Commuters across Birmingham and the Black Country faced significant travel disruption on Monday morning, 5 January 2026, as severe icy weather forced widespread bus service changes.
Major Route Diversions Announced
National Express West Midlands confirmed at 6am that several key routes were affected by the adverse conditions. The operator implemented diversions to ensure the safety of both passengers and drivers on treacherous roads.
The 28 service from Heartlands Hospital to Great Barr is diverting via Kingstanding Road, College Road, Aldridge Road, and Beeches Road. As a result, buses are not serving Dyas Road or Aldridge Road.
The 33 Birmingham to Pheasey service is now using Kingstanding Road in both directions. This means the Warren Farm estate, Finchley Road, and Kings Road are temporarily without a service.
Long-Distance Services Also Impacted
The disruption extends beyond local routes, affecting longer-distance services too.
For the X3 Birmingham to Lichfield route, buses are operating via Lichfield Road only. Bellwell Lane, Clarence Road, Farkland Road, Sainte Foy Avenue, and Lichfield bus station are not being served, with services instead terminating at Birmingham Road.
Similarly, the X5 Birmingham to Roughley service is diverting along Mere Green Road and Little Sutton Road. Hill Village Road, Sherifoot Lane, Gibbsons Road, and Grange Lane are currently not served.
Passengers Urged to Plan Ahead
The transport operator has thanked passengers for their patience and urged everyone to take extra care when travelling. Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region remain under an official weather warning for snow and ice, issued by the Met Office.
National Express West Midlands is advising all passengers to check the latest service updates on their website before setting out and to allow considerable extra time for their journeys while the challenging conditions persist.
