Bus services are due to return to Broad Street – Birmingham’s “golden mile” – in June it has been confirmed. The news comes after the successful completion of successful infrastructure tests which took place in early May. It may be good news for bus travellers but there is no date set for the start of tram services on Phase Two of the Birmingham Westside extension, but then there’s still no date for any trams to run again on the network so that’s hardly a surprise.
As part of the West Midlands Metro extension works several new bus stops have been installed along Centenary Square and Broad Street and these will be fully commissioned for passenger services during June (exact date to be confirmed). Buses have been calling at alternative stops since May 2019 to allow for the construction of the tram extension.
Mark Corbin, Director of Network Resilience for Transport for West Midlands, said: “So many local people depend on public transport for work, education and leisure. It is really important that we let customers know about changes as soon as we can so have written, with our colleagues at Midland Metro Alliance, to a number of key stakeholders in this area of the city.”
As for the tramway extension, testing will continue through the rest of May and into June before a start date for passenger services can be announced. As part of the testing the remaining traffic measures and site fencing will be removed to allow the road to be fully reopened to public transport. This means that Broad Street becomes a red route meaning motorists are unable to stop to load, unload, park, board or alight at any time.
One of the new bus stops. (Photograph by Andy Walters, 12th May 2022)