Bus firm urged to try new route

Campaigners demanding the reinstatement of a bus service to a Black Country hospital say they have a solution which will stop people having to catch two buses.

National Express West Midlands axed the 261 route in April.

They said that the route to Dudley’s Russells Hall Hospital was not financially viable but passengers say it is a vital service for patients and their relatives. It means people living in Wall Heath now have to get two buses when travelling to and from the hospital causing great inconvenience.

But following a meeting with Ian Pearson MP, Councillors Lynn Boleyn and Dave Tyler have now contacted the bus company to ask them to consider extending the 205 bus route – which runs from Russells Hall to Kingswinford – into Wall Heath, creating a direct route to the hospital.

Councillor Lynn Boleyn said: “The new system doesn’t seem to be working. You ask people waiting for connections and it’s taking ages to get to the hospital.

“There’s also been a case of someone on crutches having to change buses.

“We have asked National Express to seriously consider our suggestion and to consider a trial run of this route.”

Councillor Tyler said that the changes to the bus routes are causing difficulties for the residents of Wall Heath and that many people had signed the petition, calling for the reinstatement of a direct bus route to the hospital.

He added: “If you live in Birmingham you can get a direct bus route from Birmingham city centre directly to Russells Hall Hospital – the 138 – and yet the residents of Wall Heath are not afforded the same direct basic bus service.”

The axing of the 261 is part of a review of Dudley’s bus services to make buses more reliable.

National Express West Midlands and Centro have promised that they are looking into various options to replace or restore the service.

Suggestions being considered are reintroducing the 261 with subsidies from Dudley Council and other partners, and scrapping the 259 to fund the 261.