Immediate threat to region's bus services headed off by £40m investment but some routes could still face the axe
The immediate threat of bus services in the region being slashed has been headed off by a £40 million investment – but some routes may still face the axe in October.
Transport bosses have confirmed that bus services across the West Midlands will continue to operate at near current levels until the end of 2024.
It follows an agreement between Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the bus operating companies, including National Express West Midlands and Diamond Bus.
The deal heads off the immediate threat of around one third of the region’s bus services being withdrawn or frequencies reduced following the ending of Government Covid support funding in June.
Operators have faced increasing cost pressures due to steep rises in fuel, maintenance, and staff costs over the last two years and are struggling to keep buses on the road.
TfWM said the protection was on top of around £16 million it spends annually subsidising buses which are deemed socially necessary but not able to operate on a commercial basis – such as some evening and weekend services or those calling at more remote locations.
However, there will be a review of contracted bus services during October which could result in some routes being reduced or withdrawn.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, led talks with the bus companies and government to secure the agreement to protect services.
Under the agreement TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has re-allocated part of the region’s £88m Bus Service Improvement Plan grant to keep services running while a long-term sustainable funding solution is found.
This grant, awarded to TfWM by the Department for Transport last year, was to be used on a variety of initiatives to encourage more people to use buses – but now approximately £40m will be used to support bus operators to maintain services at their present level.
However, TfWM said it is still on course to invest in improved bus priority, more electric and hydrogen buses, as well as securing agreements with operators.
The West Midlands has managed to retain the vast majority of its bus routes despite a dramatic drop in usage during and since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The current network is at around 90 per cent of pre-Covid levels.
Fares were increased in July to reduce the cost pressures on bus companies and keep more services running. The price of a day ticket rose from £4 to £4.50.
Mr Street said: “Buses are the backbone of our public transport network - providing a vital daily service for tens of thousands of local people right across our region at the same time as helping us to tackle the climate emergency and reduce traffic congestion on our roads.
“That’s why we simply could not allow a substantial reduction in services and I personally made the case on behalf of our region during intensive discussions with the likes of National Express West Midlands and Government. By stepping in and arranging this funding package to maintain bus service provision, we’ve successfully secured much needed certainty for the network all the way through to the end of next year.
“We’ve taken action and shown leadership in the face of the immediate challenge confronting us but we all know that a more sustainable solution must be found in the years ahead. We continue to work closely with the bus companies - and of course with Government - to achieve exactly that objective over the longer term.
“We should not forget what a success story buses are here in the West Midlands. Investment in new cleaner zero-emission buses continues at pace, local people are already benefitting from bus priority measures - including the new Sprint routes - and bus fares in our region remain amongst the lowest anywhere in the country. We’re proud of our buses and will continue to protect the network as residents rightly expect and deserve.”
Alex Jensen, CEO National Express UK & Germany, welcomed the support.
He added: “Meanwhile we are continuing the investment in electric and zero-emission buses which are both good for the environment and will help keep costs low. We will also work closely with our partners to seek a long term solution to the issues facing the bus industry at the present time.”
Councillor Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio lead for transport and leader of Walsall Council said: “Many other areas have seen bus services decimated in recent months and years and there was a risk of that happening here. But through our intervention, working with our bus companies, we have reached an agreement which keeps the buses on the road while keeping our fares among the lowest in the country.
“At the same time, we are continuing to invest in more bus lanes and priority junctions, new bus stations, new greener vehicles and our transport safety officers to further improve services for the travelling public.”