The 74 bus service, which operates daily across a large portion of the West Midlands, has been named as the region’s most dangerous bus route due to the frequency of violent incidents reported onboard.
Between July and December, authorities recorded 62 offences linked to this route. Traveling between Birmingham city centre and Dudley, key stops include Hockley Circus, Island Road, West Bromwich, Great Bridge, Sedgley Road East, and Ednam Road in Dudley.
The majority of crimes involved violence against passengers, with 20 assaults or fights reported during this period. Theft incidents were equally prevalent, also totaling 20. It’s important to note these figures represent only the crimes reported to police; many passengers might endure disturbances without reporting them.
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Despite these concerns, the overall risk of crime on buses remains low when considering the high volume of passengers carried daily. West Midlands Police emphasize that the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime on public buses is “very low” and have increased patrols to maintain safety across the transport network.
National Express West Midlands, the operator of the 74 route, highlights that with approximately four million passenger journeys each week, there is only one reported crime for every 60,000 rides. While any incident is one too many, the company is actively collaborating with police through the West Midlands Safer Travel Partnership to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour on buses.
Passengers are urged to report emergencies by calling 999 immediately. For non-urgent issues, the Safer Travel initiative allows discreet reporting via text: simply send “SeeSay” along with incident details—time, date, location, and route number—to 81018.
Maintaining vigilance and working together with authorities helps ensure safer journeys for everyone using public transport across the West Midlands.