National Express to support key workers during bus strike

Transport company National Express West Midlands has committed to running a Hospital Route Network in Birmingham and the Black Country during the forthcoming bus strike.

National Express West Midlands has been advised that its drivers and engineers will strike from Thursday 16 March.

The operator has confirmed it will run a Hospital Route Network, operating a small number of essential routes during the strike.

National Express West Midlands will run the limited Hospital Route Network on Thursday 16 March to Sunday 19 March to the following hospitals:

Birmingham & Solihull
City Hospital
Good Hope Hospital
Heartlands Hospital
Solihull Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Black Country
New Cross Hospital
Russells Hall Hospital
Sandwell District
Walsall Manor

Details of timings and frequency are now available.

A spokesperson for National Express West Midlands said: “We are very sorry to our customers who will be inconvenienced by this strike.

“We are doing all we can to resolve it and by providing this Hospital Route Network, we are also doing all we can to keep the region moving. ”

National Express West Midlands has offered bus drivers an increase of 13.4 per cent, made up of 11.1 per cent on the base rate backdated to January 2023, and a one-off payment of £630 which works out at 2.3 per cent.

This is on top of an average increase of six per cent on pay rates provided already in November 2022.

Under this deal, around 75 per cent of drivers would earn more than £30,000. The union has refused to let the drivers vote on the offer.

The National Express West Midlands spokesperson added: “We are exploring what other services we can provide during the strike and will keep our customers updated on our website. ”

National Express West Midlands continue to talk to the union about how to bring an end to the strikes.

Customers should visit the National Express website for the latest information about services.