Midland Metropolitan Hospital opens October 2024, service changes?

[Stu]

The brand-new, much delayed Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick is set to finally open on Sunday 6th October 2024.

Delayed super hospital set to open in October
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0rw7x7edp8o

Now I know there is some obsession amongst transport chiefs about having loads of bus services serving hospitals across the region, and there have already been some rumours circulated about potential changes, so now we have a thread for such rumours as well as confirmations when they finally occur!

One route rumoured to be changed was the 87. I wonder if this will also be the catalyst for finally launching the first cross-city service, namely the combination of the 50 and 87.

[Stu]

The other 'rumour' was that between Bearwood and Winson Green, the 11A/C and 82 would switch routes.

Personally I don't think this would be a good idea, having the 11A/C diverted to serve roads that get congested will just add to the running time, making journeys longer than they are already.

The 82 and 87 will already indirectly serve the new hospital, with their stops on Cape Hill and Dudley Road being a short walk away.


Is there going to be any kind of bus interchange facility at this new hospital?

There's not currently any bus service along Grove Lane.

I wonder if the 54/A or 80 will be rerouted from Windmill Lane.

[ellspurs]

https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/our-new-hospital/frequently-asked-questions/

What about travel and travel times?

The Trust is working alongside Transport for West Midlands with the expectation that a variety of main public transport routes will come onto the site, with a turning circle inside our grounds. There is also a visitors' car park. Pedestrian and cycle entrances are marked across the site.

Bus stop'll be on site, so it is viable for 54/54a/80/82/87 to divert up to it.

[Jack]

Couldn't the 89 also be modified to serve it?

[Steve3229vp]

The brand-new, much delayed Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick is set to finally open on Sunday 6th October 2024.

Delayed super hospital set to open in October
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0rw7x7edp8o

Now I know there is some obsession amongst transport chiefs about having loads of bus services serving hospitals across the region, and there have already been some rumours circulated about potential changes, so now we have a thread for such rumours as well as confirmations when they finally occur!

One route rumoured to be changed was the 87. I wonder if this will also be the catalyst for finally launching the first cross-city service, namely the combination of the 50 and 87.

Did the short lived X7 (Birmingham to Wolverhampton) go near or past the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital ?

[Stu]

Couldn't the 89 also be modified to serve it?

Would require a lengthy rerouting, probably not viable.

Did the short lived X7 (Birmingham to Wolverhampton) go near or past the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital ?

I think it went near, along Soho Way and Cranford Street.

[frostjay974]

I think it went near, along Soho Way and Cranford Street.

It also served Heath Street where the side of the Hospital is

[PhageyMcPhage]

https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/our-new-hospital/how-to-get-to-midland-metropolitan-university-hospital/

[Jack]

Would require a lengthy rerouting, probably not viable.

It would give a link from parts of Smethwick that previously had their link to a hospital cut off when they decided to cut the 89. And also a bus from West Brom to the new hospital would be good if non of the current services from West Brom are modified to serve it. Often used to see people catch the 89 from West Brom to City Hospital before it got chopped.

[Steve3229vp]

It would give a link from parts of Smethwick that previously had their link to a hospital cut off when they decided to cut the 89. And also a bus from West Brom to the new hospital would be good if non of the current services from West Brom are modified to serve it. Often used to see people catch the 89 from West Brom to City Hospital before it got chopped.

The 89 will terminate at the new hospital instead of Bearwood from 29th September

[Stu]

It would give a link from parts of Smethwick that previously had their link to a hospital cut off when they decided to cut the 89. And also a bus from West Brom to the new hospital would be good if non of the current services from West Brom are modified to serve it. Often used to see people catch the 89 from West Brom to City Hospital before it got chopped.

See the link posted above!

We have partnered with Transport for West Midlands to establish a number of dedicated service routes and route changes to help everyone reach our new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.
From 29th September:

• No. 54/54A – will be combined into one route to serve Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
• No. 89 – this service will now terminate at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital instead of Bearwood.
• No. 82/87 – journeys from Birmingham will be diverted to serve the new Grove Lane Stops. Journeys towards Birmingham will continue their existing route and serve the bus stop on Dudley Road.

[frostjay974]

With the 89 I wonder if it will still serve Shireland and Portland Rd and then it could go down the opposite direction to where it already goes on City Rd taking it on to Dudley Rd where it will go up to get to the hospital instead of just sending it down Cape Hill.

[Sh4318]

There's no left turn onto Dudley Road at the end of City Road

Would be useful if the 89 served Windmill Lane on its way to the hospital, given that it doesn't look like the 54/A and 80 will serve the hospital

[frostjay974]

Will the 89 terminating at the hospital affect the 54/89 interworking by any chance?

[Stu]

Will the 89 terminating at the hospital affect the 54/89 interworking by any chance?

Maybe, we'll have to see once the timetables are published, at this time no-one knows.