Transport for West Midlands

For the predecessor organisation which existed 1969-2016, see West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.
Transport for West Midlands

Location of the West Midlands within the United Kingdom
Abbreviation TfWM
Predecessor West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive
West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority
Formation 17 June 2016
Type Public body
Purpose Transport authority
Headquarters 16 Summer Lane
Birmingham, England
Region served
West Midlands (county) and parts of Staffordshire
Managing Director
 Laura Shoaf
Parent organization
 West Midlands Combined Authority
Website

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is an executive body of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), with bus franchising (from May 2017) and highway management powers similar to Transport for London.[1][2][3] It is responsible for transport infrastructure and public transport services in the West Midlands metropolitan area, with the remit to develop a network that fully integrates the region's road, rail, bus, and tram systems.[4] TfWM is branded as Network West Midlands for the purposes of public transport information.

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.[5]

Governance [6]

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:[6]

Branding

The name Network West Midlands was introduced by TfWM's predecessor, Centro, in 2005 and used for a rebranding of the existing bus and train service, 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. The Network West Midlands brand was retained by TfWM when it assumed responsibility for public transport from Centro in 2016.

Midland Metro

Main article: Midland Metro
Midland Metro Urbos 3 tram in Wolverhampton in June 2014

TfWM's predecessor, Centro, was 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. The first (and so far only) line of the Midland Metro was opened in May 1999 between Birmingham and Wolverhampton.[7] The line's first extension – into the streets of Birmingham city centre, from its original terminus at Birmingham Snow Hill to Birmingham New Street – opened in May 2016.[8] Further extensions of the system are planned.[9]

Key projects

High-speed rail

In August 2009 TfWM's predecessor, 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".[10]

Bus rapid transit

Plans are in place for a new network of 'Sprint' services.[11]

Ticketing

TfWM is committed to the introduction of an integrated ticketing system. 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' services in the county. Tickets can be purchased for travel within various local travel areas or across the whole of the county, and are valid for periods ranging from one day to a year.[12] 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

Main article: Swift card

Swift is the 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 contactless passes and cards that share a common system and brand name. Centro began a phased rollout of the Swift card scheme in 2012, which was still ongoing in 2016 when responsibility for the scheme passed to TfWM. The system is expected to be extended across the local rail network as part of rail devolution in the West Midlands.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Just the ticket, West Midlands metro mayor to get control of buses". The Chamberlain Files. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Devolution register". Local Government Association. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "WMITA - West Midlands ITA - May 2016". www.wmita.org.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "West Midlands Combined Authority - Laura Shoaf appointed managing director of Transport for West Midlands". westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "West Midlands Combined Authority - £4 billion of transport infrastructure over coming decade". westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  6. 1 2 West Midlands Combined Authority. "Agenda document for the West Midlands Combined Authority Board, 10.06.2016" (PDF). West Midlands Combined Authority. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  7. ↑ Boynton, John (2001). Main Line to Metro: Train and tram on the Great Western route: Birmingham Snow Hill – Wolverhampton. Kidderminster. Mid England Books. ISBN 978-0-9522248-9-1.
  8. ↑ Birmingham City Centre Extension Centro
  9. ↑ "Midland Metro Grand Central extension opens". British Trams Online. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "West Midlands transport bosses welcome High Speed Rail". Centro. 27 August 2009.
  11. ↑ "New sprint bus will be a vital link". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 27 June 2006.
  12. ↑ http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/TicketHome/nbus_ticket.aspx
  13. ↑ http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/just-ticket-birmingham-commuters-oyster-style-8931699
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