Mayor Richard Parker has struck a deal to launch a direct bus service linking Coventry Building Society Arena and Coventry Railway Station.
It follows a request from Coventry City Council and Coventry City Football Club.
The new extended number 20 service, which will run seven days a week until 11pm, has been introduced to ensure football fans, concert goers and visitors can get to the CBS Arena as well as back to their train.
It will be introduced from Saturday, 29 August – when the Sky Blues play their first home match back in the Premier League after 25 years out of the top flight.
The deal, through which Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is initially funding the extended service, also allows for extra ‘football special’ buses on busy matchdays. The number 20 stops a short walk from the stadium on Foleshill Road.
Until now it has finished in the city centre in Trinity Street – leaving people with a 15 minute walk to and from the railway station.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This is about making it much easier and quicker for thousands of football fans to get to the game when taking the train to and from Coventry.
“We’re also going to run these services late into the night to support the Arena’s ambition to stage more concerts and events, which will bring a real boost for the city’s night-time economy.
“Football is such a massive part of people’s lives, and that’s why we’re investing millions to improve matchday travel for fans.”
Cllr Lynnette Kelly, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change with Coventry City Council, said: “It’s great news for travelling fans and local people that the number 20 bus route will extend to the railway station.
“Public transport works well when it’s joined up and this is a great example of how a small change can make a big difference. I’m glad that Richard Parker and the team at TfWM agreed with us on the importance of this service extension and then made it happen.
“It’s set to be an exciting season on and off the pitch at the CBS and the club and the wider city are ready to welcome fans from across the country for games back in the top-flight.”
As well as extending bus services in Coventry, the Mayor is driving plans to extend West Midlands Metro tramway to the Sports Quarter and the new Birmingham City FC Powerhouse Stadium. In addition, upgrades to Witton and Aston stations are in the pipeline to make journeys easier for fans attending Villa Park.
The Mayor is in the process of taking back public control of the bus network to set routes, timetables and fares to benefit passengers across the whole West Midlands.
The revised number 20 timetable in Coventry is available here.
