Millions of people will be able to rely on vital bus links across the West Midlands thanks to a partnership confirmed today between the government and the West Midlands Combined Authority to take local control of bus services.
It comes after the parent company behind local operator National Express indicated it was leaving the market, putting the vast majority of bus trips in the West Midlands at risk.
Backed by £11.5m of new government funding over the next three years, the deal will support the West Midlands Combined Authority to save those services by bringing the bus network under public control, helping to protect routes. In the longer term, West Midlands Combined Authority is progressing work to directly control bus services through franchising, paying contractors to run the services for them.
The bold move shows the government’s willingness to take urgent action to work with local leaders to fix the problems facing people in their regions, backing them with the tools and resources they need to deliver for their communities.