridge and Northfield
The service 20A still remains in place. Click here for the full timetable on that.
