Long-awaited completion of new West Midlands bus project moves step closer
The long-awaited completion of a new West Midlands bus project has moved a step closer with hopes it could result in a ‘modal shift’ in passenger habits.
Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Investment Board approved the full business case for the purchase of 24 tram-like electric buses for the Sprint project.
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A total of £26 million will be spent on the fleet and charging infrastructure along with an additional £5.5 million for ticketing equipment.
Councillors on the Investment Board said they were supportive of the project and wanted to see work finally progress on it.
The aim of the Sprint scheme is to make it quicker and easier to travel between Walsall, Birmingham and Solihull by bus via a continuous bus priority route along the A34 and A45.
When the scheme was first announced in 2018, it was expected to be completed and open by the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
But the project has been hit with a series of delays due to factors including the Covid 19 pandemic and huge rises in costs.
Work on building the infrastructure such as new bus stops and implementing measures such as extending bus priority lanes and signalling have been carried out in the first phases.
Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said: “It is the link to Solihull and of course that also links into the airport which is one of our major assets in the West Midlands – I think we don’t promote that enough.”
Wolverhampton councillor Chris Burden used public transport on the Walsall part of the route when he did his teacher training at the University of Wolverhampton campus in the town.
He said: “This is probably the best solution we’re going to see this decade so ultimately I’m supportive of it and think we’ve picked the right option aligned with tram as much as possible.
“I think me might just get the modal shift in people using it so I’d like to get this one ahead now.”
Once completed, Transport for West Midlands said passengers would be be able to easily switch between bus, metro and rail services along the route.
Bosses also said the new vehicles will have easier and faster boarding similar to trams, be accessible with plenty of space for wheelchairs/pushchairs, and provide an all round better passenger experience.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: “These modern, tram-style buses will make the most of our dedicated Sprint lanes and priority junctions.
“It won’t be just a new service, it will be the region’s first continuous cross-city route in decades, cutting journey times between Walsall, Birmingham, and Solihull.”
