Bus users in Brierley Hill have their say on reliability of services

It comes as West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker launched a consultation on a new franchise system which he wants to introduce across the region to offer improved services and better value for the tax payer.

So we asked the travelling public on the High Street, Brierley Hill what they thought about the proposals and the current state of the bus services they use.

Veronica Gee from Dudley was waiting for the bus to take her to the Merry Hill centre. She uses a variety of National Express West Midlands services including the numbers 6, X10, 126 and X8 including to Birmingham.

She said: "When you want a bus they don't turn up but that is probably just luck and it depends when you get them.

"If you are using them in the rush hour either morning or afternoon it is more likely they are late but most times I am on the bus it is during the day though not every day.

"The X services to Birmingham are generally good, I find the most unreliable one the number six from Dudley to Stourbridge although there are plenty of them and sometimes you can get two turning up at once. I'm not sure if increasing the number of bus companies and competition would help but I hope it would do."

David Martin, aged 54, a porter from Holly Hall was waiting for a number 6 bus back home. He uses the bus for shopping, and sometimes work as he is employed at Russell's Hall Hospital.

He said: "I find them fairly reliable most times of the day, sometimes yes they are delayed maybe by ten minutes but you come to expect that with public transport although maybe it shouldn't be the case."

Kevin Jakeman from Stourbridge uses the number six two or three times a week and says he doesn't mind a ten minute or so delay.

He said: "The drivers are nice, the vehicles are good and you kind of expect them not to run exactly to time but generally they are ok.

"My sister and brother who comes from Coseley are also regular bus users, I haven't heard them complain to much and they use them more than me."

Ian Hipkiss, also from Stourbridge, uses National Express West Midlands and Diamond Buses.

He said: "I use the Diamond Buses number 25 between Dudley and Stourbridge and I find they are on time most of the time. The National Express buses are a bit unreliable at times which isn't great if you have an appointment.

"I would certainly welcome more competition because that would help in keeping services in line."

A National Express West Midlands spokesperson said: "As a major operator in the West Midlands, we take great pride in running the local bus network.

"Whether we deliver that through partnership or move to a franchising system, National Express West Midlands shares the goal of delivering a high quality service for our customers and stakeholders.

“We are focused on working closely with our local leaders and the transport authority to co-create the virtuous cycle of bus patronage growth, consequent revenue growth and reinvestment into strengthening our bus network to deliver an efficient public transport service for our communities."