A new funding deal has stopped bus cuts in the West Midlands, with financial support extended through 2024. The mayor says the system isn’t working and plans to bring buses under public control.
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00:00A funding extension has been agreed to keep West Midlands bus services running.
00:08The bus network support grant will continue until the end of April, before a new deal
00:12kicks in for the rest of the year.
00:14Without it, more than 30% of commercial routes could have been lost, with fares rising even
00:19further.
00:20The mayor says the current system isn't delivering for passengers.
00:24While the authority provides around £50 million in grants to operators each year, fares have
00:29still gone up and services have been cut.
00:32Bus travel remains a vital service for many people.
00:35Thousands rely on it to get to school, work and essential appointments, but reductions
00:40in routes have made some journeys longer and more expensive.
00:43There are concerns that even with this funding, reliability and affordability could still
00:48be an issue.
00:49The long-term plan is to bring the region's buses under great public control.
00:54Under a proposed franchising model, transport for West Midlands would set fares, timetables
00:58and routes, with private operators running the services.
01:02It's a major shift away from the current deregulated system and the changes could have
01:06a significant impact on passengers and operators alike.
01:10A public consultation on the plans has already had thousands of responses.
01:15The deadline for feedback is the end of March, with a decision expected later in the year.
01:20If approved, the changes could mean more stability for passengers, but the details of how the
01:25system will be managed and whether it will lead to lower fares are still being debated.
01:30For now, passengers will see no immediate changes, but with rising fares and uncertainty
01:35over long-term funding, the future of bus travel in the West Midlands is still at a
01:40crossroads.