European-style 'bendy-buses' could be coming to Walsall as part of upgrade scheme
European-style 'bendy buses' could be coming to the West Midlands as part of a plan to upgrade transport services.
The West Midlands Combined Authority is considering the purchase of 24 articulated buses to operate along the route from Walsall to Solihull.
The 60ft-long vehicles, a common sight in mainland Europe, would form part of mayor Richard Parker's plans to create a 'sprint' service between the two towns.
Similar buses operated in London from 2001 to 2008.
The buses can seat up to 140 passengers, and have the advantage of allowing passengers to board via multiple entry points. They caused some controversy in London, though, over complaints that they added to traffic congestion, particularly at junctions, and also over the visibility of cyclists and motorcyclists to drivers.
The combined authority is expected to make the decision on whether to purchase the vehicles, and the related infrastructure, at a meeting of the combined authority board in January next year.
The planned 'sprint' route will provide a high-speed service between the two towns, predominantly using dedicated bus lanes. A similar route is also planned between Dudley and Druid's Heath in Birmingham.
