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BLACK COUNTRY BUS MASSACRE

21-06-2007

Thousands of bus passengers in the Black Country face inconvenience, confusion and longer journeys next month when a local operator axes 25 routes.

Tividale based Diamond Buses which is part of the Go Ahead group is making massive cutbacks from July 22 on the west side of the conurbation.

Among those who’ll face more difficult trips are students at Halesowen College, Sandwell College and Hagley Roman Catholic School which will no longer be served by the company.

Other areas affected include Stourbridge, Walsall, West Bromwich and the Merry Hill Shopping Centre (to see the full list, click here http://www.centro.org.uk/wwwroot/mediacentre/22-07-2007.htm)

What’s astonishing, given the scale of the cuts, is the apparent lack of interest from our elected representatives who have singularly failed to protest against this “bus massacre.”

The Stirrer’s transport sources suggest that the Black Country’s loss may be Birmingham’s gain.

They say it’s unlikely that the company will mothball the fleet they’ve withdrawn; what’s more probable is that they’ll pile into some of the more profitable routes in Brum.

Either way, Diamond’s decision highlights the weakness of a market-led approach to public transport – this move is all about lining shareholders pockets, and sod the public interest.

Overnight, there will be less choice, fewer buses, and ultimately perhaps higher fares in one part of the West Midlands; while in others there’ll be racing and overtaking as rival drivers aim to get to the stop first.

Diamond’s catchphrase, incidentally, is “Connecting Communities”. Yeah, right.