Transport Minister Launches Bristol Road Jubilee Line

Travel West Midlands has branded the Bristol Road route the ’JUBILEE LINE’ to commemorate 50 years of bus service on the route and in recognition of Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee.Thirty-six brand new easy access buses - an investment of £5 million - will be introduced on routes 61, 62 and 63 from September 2002 and the eye-catching new branding is certain to flag up plenty of local interest!Brian Jackson, Travel West Midlands’ Chief Executive, said: "Travel West Midlands and its predecessors have operated bus services along the Bristol Road since the last tram rolled off the tracks on 5th July 1952. We thought that this would be a fitting tribute to Her Majesty The Queen in her Golden Jubilee year whilst at the same time flagging up 50 years of our own dedicated service."To date, NX Group, TWM’s parent company, has invested over £110 million in new easy access buses for the West Midlands region and the next batch of new buses for the Bristol Road will include its 1000th new easy access vehicle!The Right Honourable John Spellar MP, Minister for Transport, officially launched the new buses on to the route today and, to celebrate the occasion, special ties and badges have been ordered for bus drivers on the route, a free Union Jack bus ticket has been door dropped along the Bristol Road for unlimited use on 5th July 2002 on services 61, 62 and 63 and gold bus pass wallets will be handed out to Travelcard passengers on the route to reward them for their loyalty.The new easy access buses are Dennis Tridents, chassis built in Guildford and bodies in Falkirk, Scotland. Each vehicle is worth around 140,000.The buses are all designed with easy access in mind with a low platform entrance for easy boarding, a buggy zone, one wheelchair space, better heating, lighting and ventilation, state-of-the-art CCTV equipment and electronic destination blinds.The 61 service runs from Birmingham City Centre to Gannow via Northfield and Selly Oak, the 62 service runs from Birmingham City Centre to Rednal via Northfield and Selly Oak; the 63 service runs from Birmingham City Centre to Rubery via Northfield and Selly Oak.

Published 5th July 2002