Service Changes July 20th 2025

[karl724223]

in birmingham buses will get stuck on a daily and nothing can be done about it unless u make major changes that will cause major inconvenience. not easy to run a punctual service without extreme overtiming which is bad

good example is coventry rd
60 gets stuck on coventry rd, no real way to fix that but anyone beyond coventry rd can use X1/X2 for a quicker journey to brum.

Joe 90 has promised to sort it all out 

[Jack]

in birmingham buses will get stuck on a daily and nothing can be done about it unless u make major changes that will cause major inconvenience. not easy to run a punctual service without extreme overtiming which is bad

good example is coventry rd
60 gets stuck on coventry rd, no real way to fix that but anyone beyond coventry rd can use X1/X2 for a quicker journey to brum.

The routes concerned aren't exactly 'in Birmingham.' The roads concerned are have steep hills and are long roads.

These are in the Black Country (you should probably sort your geography out). which are ironically all on steep hills. So leave Tower Road and Brookfields Road without a bus at all with a lot of families and elderly who rely on these services that is purely awful.

Least on Salop Road which is another steep hill they've managed to reroute the 54 and keep it connected!

Also the 60 being compared to these services isn't a fair comparison, the 60 is main busy frequent service. The 12's and 13's etc are 2 buses an hour in their parts where they are standalone.

Quite unsure to why core East Brum services have actually been mentioned when they aren't even affected!

[The Transport Youtuber]

The routes concerned aren't exactly 'in Birmingham.' The roads concerned are have steep hills and are long roads.

These are in the Black Country (you should probably sort your geography out). which are ironically all on steep hills. So leave Tower Road and Brookfields Road without a bus at all with a lot of families and elderly who rely on these services that is purely awful.

Least on Salop Road which is another steep hill they've managed to reroute the 54 and keep it connected!

Also the 60 being compared to these services isn't a fair comparison, the 60 is main busy frequent service. The 12's and 13's etc are 2 buses an hour in their parts where they are standalone.

Quite unsure to why core East Brum services have actually been mentioned when they aren't even affected!

was replying to @2206 regarding the delays, as i said in birmingham delays are inevitable, and giving the 60 as a example of what could possibly be done to help, remember service changes often come with timetabke improvements!. i agree with his idea of the 14E possibly. 

just because i didnt quote him doesnt mean i need your disrespctful remark.

[hemmy]

in birmingham buses will get stuck on a daily and nothing can be done about it unless u make major changes that will cause major inconvenience. not easy to run a punctual service without extreme overtiming which is bad

good example is coventry rd
60 gets stuck on coventry rd, no real way to fix that but anyone beyond coventry rd can use X1/X2 for a quicker journey to brum.

The entire road where the X1 & X2 can be a quicker alternative to getting to brum is Coventry Road JSYK

[The Transport Youtuber]

The entire road where the X1 & X2 can be a quicker alternative to getting to brum is Coventry Road JSYK

im talking about the small heath bit where 60 gets stuck

[The Transport Youtuber]

The alternative I can think of that could be done is having a short route terminating at Stechford or Ward End.

And then a longer route via Tile Cross either going via Washwood Heath Road with the 94/95 or taking Bordesley Green with the 97.

split the 14 like they do with the outer circus??
or make a x14 for those in chelmsely wood maybe
97a go along the 14 to stetchford maybe

[Stu]

I'm not too sure that whoever thought it would be a good idea to get rid of the 13 took into consideration the fact that a very long and a pretty steep road in that of Brookfields Rd will no longer be served by a bus service. Depending on where you are, neither the 12 nor the 13* are exactly easily accessible, especially if we're talking elderly people. 

The routes concerned aren't exactly 'in Birmingham.' The roads concerned are have steep hills and are long roads.

These are in the Black Country (you should probably sort your geography out). which are ironically all on steep hills. So leave Tower Road and Brookfields Road without a bus at all with a lot of families and elderly who rely on these services that is purely awful.

Least on Salop Road which is another steep hill they've managed to reroute the 54 and keep it connected!

No one has said that Brookfields Road or Tower Road are being left "without a bus service", because there are clearly going to be changes made to other services, that haven't been announced or detailed yet.

[Steve3229vp]

No one has said that Brookfields Road or Tower Road are being left "without a bus service", because there are clearly going to be changes made to other services, that haven't been announced or detailed yet.

