Transport for West Midlands

Upon creation, TfWM absorbed the functions, responsibilities, assets, and staff of two former organisations: the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (WMITA) and Centro, which was the operating name of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE). The predecessor organisations were dissolved.

TfWM's initial priorities are the expansion of the Metro through East Birmingham, Brierley Hill and Birmingham Airport, improvements to the M5 and M6 motorways, and new cycles routes as part of a metropolitan cycle network. There are also plans to work with central government over the future of the underused M6 Toll.

Governance

The WMCA's Transport Delivery Committee is a 19-member sub-committee of the Combined Authority Board. It forms part of TfWM's activities, and provides oversight of the operational delivery of transport across the West Midlands and advises the Combined Authority Board, through the Transport Portfolio Holder, on transport policy matters. The members are nominated by their respective local authorities; Birmingham City Council nominating seven members, the six other Metropolitan Boroughs nominating two members each. Each member has a single vote. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Transport Delivery Committee are appointed by the Combined Authority Board.

Responsibilities

The WMCA is the Local Transport Authority and has a statutory responsibility to implement policies and strategies that co-ordinate and promote the use of public transport in the West Midlands. The WMCA's transport responsibilities include:

• Setting and monitoring the authority's transport budget, determining the grants to be made to passenger transport companies, and determining the borrowing limits of the Combined Authority in relation to transport matters.

• The allocation and prioritisation of central government grants and other forms of funding.

• Long-term strategy for the West Midlands public transport system, contributing to regional economic development through a network of high-volume public transport corridors.

• Developing a rapid transit network, including Midland Metro.

• Developing the rail network in partnership with Network Rail and train operating companies, and formulating policies regarding a devolved rail franchise from October 2017.

• Maximising the benefits of HS2 across the West Midlands region.

• Considering and approving the creation and development of Bus Quality Contract Schemes

• Operating a concessionary fares scheme and implementing the government’s National Concessionary Scheme.

• Integrated ticketing and developing smartcard ticketing technology within the region.

• Increasing bus travel, and supporting the modernisation of the bus network in the region with the West Midlands Bus Alliance.

• Subsidising socially necessary but commercially non-viable bus services.

• Providing an annual grant to the operator (WMSNT) of the door-to-door Ring and Ride service for people who have difficulty using other public transport facilities.

• Working with public transport operators, the police, and district councils for the promotion of safe, efficient, and economic transport facilities and services.

• Providing integration between public transport modes, including the provision of interchanges.

• Promoting and publicising the public transport network and providing travel information as part of the Network West Midlands initiative.

• Constructing and maintaining bus stations and public transport infrastructure.

History

West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive

The predecessor of TfWM was the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE), which existed between 1969 and 2016. From 1990 the WMPTE was known by its corporate name Centro.

Following the 1968 Transport Act, the WMPTE was established on 1 October 1969 to operate and coordinate public transport in the West Midlands Passenger Transport Area, including the large West Midlands conurbation, which included the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton and what are now the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall.

Policy for the Executive was set by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority (WMPTA), which was formed at the same time. The PTA was comprised of elected representatives from councils in the Passenger Transport Area.

Bus operations

On its formation in 1969 the WMPTE acquired the vehicles and other assets of the municipal bus fleets of Birmingham, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. The former Birmingham City Transport was by far the largest constituent part of the combined fleet, accounting for around two thirds of the new 2,100 strong fleet and 8,500 employees, and a modified version of that operator's blue and cream livery was adopted by the WMPTE. The ex-Birmingham assets became 'South Division', with the others forming the Walsall-based 'North Division'. The buses subsequently became known as Wumpty buses, by the public, in reference to the WMPTE initials.

Although it was tasked with planning and coordinating bus and rail transport in the Passenger Transport Area, the Executive's activities in its early years were largely confined to partially integrating the inherited municipal bus operations. Much of the Passenger Transport Area was not served by WMPTE buses, and the Executive had minimal involvement in operation and planning of railway services.

Many bus services continued to be run by the Midland Red> bus company. This was considered undesirable by WMPTE, so it entered into negotiations to partly buy them out. On 3 December 1973, there was a transfer of assets and services between the Midland Red and the Executive involving routes that operated wholly (or almost wholly) within the proposed West Midlands county. By April 1974, the WMPTE's fleet numbered around 2,600 vehicles.

WMPTE bus

Revised operating area

The 1972 Local Government Act led to the creation, on 1 April 1974, of the West Midlands metropolitan county. As a result, WMPTE's operating area was adjusted to match that of the new county, most notably covering Coventry (although it continued to operate a handful of out-of-county services to towns in the metropolitan area). At the same time, the WMPTE took over a fifth municipal bus fleet, Coventry, which became its 'East Division'.

The PTA was abolished, and its role taken over by the newly established West Midlands County Council. When the County Council was subsequently abolished in 1986, a new Passenger Transport Authority was established, with membership drawn from the metropolitan borough authorities.

Railway services

In 1973 the WMPTE took on responsibility for managing and developing local rail services. They became responsible for setting fares and service frequencies, and providing grants for local services, but the operation of the services continued to be in the hands of British Rail, After privatisation, services passed to Central Trains in 1997 and since 2007 have been operated by London Midland. Rail services supported by the PTE carried the WMPTE (later Centro) livery.

In the mid 1970s the WMPTE began to take a more active interest in the development of local railway services: Service frequencies were improved on many local lines, and efforts were undertaken to create new services: The 'flagship' Cross-City Line, implemented in 1978, which included new stations serving Birmingham University and Longbridge, plus the reopening of Five Ways station, was a joint BR/WMPTE project.

