A partnership between the Government and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) will see bus services brought under local control.

In an announcement yesterday, the Government confirmed that the move is supported by £11.5m funding over a three-year period, with the aim of helping the WMCA to protect routes and services through franchising.

The investment will enable the delivery of specialist projects and legal advice, IT systems, project support, and staff.

Services were left at risk after the parent company of local operator National Express had indicated it was leaving the market, the Government statement confirmed.

However, the backing from Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is designed to be ‘empowering’ for local leaders, as part of the Government’s goals to achieve the ‘regionalisation and localisation of essential public services’.

The increased public control of the bus network will allow local leaders to have greater input about routes, branding, standards, and fares – for example, ensuring the affordability of fares to meet the needs of communities.

Benefits of the partnership include the protection of roughly 4,800 jobs. It will also keep as many as 750 buses on the road each day, allowing for continued connections between work, education, healthcare, childcare, and leisure.

Comments

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: ‘When I said we would put power back into the hands of local communities, this is exactly what I was talking about. We’re not afraid to take bold action to protect people and we’re backing the Mayor to step in to save these vital bus services which millions of people rely on every day. 

‘Buses are the backbone of public transport in the West Midlands, and this step will mean better, more affordable services for communities across the region.’

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: ‘People rely on these buses to get to work, to school or to hospital appointments. They are a public service, and I believe they should be run in the public interest.

‘So, we stepped in. We protected the services people depend on, protected jobs and kept the West Midlands moving. There should be no doubt who our bus network ultimately answers to - the millions of people who rely on it every single day.’