Those heading out and about this Christmas and New Year are being urged to give public transport a go to avoid the traffic jams and congested car parks.
A comprehensive network of bus, rail and Metro services will be running across the festive period. So those heading out for Xmas shopping or the New Year sales, enjoying a bit of festive cheer, going to a football fixture or taking in a show and those going to work are being encouraged to consider leaving the car at home.
Christmas Day is the only day that public transport shuts down entirely – at all other times public transport options are available and people can plan and check journeys via transport operators, the Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) website or smartphone app, or even an internet search. People can also sign up for travel alerts on their favourite services and routes via the TfWM website.
People are also warned that both roads and public transport services will be busier than usual around key football matches including Aston Villa games on the 22nd and 30th December, Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve and 30th December. Birmingham City, Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion are all playing at home on both Boxing Day and 29th December.
Bus services finish earlier than usual at about 10.30pm on Christmas Eve. For Boxing Day a near Sunday timetable will be in operation with some busier services having extra evening services. Some of the quieter services will not operate at all and a special service will operate in the Coventry area.
A Sunday service will run on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with some services in Coventry finishing around 6pm. A Saturday timetable will run on most routes between 27th and 30th December.
Customers are advised to check the TfWM or bus operator’s websites for detailed timetable information during the festive period. Metro will be operating a Sunday service on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Rail services as well as Christmas Day, there are also no West Midlands Railway services on Boxing Day. There are amended timetables over the period, including services ending early on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. Check the operator’s website for full details.
Mark Corbin, director of network resilience for TfWM, said: “We expect there will be busy periods over Christmas and New Year, especially around our town and city centres, popular night time destinations and, of course, our sport and concert venues.
“We also urge people to avoid the temptation to drink and drive by leaving the car at home and taking the bus, train, tram or even a cab. All the information needed to plan a trip by public transport is available on the TfWM website or from operators to plan ahead and check social media for updates before heading out.”