In the 1980s, WMPTE decided to reopen and restore rail services through Birmingham Snow Hill station, which had closed in 1972. The restoration process took place in two-stages: The first stage, completed in 1987, saw the opening of new Snow Hill station for services to the south. The second stage, completed in 1995, saw the restoration of the rail link between Snow Hill and the line to Kidderminster and Worcester. In 1999 the former Snow Hill to Wolverhampton line, was reopened as part of the Midland Metro tram line.

Restoration of passenger services on the Chase Line between Walsall and Rugeley, between 1989 and 1998 was a joint project of WMPTE and Staffordshire County Council. Passenger services on the Walsall to Wolverhampton Line were also restored in 1998, although these were not a success, and were withdrawn in 2008 due to low patronage.

Bus deregulation

As a result of the 1985 Transport Act, bus services were deregulated. This resulted in the transfer of the bus services to a separate legal entity, West Midlands Travel Limited (WMT), which took over the bus assets and services of the WMPTE on 26 October 1986. WMT remained in public ownership under the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority until 1991, when it was sold to its management and employees and later National Express.</nowiki>

Midland Metro

The WMPTE was also responsible for the reintroduction of tram services to the West Midlands, with the development of the Midland Metro. Plans for a multi-line light rail system for the West Midlands were first drawn up in the early 1980s. However the first (and so far only) line of the Midland Metro was opened in 1999 between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. In 2015/16 the line underwent its first extension into the streets of Birmingham city centre, from its original terminus at Birmingham Snow Hill to Birmingham New Street. Further extensions of the system are planned.

Branding

In 1990 WMPTE adopted the corporate name of Centro. British Rail Class 150 and Class 323 trains were painted in a green Centro livery. Central Trains applied an updated lime green livery to the Class 150 fleet from 2007. Following the franchise passing to London Midland, the introduction of Class 172 rolling stock, and the repainting of the 323s into London Midland livery, this has been phased out.

The name Network West Midlands was used for a rebranding of the existing bus and train service from 2005 onwards, based on the premise that survey information had indicated that more people would use public transport if a strong brand was identifiable. Promotion of the brand has included television advertising, print media, and online media. All bus stops, Metro stops, and train station signage were replaced with Network West Midlands signage.

Following the Local Transport Act 2008, WMPTA was reconstituted as the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority.

Governance

Centro was governed by the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (originally known as the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority) a committee formed from the leaders of the seven boroughs of the West Midlands county, and three non-voting representatives of the region's three LEPs. The strategic agenda of the authority were set by the WMITA. These agenda were broken down into six groups, with a set of councillors responsible for each:

• Transport Delivery - responsible for overseeing the work of all other delivery committees
• Policy Co-ordination and development - responsible for ensuring Centro's policies are effective in their delivery
• Finance, Delivery & Performance Monitoring - responsible for managing the authority's budget
• Putting Passengers First - ensures the authorities policies meet the needs of the public
• Task & Finish - ensures the task and finish groups of Centro meet their delivery timescales
• Partner Engagement, Petitions & Appeals Sub-Committee - considers appeals against bus shelter placements. Also ensures the authority works effectively with industry partners.

Public consultations were held to gather public views on proposed projects and policies. The authority was primarily funded by a council tax levy from the seven metropolitan boroughs, although some projects were funded by the Department for Transport and the European Union.

Establishment of Transport for West Midlands

Following the creation of the West Midlands Combined Authority in 2016, TfWM was established as its transport arm. Centro and the WMITA were abolished, and their responsibilities, functions, assets, and staff were transferred to the Combined Authority. TfWM remains as the public-facing brand for public transport information in the region.

Key projects

New Street railway station

Centro backed the Gateway Plus project to rejuvenate Birmingham New Street station.

High-speed rail

In August 2009 Centro backed construction of a new railway in the West Midlands region for use by High Speed 2 trains, which would allow existing lines to have "better and more frequent local services".

Midland Metro

The Midland Metro is owned by TfWM and run under concession by National Express Midland Metro. It opened in May 1999. An extension through the city centre of Birmingham opened in May 2016.

Bus rapid transit

Plans are in place for a new network of 'Sprint' services.

Environmental initiatives

TfWM's predecessor, Centro, was "committed to sustainable forms of transport which benefit the environment and help to reduce global warming. It is especially important when you consider that road congestion on the West Midlands' busy roads costs regional businesses more than £2.3 billion a year." Centro had a comprehensive green charter and action plan for the environment and was a full signatory of the UITP Charter for Sustainable Development.

In addition, the award winning Letzgogreen (sic) website, educates school pupils and teachers about the benefits of sustainable transport.

Ticketing

Each operator has its own ticket range. One operator's ticket is not usable on another company's service. Network West Midlands tickets are valid across the entire network, on any operator involved in the 'n' scheme.

nBus

nBus tickets are valid on almost all operators in the county, and are available in different travel areas, or across the whole county. Tickets may be purchased with validity ranging from one day to a year. Metro travel may be added onto nBus passes.

nTrain

nTrain passes are valid on all local train services within the Network West Midlands zonal rail map, or to select out-of-county stations in the Birmingham travel-to-work metropolitan area.

Swift

Swift is the West Midlands' multi-modal, multi-operator smart travel card, similar to the Oyster card scheme in London. Rather than being a single card, it is a range of passes and cards (including contactless payments) that share a common system and brand name. Introduction began in 2012, with a phased rollout estimated to be completed by the end of 2015 when the system is rolled out across the local rail network, as part of rail devolution in the West Midlands. Bus operators slowly began to accept the scheme during this roll out; National Express West Midlands now accept pay-as-you-go Swift cards.

External links

• Network West Midlands

• West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority

• West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive

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