Details now on TfWM site

[Steve3229vp]

From TfWM site (Birmingham Changes)

Service 46/46A – QE Hospital to Kings Heath/Hawkesley via Northfield:
These services will be withdrawn and replaced by alternative services:

• 48 West Bromwich to Hawkesley via QE Hospital & Northfield – this service will be extended to Hawkesley every 20 minutes, following the route of the current between Northfield and Hawkesley.
• X20 Bromsgrove – Birmingham via QE Hospital every 30 minutes
• 27 Rubery, Great Park – Solihull via Northfield, Brandwood End, Kings Heath & Yardley Wood, every 30 minutes, with buses continuing beyond Yardley Wood to Solihull every 60 minutes.

The best alternative service will depend on where you currently travel to and from:

• Customers who currently board the 46/46A between Hawkesley and Northfield travelling towards QE Hospital and vice versa are advised to use the new 48 service
• Customers who board or alight on Black Haynes Road, Swarthmore Road, Middle Park Road, or Gibbins Road are advised to use the X20 service.
• Customers who board or alight in the Brandwood End area are advised to use the new 27 service.
• Travel between Hawkesley and Kings Heath will continue to be provided for by service 35 Hawkesley – Birmingham via Kings Heath.

Service 61 – Birmingham to Frankley via Selly Oak, Northfield:
This service will no longer serve Egghill Lane, Borrowdale Road/Norrington Road, Trescott Road, or Hoggs Lane. Instead, it will operate directly via Frankley Beeches Road.

• The withdrawn section of the route will now be covered by the revised Service 27, every 30 minutes.

Updated timetables to follow

Service 27 – Solihull/Yardley Wood to Rubery Great Park via Northfield:
This service will operate to a revised route and timetable.  The key changes are:

• Buses will continue beyond Frankley to Rubery Great Park, providing new direct links to Great Park
• Between Frankley and Northfield, the 27 will be re-routed via Allens Cross. Borrowdale Road, Trescott Road and Norrington Road will be served to provide an alternative to the 61 that will no longer serve these roads.
• Between Kings Heath and Yardley Wood, the 27 will follow a new route via Brandwood End (replacing the 46), then via Broad Lane / Warstock Road to rejoin the current route at Glastonbury Road.
• The service will extend beyond Yardley Wood Bus Garage to Solihull, providing a replacement for withdrawn service 169.

Buses will operate:

• Every 30 minutes between Rubery Great Park and Yardley Wood Station.
• Every 60 minutes beyond Yardley Wood to Solihull.

These route changes mean that Addison Road, Barn Lane and Hollybank Road will no longer be served by the 27.  Addison Road will remain served by the 11A/C Outer Circle and Hollybank Road by the 76 Solihull – QE Hospital via Kings Heath.
No replacement service will be provided on Barn Lane, as this will become a restricted access road in the next phase of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood plan for the area.

Service 169 – King's Heath to Solihull via Shirley:
This service will be withdrawn and substantially replaced by a revised 27 service operating every 60 minutes.
Service 27 will serve the majority of the current 169 route between Kings Heath and Solihull, with some exceptions:

• Brook Lane and Trittiford Road will no longer be served — passengers in these areas are advised to use services 3, 11A, or 11C.

• Watwood Road and Haslucks Green Road will no longer be served – the 27 will instead serve nearby Delrene Road.
• Solihull Retail Park will also be omitted, with the route continuing via Longmore Road and Widney Lane, then terminating in Solihull Town Centre, rather than Solihull Interchange (railway station).

There will be additional buses provided on the 27 during the AM peak towards Solihull, providing earlier first arrivals in Solihull compared to the current 169.

[Steve3229vp]

From TfWM site (Black Country Changes)

Service 12A - Birmingham to Dudley: This service will be withdrawn. It will be replaced by:

• A more frequent 12 service
• A new amended Service 12A operating between Dudley and Oldbury, which will operate every hour alongside an amended service 14 between Dudley and Blackheath.

The new Diamond Bus 12A service will operate via Regent Road, Elm Terrace, Poplar Avenue and City Road in place of Diamond Bus 14, which will be re-routed.  It will continue to Oldbury via Tower Road to cover the withdrawal of the National Express West Midlands 12A service. 
Updated timetables to follow

Service 13 Birmingham to Oldbury & Service 13A Birmingham to Blackheath: This service will operate to a revised route and timetable
The section of route between Warley, The George and Oldbury (Service 13) will be withdrawn and all journeys will operate between Birmingham and Blackheath (the current 13A route) but will be numbered 13.
Alternative services are available on most roads currently served by the 13 between Warley, The George and Oldbury:

