Birmingham City Council has confirmed that the major Cross-City Bus Scheme, designed to improve bus reliability across the city, has been delayed. The project timeline has been shifted from 2025/26 to 2027/28, primarily due to dependencies on Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).
Project Details and Proposed Routes
The scheme aims to introduce new bus lanes, bus priority at junctions, and improvements to bus stops. Five proposed routes would all go through the city centre: Longbridge to Hamstead, Druids Heath to Dudley, Longbridge to Castle Vale, Bartley Green to Chelmsley Wood, and West Bromwich to Chelmsley Wood.
Delays and Financial Impact
A recent Birmingham City Council report highlighted a “slippage of £4.2 million” and stated that “the project timeline has moved from 2025/26 to 2027/28 primarily due to dependencies on Transport for West Midlands.” The report added that progress is closely tied to TfWM’s delivery schedule, which has experienced delays. However, Outline Business Cases for city centre to Chelmsley Wood and city centre to Druids Heath have now been approved.
TfWM Response and Ongoing Work
A spokesperson for TfWM said: “Shovels are already in the ground in the Black Country. Construction continues on the Cross City route to connect Dudley, Oldbury, Birmingham city centre and Druids Heath. Meanwhile, we continue to work closely with the city council on securing approval as quickly as possible for the Birmingham elements of the route.” The spokesperson added that the measures include dedicated bus lanes and upgrades to junctions and signals so services can bypass traffic jams.
Expected Benefits and Bus Franchising
TfWM says the project could provide “more reliable, regular and predictable” journey times, help reduce traffic congestion, and boost productivity. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker is moving ahead with plans to franchise the bus network. A spokesperson for the mayor said: “Right now our buses aren’t working for the public. That’s why Richard Parker is franchising our bus network – that’ll mean improvements and more reliable services – and the power to keep fares low.”
