Arriva buses gear up for route changes

Arriva Midlands is changing a variety of routes and times for services that run through the two areas from July 19.

The 891 and 892 services running from Telford Town Centre to Wolverhampton via Stafford Park, Shifnal and Albrighton will be renamed the 8 and 8a services respectively.

Most journeys on service 8A will be diverted to serve the new housing development at Stone Drive in Shifnal, while Tong village will no longer be served.

Services 99, 99A and 890 will be replaced by a single service, which will run up to every 60 minutes between Monday and Saturday.

The service will start in Telford town centre before connecting in Bridgnorth to provide new links between Ironbridge, Broseley and Wolverhampton.

The 101 service that serves Bridgnorth town will be taken over by another operator, as will the 436 service from Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth.

Some routes to Bridgnorth will remain untouched, including services 113,114,115,116,341 and 342

Arriva will be holding a number of roadshow events across the Telford and Shropshire areas before the new routes and times are brought into action. People who attend can get timetables, route maps and bus guides from members of the bus company's promotional team, who will also be able to answer any questions relating to the changes.

Jamie Crowsley, Arriva's local manager said: "We have given your network of local bus services a makeover introducing a raft of new links, quicker journey times, improved frequencies and making sure your journey is punctual.

"We are holding a number of roadshow events where you can pick up your new timetable leaflet and our promotions team will be on hand to assist with any questions you may have relating to your new bus routes and times – this is a great time for us to be moving up a gear."

If you are unable to make it to one of the road show events shown, you will be able to collect your new timetables, route maps and bus guides from your local library, tourist information centre or council offices.

You can also collect the information from the Arriva Travel Shop in Telford Town Centre Bus Station, Centro Office at Wolverhampton Bus Station or Travel Time and News in Shrewsbury Bus Station.

Alternatively, for more information, visit arrivabus.co.uk or call traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

Arriva increased some bus fares by up to five per cent in February.

Bosses have blamed rising costs of insurance, parts and wages – but insist they are also pumping money into improving their fleet.

And they say a number of fares and saver tickets have been frozen.

Stafford tickets were reduced by 5p to encourage more people to use the services after the town was hit by a series of roadworks.

The firm unveiled a £1 million fleet of buses last October to be used on routes between Cannock and Walsall.

The buses include power points to charge phones and laptops, free wifi, and leather seats.

They are running on four routes through Cannock, Great Wyrley, Cheslyn Hay, Bloxwich and Walsall.