Worcestershire implements major service changes

Significant changes will be made from 1st September to supported bus services across Worcestershire as the County Council implements the results of its consultation undertaken earlier this. Initially the Council intended to remove all revenue support for bus services but backed off following the consultation which showed that the most socially necessary services could be maintained with a much reduced budget. This has been achieved by a combination of modified commercial services, revised tendered services and an increased role for community transport schemes.

Services currently run by the County Council Fleet Services own vehicles will pass to other operators, mainly Diamond Bus or, in the case of Worcester Park and Ride, be abandoned. According to the Council’s website, the Park and Ride site will be closed although commercial services pass nearby. School services have been maintained and there will be frequency improvements on some of the newly created services such as First’s new 147 which extends one bus an hour on the 144A from Bromsgrove to Halesowen, replacing an approximately two hourly supported service operated by Central Buses. The commercial arm of charity status West Midlands Special Needs Transport, under the trading name igo will operate a revised 145 service incorporating most of the currently Diamond Bus operated services 141 and 145 to provide an hourly service linking communities away from the main trunk route between Droitwich and Longbridge via Bromsgrove.