Latest news with #TfWM
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
West Midlands bus passengers face hike in fares after review
Bus fares are to increase by 8.6% as a result of rising costs faced by bus operators, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) 15 June, a day ticket will rise by 40p to £5.20; a four-week fare will go up from £64 to £70, and the monthly direct debit fare is to change from £59 to £ fare rise follows an independent review, instigated by bus operators, which recommended the increase and which TfWM was required to introduce. The public body said its monthly and annual bus passes would remain among the lowest in this month, West Midlands mayor Richard Parker signed an order to bring the region's bus network back under public control for the first time in nearly 40 years. TfWM said the West Midlands Combined Authority, which it is part of, had agreed to continue the £50m a year funding to "support struggling operators and prevent further reductions in bus services".Matt Lewis, TfWM commercial director – bus and operations, stated it was a "difficult time for people and money is tight". Long-term investment The public body had worked hard with "our bus operators to keep these increases to an absolute minimum" and keep its services on the road, he a franchise system, the TfWM and regional leaders will take control of routes and timetables and set fares, as well as make long-term investments in services. Private operators will bid to run services on behalf of TfWM, and this will be introduced in phases from 2027, with the rollout completed during 3,600 people who took part in a consultation, including organisations, 75% who expressed a preference backed bringing services under public control, the combined authority has one-off costs of setting up the new operation and designing the network were expected to be £22.5m over three years, it had stated. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
West Midlands Mayor announces extra £12m to tackle potholes
Six councils are to receive an extra £2m to help fill thousands of potholes and resurface roads across the West £12m funding – enough to fill 132,000 potholes and subject to final government sign-off - will be shared between Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and follows a grant of £8m that Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker secured from the government in will also pay for new low-carbon surface treatments, developed in the region, described by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as "pioneering". They will be applied to roads to extend their lifespan as well as reduce carbon emissions. Parker has re-allocated the cash to road repairs from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) fund."I know that too many of our roads are blighted with deep potholes, huge cracks and craters – leaving motorists struggling with dangerous driving conditions and large repair bills," he said."That's why I decided to re-allocate this money to road maintenance budgets. I know our councils will be able to get to work quickly to bring more roads up to scratch and improve journeys for every road user."The additional funding was approved at a WMCA Board meeting on Friday, a decision that needs the green light from the Department for Transport. According to the WMCA, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) - which is part of the WMCA - is leading the way in trialling innovative, longer-lasting road surface materials, through the award-winning Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads (CEDR).As part of the mission to create smoother, longer-lasting, and lower carbon roads, several councils within the WMCA area are preparing to use their funding to test these new materials. The six councils were initially allocated £24 million CRSTS money for road maintenance this year. Since then, Parker has secured an extra £20m - doubling the road maintenance budgets for the six City Council's road repairs are funded through a separate private finance initiative process. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bill to fix Dudley Castle tram stop could cost £350k
It could cost up to £350,000 to alter the height of a road at a tram stop after it was discovered it could bring the West Midlands Metro to a a temporary surface is removed near the new Dudley Castle tram stop, the tracks will be at the wrong level for the road for West Midlands (TfWM) discovered the mix up last year and Dudley Council has approved spending of up to £100,000 towards fixing the issue at the Very Light Rail Innovation the worst-case estimate to fix the issue is £350,000, said the council. It said if external funding could not be found, the council would have to pick up the bill alongside BBC has contacted TfWM for comment. Findings 'largely inconclusive' A council document authorising spending of £100,000 said work had been undertaken to understand how the problem occurred, why it had only recently been identified and what work would be needed to rectify it. It said: "The findings are largely inconclusive with no one party able to identify a single set of drawings with sufficient detail and approvals of the drawings and works delivered by all parties."Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader of the council, said the authority was working on the best said: "Part of this work has been exploring routes to secure funding for any required changes. "We are looking at the possibility of using grant funding to cover the work required or utilising project efficiencies to make a contribution towards the works from existing budgets."We are also reviewing the construction drawings to understand how the issue has arisen." This news has been gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
West Midlands bus network to come back under public control
The West Midlands mayor has signed an order that will bring the region's bus network back under public control for the first time in almost 40 for West Midlands (TfWM) will set fares, timetables and routes and award contracts to private were expected to be nine local area franchises and the first public-controlled services were expected in late 2027, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Richard Parker said: "For too long, our buses have been run for private profits, not public good. Today, that changes." He added "a bus network that puts passengers first" and was reliable and affordable would be WMCA said that of 3,600 people who took part in a consultation, including organisations, 75% who expressed a preference backed bringing services under public Friday, the authority said the decision had kick-started the transition process towards franchised services, replacing the private operator-led local area franchises were expected to be rolled out each year from 2027 to 2029, "plus a number of smaller single route contracts to encourage smaller bus operators to bid".The one-off costs of setting up the new operation and designing the network were expected to be £22.5m over three years, the WMCA said. It stated bus depots and a fleet of more than 1,000 buses would be needed – either bought or leased using the authority's transport grants or borrowing through fare income. The private operator-led bus network had struggled with rising costs in recent years and was being "propped up" with £50m a year of taxpayers' money to prevent more services from being cut, the WMCA added that last year an independent audit found through increased competition among operators franchising would offer "better value for money – whatever the level of public funding".Bus strategy and commercial director at operator National Express West Midlands Antony Goozee said it recognised the ambitions of the mayor and WMCA to "significantly invest" and develop an operating model that "maximises value for public investment".He added it was fully committed to working collaboratively to deliver high-quality bus services, "supporting a smooth and effective transition". Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Business Mayor
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Mayor
Power boost for electric cars in West Midlands as 10,000 new charging points to be installed
A general view of an electric car (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire) Thousands of extra electric car charging points are to be installed on road sides across the West Midlands to stop range anxiety. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker announced another 10,000 connection points will be introduced to help the region achieve its Net Zero target for 2041. Mr Parker said latest Department for Transport figures showed the number of chargers is growing at a faster rate here than in most areas of the country. READ MORE: Ambitious skills target hit for West Midlands people but mayor says he 'won't stop there' There are now more than 4,000 publicly accessible charging points across the region's road network – the fifth highest number of all English regions outside London and a 36 per cent increase in the past year. It means residents and businesses in the West Midlands who have already made the switch now have access to the equivalent to 11 chargers per square mile. And now Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) will work with local councils to use funding secured from government to install thousands more over the coming years. This includes almost 200 charging points at nine ultra-fast filling stations where drivers will be able to power their vehicles with 100 miles or range in less than 15 minutes. Are you proud to live in Birmingham? A spokesperson for TfWM said range anxiety is one of the main reasons that drivers and company bosses have been hesitant about switching to electric vehicles with calls for the nation's charging infrastructure to be ramped up. Mr Parker said: 'The West Midlands is the beating heart of the UK car industry and I want us to lead the charge into a new era of electrification. 'Our roadside EV charging network is already one of the fastest-growing in the country, but I'm not stopping there. 'I'm giving the green light for 10,000 more charging connection points as part of our transport revolution. 'This is about building a cleaner and greener future for all of our communities, reducing pollution and tackling the climate emergency head-on.' The funding has been secured from the Department for Transport's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund and as part of the region's £1.3 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.
