'Executive' buses start today

BUS users in Knowle, Dorridge and Solihull will enjoy leather seats and internet wi-fi from today.

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Knowle buses slammed

BUS chiefs have been slammed by a Knowle group.

The Knowle Society hit out at Centro, which organises buses in the West Midlands.

A statement said: “The society was represented at a meeting with Centro on local buses when strong concerns on performance were expressed.

“The society recommended that Centro should carry out a local questionnaire as is being undertaken in the north of the West Midlands area but should not be wholly dependent on the internet for responses.”

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Solihull rush hour up 6.8 per cent

CAR trips into Solihull at peak times have increased by 6.8 per cent in two years, figures show.

An extra 746 trips were made between 2005 and 2007, bringing total peak journeys to 21,414.

Bus journeys fell by 0.5 per cent while rail trips into town rose by 57 per cent, from 406 to 637.

In 2003, 80.7 per cent of journeys were by car, this fell to 80.4 per cent in 2007.

Bus use fell from 17.3 per cent to 16.6 per cent, while train use went from two to three per cent.

The figures were revealed by Centro, which organises public transport in the West Midlands, in its annual report for 2008/09 (page 15).

In a press release, Centro chairman Councillor Gary Clarke said of the regional figures: "Public transport is becoming a more appealing and viable option especially for those fed up with being stuck in congestion during their daily commute.”

It said train punctuality increased from 82.1 per cent to 84.2 per cent.

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Spaces double at Hampton-in-Arden station

THE car park at Hampton-in-Arden train station has been expanded from 67 to 124 spaces to encourage more drivers to use the train.

Centro, responsible for developing public transport in the West Midlands, said the train takes 17 minutes into Birmingham compared to 38 by car.

A train into Coventry takes 12 minutes compared to 37 by car, they said.

It hopes the move will end misery for commuters unable to find a space for the morning rush and take 23,000 journeys off the roads a year.

The car park also has extra CCTV cameras, lighting, cycle stores, security fencing and a help call button.

Centro’s Councillor Timothy Huxtable said: “Research shows that these schemes take over 2.8 million journeys off West Midlands roads every year, confirming how important they are in encouraging people to use public transport and the vital role they play in reducing congestion and carbon emissions in the region.

“We’re delighted to have been able to provide these extra spaces for Solihull residents at Hampton-in-Arden station, and will endeavour to continue to increase the facilities at all our stations – not just for car drivers but for cyclists, walkers, bus users and car sharers too.”

The organisation now manages 6,600 spaces in the region which it says takes more than 24.5 m car miles off the roads.