Tracks to Trees as new bus service links National Memorial Arboretum to rail network
A new dedicated bus service has been launched to improve accessibility to the National Memorial Arboretum.
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The new bus service, funded by Staffordshire County Council and operated by Diamond Bus East Midlands, is set to make it easier for visitors to travel to the free-to-enter 150-acre estate in Alrewas using public transport.
Mark Ellis, National Memorial Arboretum Lead, said: “The National Memorial Arboretum is the Nation’s year-round place to remember, and our team is continually working to remove accessibility barriers as part of our commitment to remaining freely open to all.
“Remembrance has been a fundamental human need for millennia and thanks to this new bus service, people who either don’t own a vehicle or prefer more sustainable transport options will now find it much easier to travel to the Arboretum to reflect, remember, and forge new memories together.”
A newly liveried bus, featuring images of the National Memorial Arboretum’s gardens and memorials arrived at the Arboretum for the first time at 11am on Friday and will provide a seven-day regular shuttle service between Tamworth Station and the Arboretum.
In addition to calling at the railway station and Tamworth town centre, the bus will stop in Alrewas Village allowing for connections with the 12 Bus Service to Burton and Lichfield, previously the nearest bus service to the Arboretum.
Each journey will cost £3 per passenger and trips are free of charge for National Concessionary Bus Pass holders.
Councillor Robert Pritchard, Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Support Member for Highways (Operations South), said: “We are thrilled to launch this new bus service, which provides Tamworth residents and those in the surrounding area with an affordable and sustainable option to travel to the National Memorial Arboretum with ease.
“This initiative aligns perfectly with the county council’s commitment to improving connectivity and promoting greener travel options across Staffordshire.
"I hope everyone takes advantage of this fantastic service to explore one of our most valued landmarks."
The launch coincides with English Tourism Week, a nationwide celebration of England’s tourism sector which supports 200,000 SME businesses, employs 2.6 million people and generates about £71.6 billion annually for the economy in domestic visitor spending.
