Winter Services

With tickets from £2, it’s easier than ever to travel by bus in the West Midlands especially during the festive season. 

West Midlands Bus has a strong network across the region with multiple city centre services available that takes the hassle of driving and parking away - leaving you more free to focus on all the fun activities available in the city centre this winter! 

We offer lots of discounts and passes. Children under the age of 5 can travel for free. You can get cheaper fares for children over 5 and under 16. Use our ticket finder to search for child tickets.

You'll need to pay an adult fare if you're 16 or over unless you qualify for one of these discounts, or passes.

*Please note timetable changes occur over the festive period and bank holidays, please check below for festive timetable changes and for more detail. Timetables are being updated, please make sure you check near to the time of travel.

To avoid standstill traffic when heading into the city centre, park and ride can be a great option with links to both tram and train across the network at our park and ride sites. With almost 8,300 free car parking spaces, we have got it covered.

There are 5 park and ride sites along the West Midlands Metro tram line. These have free parking. You can find parking at these stops:

• The Hawthorns
• Wednesbury Parkway
• Black Lake
• Bradley Lane
• Priestfield

Parking at most train stations is free. You only have to pay at Birmingham International, Coventry, Bromsgrove, Longbridge, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield. You can also pre-book parking at some stations, for more details, please visit Save-a-Space. Find out what facilities our stations have on our interactive rail map.

There are park and ride sites across our transport network. We have parking for cars and bikes. All sites are well lit, with CCTV and help points, where you can speak to someone by pressing a button.

For more information about our cycle hubs visit bike storage at a station or check with the train operator for station storage and carriage options. For advice on travelling with your bike, please visit protect your bike.

Travelling by train this winter could trim your journey times down significantly especially when travelling into the city centre around the festive period. 

We have a range of train stations, operators and lines to keep the region moving, particularly during the busy winter period. Find out what facilities our stations have and look up rail zones on our interactive rail map.

Use our ticket finder to find the best train ticket for you. You can also buy tickets at the station or through train operators. 

It is cheaper to travel after 1830 returning the same evening for an off-peak price so you can make the most of the evening market atmosphere, enjoying all the city centre leisure activities whilst also making a saving! 

Car parking charges vary depending on length of stay and time of day at Birmingham International, Bromsgrove, Coventry, Longbridge, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield.

Please check if any closures are planned that might impact your journey to the station. Please visit our major disruption page or your favourite journey planning site.

Due to engineering work on the West Coast mainline over Christmas, services will finish much earlier on Christmas Eve. Please check before you travel and arrive in plenty of time for your train. 

For a summary of all seasonal timetables, please visit National Rail Christmas and New Year 2024/25.

Our tram network stretching from Birmingham to Wolverhampton is another great option for winter travellers looking to skip the standstill traffic.

You can use the ticket finder to find the right tram ticket for you. You can buy tickets:

• from the conductor on the tram
• on the My Metro app
• with a Swift pay as you go card

Tram stops are in four ticket zones. The zones you can travel between are based on your ticket.

There are trams every 12 to 15 minutes every day of the week. More trams are added during peak times.

A normal service will operate other than:  

• Wednesday 25 December: No service 
• Thursday 26 December: Sunday service  
• Wednesday 1 January: Sunday service 

View the tram timetable to find out where the tram stops. You can also plan your journey if you’re not sure of your route.

All tram stops have step-free access and are monitored by CCTV. Some tram stops have  free car parking, cycle storage and connections to local bus services. 

For shorter journeys it maybe be quicker to walk or cycle. West Midlands Cycle hire is a healthy, sustainable way to travel and now available across the West Midlands.  

Find bikes in Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Stourbridge, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Walsall and Wolverhampton. Bikes are available 24/7 even on Christmas Day. With docking stations at major bus, metro and train stations, visitor attractions and city or town centres.

To search the locations please visit our Station map or download the West Midlands cycle hire app to find the closest available bike, e-bike or scooter in your area.  

There are a variety of cycle lanes across the transport network including dedicated cycle lanes with priority so you can beat the traffic. To help plan your route, please visit CycleStreets. 

Ring and Ride is a door-to-door transport service for anyone living in the urban areas of the West Midlands and finds it difficult or impossible to use public transport.

Customers can use the service for the same purpose they would on public transport. This could include commuting to and from work, shopping, leisure activities, certain healthcare appointments, or visiting friends or someone in hospital.

The service usually operates:

Monday to Saturday, 8am to 11pm
Sunday, 8am to 3:30pm
You can book a trip up to seven days in advance. All trips must be booked at least one day prior to travel.

Fares start from as little as £1.30 for an adult single, and (n) network and (n) bus passes are valid.

*Please note timetable changes occur over the festive period and bank holidays, please check below for festive timetable changes and for more detail.

Please make sure you check near to the time of travel for the most accurate information.