West Midlands Combined Authority has announced that the region’s leaders have decided to begin the process of bringing the bus network under public control.
The decision, made by the WMCA Board at the end of last week, has come following a study into the region’s bus services that concluded the best value for money would come from franchising services.
Currently, the combined authority is paying around £50 million a year in subsidies to ensure that private operators can run the services, however, this has left WMCA with no control over price rises and service changes. These subsidies also come alongside the £100 million of joint investment from the WMCA and the government that supports contracted bus services, the £2 fare cap, and other concessions across the region.
Should buses be brought under public control, operators would be contracted to run services whilst certain commitments are set by Transport for the West Midlands. These commitments include routes, timetables, fares, and other standards such as commitments to zero-emission vehicles.
Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, said:
“Our buses are failing. The West Midlands is paying an additional £50 million subsidy every year to private operators and yet they increase prices and cut services year-on-year. Though the public purse is funding the incomes of private bus operators, we have no real say in how they run our buses. This has to change.
“With 232 million journeys across our region last year, it is clear that buses are the backbone of our public transport network. Without them, our residents cannot access essential services like schools, pharmacies, doctors’ surgeries or employment opportunities. I want the West Midlands to have a bus network that is affordable, accessible and works for all of our residents.
“One of my big campaign pledges was to deliver a better network, one that is designed for those who use it and rely on it. Today we are taking a major step toward delivering just that. Our internal assessment has shown that franchising is the best option for the region, and now we will be clarifying these findings, with a view to rolling out the first publicly controlled buses on our streets in 2027.
“The West Midlands will be the best region to live, learn and do business. It deserves a transport network that supports every resident and every business to succeed. Greater public ownership means we can work together with you – our residents – alongside local authorities and transport providers to ensure our network works for everyone, to ensure the West Midlands can thrive.”
An independent audit of the franchise assessment is the next step, with this then being followed by a public consultation. Should final approval be granted at the end of next year, a two-year transition period is expected as the bus network is designed and contracts are tendered.
The process of transition is expected to cost around £22 million, with Transport for the West Midlands working with bus operators and looking to secure funding to ensure that the bus network can continue to operate during the transition.
Image credit: West Midlands Combined Authority
