Bus route changes across Birmingham from 1 November

Bus passengers in Birmingham are being urged to check their timetables before travelling, as a series of route changes comes into force on Sunday 1 November.

The changes, made by the operators National Express and Diamond Bus, include withdrawn routes, new links, diversions and new timetables across the network. Some of the biggest affect east and north Birmingham, Chelmsley Wood and Birmingham Airport.

Airport and Chelmsley Wood

The 17 will mostly end at Marston Green station, no longer continuing to Chelmsley Wood. The 17A will carry on, but with Sunday buses every 40 minutes instead of every 30. Chelmsley Wood residents will still have direct buses on the 72.

The 96, which ran between Chelmsley Wood and Kingstanding via Erdington and Birmingham Airport, will now end at Chelmsley Wood. Passengers heading for the airport or the NEC will need to change to the 97A. The 96 will also take a new route through Castle Bromwich, using Heath Way, Shard End Crescent, Old Croft Lane and Brownfield Road.

New route to Peddimore

Buses to the Amazon site at Peddimore are being reorganised. The 64 and X64 will be withdrawn and replaced by a new 66A, running every 30 minutes between the city centre, The Fort Shopping Park, the Asda at Minworth and Peddimore.

Passengers travelling from Erdington will need to change at Star City or The Fort, and the Bromford estate will no longer have a direct service.

Other changes

Timetables are also changing on the 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A and 14, which serve areas including Acocks Green, Moseley, Warstock, Yardley Wood, Solihull and Chelmsley Wood.

The 28, 68, 71, 94, 95, 97, 97A and X12 will see changes to timings, routes or Sunday services across Sutton Coldfield, Erdington, the city centre and Chelmsley Wood.

Elsewhere in the region, the Diamond 26A between Wolverhampton and Bilston will stop after 31 October, the 21 between Bearwood and Oldbury will no longer go along Francis Road and Shakespeare Road, and a new 22A will start in Coventry.

Check before you travel

Passengers are advised to check the new timetables before travelling. Full details are published on the regional transport authority's website and by the bus companies.

Timetable changes are usually made a few times a year, often to match changes in demand, roadworks and the availability of drivers. Bus companies say they try to keep the most important links in place, but some passengers will find their journeys now need a change of bus or a longer walk to the stop.

The changes come as the region prepares to bring its buses under public control, starting in north Birmingham and Walsall, after which the mayor and the combined authority will set routes, timetables and fares. Passengers who have concerns about losing a direct link can give feedback to the operators or to the regional transport authority, which says it uses comments from passengers when planning future changes.

Half-term timetables are also running on many routes next week, with fewer buses on some services that normally carry school pupils.