• George Road will continue to be served by services 22 and 54
• Bristnall Hall Road will continue to be served by service 54
• Vicarage Road will continue to be served by services 12 and 49

Brookfields Road, Tat Bank Road and Stone Street will be left unserved.
Updated timetables to follow
 
 Service 14 Dudley to Blackheath: This service will operate to a revised route and timetable.
Regent Road, Elm Terrace, Poplar Avenue and City Road will no longer be served – these will instead be covered by new Diamond Bus 12A service Dudley to Oldbury.
The 14 will be re-routed to serve Darbys Hill Road following the withdrawal of National Express West Midlands 12A Dudley to Birmingham service.
Updated timetables to follow

214 Dudley – Foxyards Estate: This service will operate to a revised timetable.
Early and late journeys have been discontinued due to extremely low passenger usage.
Updated timetables to follow

215 Dudley – Springfield via Kates Hill: This service will operate to a revised route and timetable.
Buses will no longer serve Warrens Hall estate due to extremely low passenger usage.
Buses will extend to Blackheath providing residents on the route with a new direct link.

[Steve3229vp]

From TfWM site (Bearwood 20, 21, 22 changes)

20 Bearwood – Oldbury: This service will operate to a revised route and timetable.
The key changes are:

• The service will no longer operate to Oldbury via Lion Farm, meaning Throne Road, Shelsley Avenue, Hartlebury Road, Martley Road, Newbury Lane, Portway Road, Churchbridge and Halesowen Street will no longer be served by service 20. Services 3 & 3A offer alternative options in these areas.
• Instead, the service will operate to Blackheath via Oldbury Road, offering greater links to retail opportunities.
• In Bearwood, Adkins Lane Terminus and a section of Bearwood Road will no longer be served, with buses instead terminating at Rutland Road to improve punctuality on this service.
• The timetable will be amended due to this but also to improve general punctuality across the route.

21 Bearwood – Oldbury
This service will operate to a revised route and timetable. The key changes are:

• The service will no longer operate along Bearwood Road between Bearwood and Cape Hill, instead operating along Willow Avenue, Dorset Road, Sycamore Road and Grange Road in this area, to provide an alternative to service 22, which will no longer serve these roads.
• The timetable will be amended due to this but also to improve general punctuality across the route.
• In Bearwood, Adkins Lane Terminus and a section of Bearwood Road will no longer be served, with buses instead terminating at Rutland Road to improve punctuality on this service.

22 Bearwood – Oldbury: This service will operate to a revised route and timetable. The key changes are:

• The service will no longer operate along Willow Avenue, Dorset Road, Sycamore Road, Grange Road, Waterloo Road, Bearwood Road, Church Road and Stanhope Road between Bearwood and Warley to improve reliability of the service
  
  
  • Willow Avenue, Dorset Road, Sycamore Road, Grange Road and Waterloo Road will be covered by service 21 between Bearwood and Oldbury.
  • Bearwood Road, Church Road and Stanhope Road will continue to be served by service 54 operating between West Bromwich and Worlds End.

• The service is extended beyond West Bromwich to Midland Metropolitan Hospital via Sandon Road, City Road, Shenstone Road, Dudley Road and Grove Lane to offer increased connections to the Hospital.

• As a result of this, in Bearwood, Adkins Lane Terminus and a section of Bearwood Road will no longer be served, with buses instead serving Rutland Road.

[frostjay974]

No one has said that Brookfields Road or Tower Road are being left "without a bus service", because there are clearly going to be changes made to other services, that haven't been announced or detailed yet.

'Brookfields Road, Tat Bank Road and Stone Street will be left unserved.' 

[keyy927]

From TfWM site (Birmingham Changes)

Service 46/46A – QE Hospital to Kings Heath/Hawkesley via Northfield:
These services will be withdrawn and replaced by alternative services:

• 48 West Bromwich to Hawkesley via QE Hospital & Northfield – this service will be extended to Hawkesley every 20 minutes, following the route of the current between Northfield and Hawkesley.
• X20 Bromsgrove – Birmingham via QE Hospital every 30 minutes
• 27 Rubery, Great Park – Solihull via Northfield, Brandwood End, Kings Heath & Yardley Wood, every 30 minutes, with buses continuing beyond Yardley Wood to Solihull every 60 minutes.

