Mayor promises cheaper, more reliable service after taking buses under public control for first time in nearly 40 years

Mr Parker formally signed off plans for a rail-style franchise system for bus services following a board meeting of the West Midlands Combined Authority in Wolverhampton this afternoon.

"It's a really momentous day today for the West Midlands," he said.

"I committed during my campaign once I was elected to bring the bus network in this region back under public control, and today I've made that decision," he said.

"Today we now start the real hard work of that transition from a privatised bus service in the West Midlands, to taking it back under public control."

The first service to operate under the new system will be an express service from Walsall to Solihull via Birmingham, which will be launched at the end of 2027.

Mr Parker said the shake-up will be fully complete by the end of 2029.

He said the scheme will give the West Midlands Combined Authority - a consortium of seven metropolitan authorities, including Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton - the power to control the routes, timetables and fares of bus services for the first time since deregulation in 1986.

It will see the combined authority spend £121.8 million buying up the region's existing diesel bus fleet and depots. A further £22.5 million has been earmarked to cover the cost of administering the transition.

But Mr Parker said the authority would be able to recoup these costs by leasing the buses and depots back to the private operating companies, meaning the net cost to the taxpayer would be zero.

He added that under the present system, the combined authority was subsidising National Express to the tune of £50 million a year.

"We've got a system that works for no-one currently," he said.

"We've got a private-sector monopoly running the bus network across the West Midlands, and that's costing us around an additional £50 million a year now subsidising that private sector.

"Under franchising, our approach will be to create a bus network that is attractive to operators."

Mr Parker said a similar scheme in Greater Manchester had been highly successful, and he was confident that could be replicated in the West Midlands.

Buses will operate under a new Transport for West Midlands livery, although the colour scheme for that was yet to be decided.

"I'm really looking forward to delivering a system and a bus network here that will deliver benefits for everyone across the region," Mr Parker added.

“For too long, our buses have been run for private profits, not public good. The public have been clear. They want a better bus service under public control, and I’ve heard them loud and clear. I promised to take back control of our buses, and today’s decision shows we’re delivering on that promise.

“The work is now underway, and over the next two years we’ll create a bus network that puts passengers first - reliable, affordable and run in the interests of the people that use them.”

With 236 million journeys last year, buses account for eight in 10 public transport trips.

Warinder Juss, Labour MP for Wolverhampton West, welcomed the decision.

"It's wonderful that the buses will be taken back under public control," he said. "I'm really happy, it will be great for the community."

Currently, 95 per cent of bus services in the West Midlands are operated by National Express, carrying more than 4.5 million passengers every week.

Antony Goozee, commercial director at National Express West Midlands, said the company remained committed to working with the combined authority.

"We recognise the ambitions of the mayor and the West Midlands Combined Authority to significantly invest in the bus network and develop a new operating model that maximises value for public investment, enhances mobility, and supports economic growth across the region," he said.

"Our longstanding and successful partnership with Transport for West Midlands is something we greatly value. Drawing on decades of experience, we remain fully committed to working collaboratively to deliver high-quality bus services, supporting a smooth and effective transition to the new franchising model as well as continuing to improve our service excellence well into the future."