How to plan ahead for Christmas and New Year travel

Midlands: People going out and about to shop, visit friends and family or even attend a football match or show this Christmas are being urged to consider using public transport for their journeys.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is offering all the latest travel information people need to plan their journeys, avoid disruption on the roads and secure the best value fares.

Roads are expected to be busy around town and city centres this week, while thousands may be heading to festive football fixtures with the region’s top teams currently scheduled to be in action at home between Boxing Day and the New Year weekend.

So those venturing out will be able to take the bus, tram or train instead but are warned to plan ahead and allow extra time. There is also the healthy and green way to beat the traffic by cycling or walking local journeys. Or take advantage of the new Cycle Hire eBikes which make it even easier to cycle those longer journeys.

Transport operators are continuing to carry out extra cleaning on their buses, trains and trams and with Covid cases on the rise, public transport users are being reminded that they are required, unless exempt, to wear a face covering on board.

This festive period will see:

• No public transport running on Christmas Day
• Rail services ending early on Christmas Eve with no trains running on Boxing Day
• Buses running reduced or Sunday services on the key bank holidays.
• West Midlands Metro running a limited service between Wolverhampton and Bull Street

Roads are expected to be busy and motorists can sign up for live updates via  @wmroads on twitter or sign up for alerts via the TfWM website.

Key road works planned over the festive season include:

• Full closure of the M42 between J9 and J10 north and southbound from 9pm on Friday 24 December to 9pm on Friday 31 December 2021. This is to prepare for the installation of the Marston Box bridge during early 2022.
• Roadworks continue on the A34 in Birmingham with lane closures in and around the Perry Barr area
• Works on the railways mean there will be replacement bus services between Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge Parkway on New Year’s Day and between New Street and Bromsgrove/Redditch on Sunday 2 January

TfWM interim managing director Anne Shaw said: “Although many of us will be at home, off school or working from home, there are many who are still planning trips out for the festive season and may need to use public transport.

“There are services running every day except Christmas Day but people will need to check for timetable changes and disruption, especially on the bank holidays, before travelling. All that information is in one place at www.tfwm.org.uk

“And, unless exempt, remember to wear a face covering for your whole journey.”