Cover photo (c) Tony Hunter, WM Buses In Photos
Due to traffic congestion and disruption being caused by the ongoing roadworks in Perry Barr, National Express West Midlands (NXWM) will be making some changes to the way that the famous Outer Circle 11A and 11C services operate, from Sunday 4th July 2021.
Currently, the services run in a one way loop, either anti-clockwise or clockwise, starting from and finishing at Acocks Green, with some journeys ending at various points around the route.
From Sunday 4th July, the route will be split into two sections that connect or overlap.
We are making these changes due to the delays and unreliability that all customers on the 11 have been experiencing. This disruption is directly caused by the current ongoing roadworks in Perry Barr. We have worked hard with Birmingham City Council to try and find a solution. But because of what needs to be done in the Perry Barr area, the only way to keep the 11 running properly is for us to run it a different way.
The services will still be numbered 11A and 11C as they are now. However, all journeys will now have an end destination. You will need to check the end destination of the bus that you board to make sure it goes where you want to travel to.
NX Bus: 11A/11C ‘Outer Circle’ route changes
11A Outer Circle Anti-clockwise
- Will split at Acocks Green and again at Perry Barr.
- There will be a stop change in Erdington as buses will no longer use the Wood End Lane stop. Buses will now use the 11C stop on Sutton New Road, near to Big John’s.
- You will need to check the destination shown on the front of the bus before boarding.
11C Outer Circle Clockwise
- Will split at Erdington and again at Acocks Green.
- There will be a slight route change between Handsworth and Perry Barr.
- To avoid congestion on Wellington Road, buses will run along Hamstead Road, Church Hill Road and Birchfield Road.
- You will need to check the destination shown on the front of the bus before boarding.
For the vast majority of passengers, there will be no obvious change, but depending on where you are travelling from and to you may need to change buses in either Acocks Green, Perry Barr or Erdington to continue your journey.
If you are on the 11A travelling from before Erdington will need to change buses in Perry Barr to continue on your journey towards Handsworth. 
Customers wishing to travel beyond Erdington towards Yardley on the 11C will need to change buses. It will be easier to change buses in Stockland Green rather than Erdington. 
Customers will need to change buses in Acocks Green to continue on their journey. For customers on the 11A travelling past the village towards Yardley please change buses opposite Acocks Green Bowl.Customers on service 11C wanting to continue towards Kings Heath will need to change buses outside Acocks Green Bowl.
FAQs from NX West Midlands
I bought a single ticket but now I have to change my bus to get to my destination. Will I have to pay again?
No. If you have to change buses in either Acocks Green, Perry Barr or Erdington, you just need to show your current ticket to the driver to continue on your journey at no extra cost. It is important that you keep hold of your ticket once purchased. If you have paid using contactless, you will be able to tap your card again on the next bus but no extra charge will be made.
Why are you changing the route?
We have changed the route to improve service reliability and punctuality following continuous disruptions caused by the roadworks in Perry Barr.
How frequently will the buses be running?
We will be running a service up to every 8 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and up to every 15 minutes on evenings and Sundays. Services will be up to every 4 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes, between Perry Barr and Erdington.
How will I know which bus I need to get?
We will be adding the destination to the front of the buses so you will be able to see where your bus will be headed.
How long will this change last for?
This is a temporary change due to the roadworks in Perry Barr. We do not have an end date at this time.
Download the new 11A timetable from Sunday 4th July 2021 here
Download the new 11C timetable from Sunday 4th July 2021 here
So what does this all mean?
Well it means that you’ll no longer be able to get on a bus, travel all around the city and then get off that bus right back where you started, 2 to 3 hours later!
Which for some enthusiasts is a bit of a novelty, and I have done this myself on a couple of occasions in the past.
But the vast majority of passengers who use and rely on the Outer Circle services only travel for short distances or along parts of the route. Despite being a fairly frequent service, up to every 8 minutes during the daytimes, passengers are frequently greeted by the sight of two or three vehicles operating ‘in convoy’, with gaps in service also a common feature.
The changes to these services may inconvenience a few passengers, who may have to change onto another vehicle at Acocks Green, Erdington or Perry Barr, but if the changes can alleviate some of the problems currently being faced with regards to reliability, then they have to be welcomed.
And this isn’t permanent either, once the roadworks in Perry Barr get finished ahead of the Commonwealth Games next year, then perhaps having the Outer Circle becoming a true ‘circular’ again is something to look forward to.
In summary
11A Acocks Green to Perry Barr via Yardley, Ward End, Erdington, Stockland Green & Witton
11A Erdington to Acocks Green via Stockland Green, Witton, Perry Barr, Handsworth, Bearwood, Selly Oak & Kings Heath
11C Acocks Green to Erdington via Kings Heath, Selly Oak, Bearwood, Handsworth, Perry Barr, Witton & Stockland Green
11C Perry Barr to Acocks Green via Witton, Stockland Green, Erdington, Ward End & Yardley
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