The best alternative service will depend on where you currently travel to and from:

• Customers who currently board the 46/46A between Hawkesley and Northfield travelling towards QE Hospital and vice versa are advised to use the new 48 service
• Customers who board or alight on Black Haynes Road, Swarthmore Road, Middle Park Road, or Gibbins Road are advised to use the X20 service.
• Customers who board or alight in the Brandwood End area are advised to use the new 27 service.
• Travel between Hawkesley and Kings Heath will continue to be provided for by service 35 Hawkesley – Birmingham via Kings Heath.

Service 61 – Birmingham to Frankley via Selly Oak, Northfield:
This service will no longer serve Egghill Lane, Borrowdale Road/Norrington Road, Trescott Road, or Hoggs Lane. Instead, it will operate directly via Frankley Beeches Road.

• The withdrawn section of the route will now be covered by the revised Service 27, every 30 minutes.

Updated timetables to follow

Service 27 – Solihull/Yardley Wood to Rubery Great Park via Northfield:
This service will operate to a revised route and timetable.  The key changes are:

• Buses will continue beyond Frankley to Rubery Great Park, providing new direct links to Great Park
• Between Frankley and Northfield, the 27 will be re-routed via Allens Cross. Borrowdale Road, Trescott Road and Norrington Road will be served to provide an alternative to the 61 that will no longer serve these roads.
• Between Kings Heath and Yardley Wood, the 27 will follow a new route via Brandwood End (replacing the 46), then via Broad Lane / Warstock Road to rejoin the current route at Glastonbury Road.
• The service will extend beyond Yardley Wood Bus Garage to Solihull, providing a replacement for withdrawn service 169.

Buses will operate:

• Every 30 minutes between Rubery Great Park and Yardley Wood Station.
• Every 60 minutes beyond Yardley Wood to Solihull.

These route changes mean that Addison Road, Barn Lane and Hollybank Road will no longer be served by the 27.  Addison Road will remain served by the 11A/C Outer Circle and Hollybank Road by the 76 Solihull – QE Hospital via Kings Heath.
No replacement service will be provided on Barn Lane, as this will become a restricted access road in the next phase of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood plan for the area.

Service 169 – King's Heath to Solihull via Shirley:
This service will be withdrawn and substantially replaced by a revised 27 service operating every 60 minutes.
Service 27 will serve the majority of the current 169 route between Kings Heath and Solihull, with some exceptions:

• Brook Lane and Trittiford Road will no longer be served — passengers in these areas are advised to use services 3, 11A, or 11C.

• Watwood Road and Haslucks Green Road will no longer be served – the 27 will instead serve nearby Delrene Road.
• Solihull Retail Park will also be omitted, with the route continuing via Longmore Road and Widney Lane, then terminating in Solihull Town Centre, rather than Solihull Interchange (railway station).

There will be additional buses provided on the 27 during the AM peak towards Solihull, providing earlier first arrivals in Solihull compared to the current 169.

oh that 27 is going to be awful. i wonder why they're extending it to rubery great park when that already has a direct connection to solihull, unless for the fact that it means less waiting at the terminus stop (e.g 10 min layover in rubery instead of 20 in frankley). at that point, it might as well be re-extended to longbridge station.

also noticed that the X20 still isn't being interworked with the X21/X22 - nxwm removed it originally for being the weakest of the three (which is crazy to me as the 98 was a very very strong bus route), then re-instated it and left it... deliberately weak in comparison? i wonder if/when that will be increased back to 20 minutes in frequency.

@GoldenSquid said the other day that passengers along black haynes road and swarthmore road still preferred to use the 46/A - i wonder if the obvious increase in X20 passengers because it's the only one left will mean NXWM consider increasing the timetable. + there might be a couple more passengers from hawkesley - northfield who know the X20 is about twice as fast to the hospital than the QE and switch at bell lane.

do wonder what that means for those hawkesley - kings heath passengers who use the 46, and if they'll switch to the 35. all just speculation from my end anyways, i'm not a genius, just curious as to what this means later down the line.

does anyone know how long the 27 will be now from rubery to solihull? it's gotta be somewhere around 2 hours now and one of the longest bus routes in the city, right?

[keyy927]

'Brookfields Road, Tat Bank Road and Stone Street will be left unserved.' 

okay but in all fairness he said "no one has said," because it was never made clear, especially considering that not a single person expected the 27 to change that drastically, we only knew of the 27/61 swap. we didn't know, now we do

[cardew]

Quite a radical change for the 27 and it must be the first time Broad Lane and Warstock Road have seen service buses. 

The Shirley changes make sense, Delrene Road is wider than the existing route's roads and missing out Union Road and the retail park will aid reliability.