Passengers in East Birmingham and North Solihull are to get 250 new shelters and dozens of brand new buses benefitting from a series of road improvements designed to improve punctuality.

These are just some of the enhancements passengers will see phased in over the next three years following the recent signing of an agreement between Centro, the region’s transport authority, Birmingham City Council and bus operators National Express West Midlands, Arriva Midlands, Claribel Buses, Central Connect and Central Buses.  The agreement, known as a Voluntary Multilateral Agreement, is the biggest of its kind in the UK and was formally signed at the Birmingham Transport Summit.

The improvements aim to give passengers increased faster and more punctual services, shorter waiting times and a more comfortable journey.

The agreement includes:

• Bus-friendly highways improvements over the next two years including junction upgrades and traffic light priority measures to improve punctuality and reliability.
• The introduction of more than 250 brand new bus shelters, many fitted with electronic information displays or solar powered lighting
• The introduction of brand new environmentally friendly buses over the next three years.
• Cleaner buses with partners working together to keep vehicles and stops free from litter and graffiti.

Key routes will benefit from even more enhancements including Real Time Information, showing passengers how many minutes until the next bus is due, and a more intensive cleaning regime on buses and at stops and shelters along the routes.

The enhancements build on the route and timetable changes due to come into effect across East Birmingham and North Solihull this Sunday (March 27th 2011).

These will see higher frequencies and the introduction of an easy to understand network with new publicity, timetables and maps.

Centro chairman Cllr Angus Adams said “Centro, bus operators and Birmingham Council are taking the lead in showing that public and private sector organisations can work together in partnership on their own initiative to achieve great benefits for the travelling public.”

The new network for East Birmingham and North Solihull being introduced this Sunday will see services improved for Bromford, Marston Green and Smith’s Wood. There will also be enhanced links between Solihull and Heartlands Hospital and Lea Hall.