Bus operators to be invited to bid for franchises

Bus operators are to be invited to tender to run routes across parts of the West Midlands network as the next step in introducing a franchised system gets under way.

Invitation to tender for the first tranche is set to open later this month for North/East Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall, with services expected to start later next year.

A second round for Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton is expected in 2028, with a third for Solihull and South and West Birmingham the following year.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker pledged to move the region's bus network from its current private operator-led model to franchising, after he was elected in 2024.

He said franchising will return control over fares, timetables and routes back to public hands, with decisions taken by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of West Midlands Combined Authority.

The WMCA currently provides an annual subsidy of around £50m to private operators, but this has failed to stop fare increases and service reductions.

Parker said communities and business groups' "biggest plea" to him while he was campaigning to be mayor, was "do all I can to improve the bus network".

In 2025, a public consultation found around 75% of respondents were in favour of introducing a franchise model in the region.

In January, the WMCA said it was to buy operator National Express's (NE) existing fleet of diesel and electric buses.

The authority held a pre-market engagement day with prospective bus operators earlier this year.

Bus franchising will also require the acquisition of depots across the region and fleet, as well as setting up processes to manage contracts and operator performance.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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