Small and local bus operators have been invited to bid for routes in the West Midlands as the region advances plans to bring its bus network under public control.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has created seven bundled contracts covering 20 selected routes across north Birmingham and Walsall. The single-route opportunities are intended to allow smaller companies to compete with larger providers and build a presence in the market.
Franchising timetable
Under the proposed franchising model, the Mayor of the West Midlands and the West Midlands Combined Authority will set routes, timetables and fares. Private operators will compete for contracts to run services rather than operating within the current deregulated, commercially led system.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “We have brilliant, independent bus operators across the West Midlands who know our communities well, but they’ve often been squeezed out by larger companies. By creating single-route contracts, we’re giving local businesses the chance to win, grow, and play a part in delivering a public transport system our region can be proud of.”
He added: “Bringing our buses back under public control is all about delivering better routes, affordable fares, and reliable timetables while creating a fairer and stronger economy, especially for the thousands of people who rely on buses for their daily journeys.”
Once franchising is in place, buses across the region will use a common branding, colour scheme and fare structure, regardless of which operator wins each contract.
The first major geographical contract, for Coventry, north Birmingham and Walsall, was opened to bids in August. Services under that phase are due to begin in October 2027.
A second phase covering Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton is scheduled for 2028, followed by a third phase covering Solihull and south Birmingham in 2029.