Diamond Bus route 125 is set to end, sparking urgent pleas to save the crucial Stourbridge to Kidderminster service.
The bus company wants to help the communities and are exploring options for bus service. A council member calls the bus a vital service, helping the disabled, elderly and those without cars. He says he uses the bus sometimes and that the bus was full when he rode it.
Despite the government giving money for buses, they still cut a local bus route, which he says is bad. The 125 bus is also important for hospital access. Bus riders expressed sadness online and one person said she will miss the bus.
An MP asked the bus company to keep the bus running, while another MP said people will be upset and is talking to the bus company about it. Shropshire cut the subsidy, creating a problem. The company will check the Kidderminster to Bewdley route, wanting to keep some service there.
A train connects Kidderminster and Stourbridge, but more riders are needed to save the bus. He stated that low ridership makes buses too expensive. A Diamond Bus person said they tracked the 125 bus and that low riders and road work hurt the service.
Now, it’s not profitable to continue it, so they are working with local governments and want to keep bus service for these towns. They plan hourly service between towns and are talking to the council. They hope to keep the Bewdley to Bridgnorth part and are also talking about Stourbridge.
The bus company knows this change is hard and will update riders as soon as possible. The council will try to save the 125 bus route and will seek bids from other bus companies. The council will pay a company to run it, using money from the government.
A council member is unhappy about this, saying the bus company stopped it because of money, knowing this bus is needed by many. The council plans to fund a temporary replacement. The council’s bus budget is small, wanting to use government money for improvements, but will instead use it for the replacement bus. They will check ridership during the contract and people must ride the bus or it might disappear forever.