Public consultation launched for transformation of bus network

Proposals for a franchised bus network have taken a step forward with the launch of a 12-week public consultation.
If approved, the cost of transition is estimated at £22.5m over the next three years. This does not include the purchase of depots or vehicles.
The move to transform the network formed part of Richard Parker’s manifesto pledge when running to become Mayor of the West Midlands earlier this year.
At Friday’s (Dec 13) West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board meeting, council leaders agreed to launch a 12-week public consultation on the plan starting on 6th January 2025. This will be reviewed before a final decision is made in the spring.
Under franchising, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the WMCA, will set the fares, timetables and routes of bus services and award contracts to private bus operators to run them. It means that the politically accountable mayor and regional leaders, through TfWM, can design a network that best serves residents and businesses.
TfWM is currently paying £50m a year in top-up funding to keep commercial bus services on the road but ultimately decisions over which routes run and frequency of services still sit with the private bus operators.
A report by auditor EY, presented to the WMCA Board, said that a franchising system would increase competition among operators for contracts, raise service standards and offer better value for money.
The Mayor said: “Thousands of people rely on our bus network for their daily commute to work or school, hospital appointments and doctors’ surgeries, trips to the shops and days out.
“But despite getting £50 million a year of public funding we have no direct control over services and people tell me they’re unreliable and don’t take them where they need to go.
“Today, council leaders have backed my plans to progress to a public consultation on bringing buses under greater public control. This is a major step forward to making it a reality.
“I pledged to make our buses work for the people of the West Midlands, and already we are starting to deliver on it.”