WHY does Stourbridge need a new transport interchange?

Let’s cast our minds back a little over 16 months ago.

The town’s old bus station was a depressing place and a poor welcome for users of public transport.

In the course of my work over the years, I have used countless public transport facilities across the UK and Europe. Stourbridge bus station was right up there amongst some of the worst examples.

Now, as the new Interchange prepares to welcome its first passengers, we have a step change in quality which locals and visitors coming to Stourbridge town centre need and deserve.

More people using public transport brings benefits on several levels. But to achieve this, the whole experience needs to be a good one.

In the space of a few short years, we’ve seen new and better buses in the town, a much improved shuttle service between Town and Junction rail stations (higher frequency, better for the environment and easier access for wheelchair and buggy users), brand new trains on the Snow Hill lines to Birmingham and Worcester and now a state of the art transport interchange.

Nearby, Merry Hill will benefit from £10m of investment soon with a new bus station and bus only access, meaning bus users will beat the queues to the busy shopping centre.

And 21 new state of the art vehicles – hybrid technology – are on order for the Dudley-Wolverhampton- Tettenhall Wood route 1 service, meaning cleaner, greener journeys for all. New smartcard technology will also soon be with us, making public transport easier to use.

Some great things are happening within public transport locally.

If the product is good, simple and effective to use, more people will use it, cutting congestion and helping the environment.

The Stourbridge Interchange is exactly the kind of facility we need, delivered on time and on budget. Centro and the public transport operators should be congratulated for their continued efforts to improve our local public transport.

Phil Tonks Bus Users UK