Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is the
public body responsible for co-ordinating transport services in the
West Midlands
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some ...
metropolitan county in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. It is an executive body of the
West Midlands Combined Authority
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is a combined authority for the West Midlands metropolitan county in the United Kingdom. It was established by statutory instrument under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Ac ...
(WMCA), with bus franchising and highway management powers similar to
Transport for London.
TfWM's policies and strategy are set by the Transport Delivery Committee of the WMCA.
TfWM's initial priorities are the expansion of the
Metro
Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to:
Geography
* Metro (city), a city in Indonesia
* A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center
Public transport
* Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...
through East Birmingham,
Brierley Hill
Brierley Hill is a town and electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, West Midlands, England, 2.5 miles south of Dudley and 2 miles north of Stourbridge. Part of the Black Country and in a heavily industrialised area, it has a pop ...
and
Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Airport , formerly ''Birmingham International Airport'', is an international airport located east-southeast of Birmingham city centre, west-northwest of Coventry slightly north of Bickenhill village, in the Metropolitan Borou ...
, improvements to the
M5 and
M6 motorways, and new cycle 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
The M6 Toll, referred to on signs as the Midland Expressway (originally named the Birmingham Northern Relief Road or BNRR), and stylised as M6toll, connects M6 Junction 3a at the Coleshill Interchange to M6 Junction 11A at Wolverhampton with ...
.
History
Before 2016,
public transport
Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typical ...
services in the West Midlands were co-ordinated by the
West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive
The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) was the public body responsible for public transport in the West Midlands metropolitan county in the United Kingdom from 1969 until 2016. The organisation operated under the name Centro f ...
, which adopted the brand Centro in 1990. Centro's policies were set by the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (WMITA). TfWM absorbed the functions, responsibilities, assets and staff of both of these organisations in June 2016, and the predecessor organisations were dissolved.
Governance
The
WMCA WMCA may refer to:
*WMCA (AM), a radio station operating in New York City
* West Midlands Combined Authority, the combined authority of the West Midlands metropolitan county in the United Kingdom
*Wikimedia Canada
The Wikimedia Foundation, ...
'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
Birmingham City Council is the local government body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local council area in the United Kingdom (e ...
nominating seven members, the six other
Metropolitan Boroughs
A metropolitan borough (or metropolitan district) is a type of local government district in England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts within metropolit ...
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
![West Mids Metro and Rail Passenger Railway Map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/West_Mids_Metro_and_Rail_Passenger_Railway_Map.svg)
The
WMCA WMCA may refer to:
*WMCA (AM), a radio station operating in New York City
* West Midlands Combined Authority, the combined authority of the West Midlands metropolitan county in the United Kingdom
*Wikimedia Canada
The Wikimedia Foundation, ...
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:
Strategy
*Setting and monitoring the authority's transport budget, determining the grants to be made to passenger transport companies, and determining the borrowing limits of the Combined Authority in relation to transport matters.
* The allocation and prioritisation of central government grants and other forms of funding.
* Long-term strategy for the West Midlands transport system, contributing to regional economic development through a network of high-volume public transport corridors.
*Constructing and maintaining public transport infrastructure (bus, Metro stations, for example).
*Working with public transport operators, the
police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...
, and district councils for the promotion of safe, efficient, and economic transport facilities and services.
*Providing integration between public transport modes, including the provision of interchanges.
*Promoting and publicising the public transport network and providing travel information.
Rail/Light Rail
* Developing a rapid transit network, including
West Midlands Metro
The West Midlands Metro (originally named Midland Metro) is a light-rail/tram system in the county of West Midlands, England. Opened on 30 May 1999, it currently consists of a single route, Line 1, which operates between the cities of Birmin ...
and the
Coventry Very Light Rail
Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) is a light rail tram system proposed to operate in Coventry, England. The system has been promoted as being the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. When finished, it will also be the first tram network to ope ...
.
* Developing the rail network in partnership with
Network Rail
Network Rail Limited is the owner (via its subsidiary Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, which was known as Railtrack plc before 2002) and infrastructure manager of most of the railway network in Great Britain. Network Rail is an "arm's leng ...
and train operating companies, and formulating policies regarding a devolved rail franchise from October 2017.
* Maximising the benefits of
HS2
High Speed 2 (HS2) is a planned high-speed railway line in England, the first phase of which is under construction in stages and due for completion between 2029 and 2033, depending on approval for later stages. The new line will run from its m ...
across the West Midlands region.
Bus
* Considering and approving the creation and development of Bus Quality Contract Schemes
*Increasing bus travel, and supporting the modernisation of the bus network in the region with the West Midlands Bus Alliance.
*Subsidising socially necessary but commercially non-viable bus services.
*Franchising bus services, if deemed necessary to improve passenger services.
Ticketing and fares
* Operating a concessionary fares scheme and implementing the government's National Concessionary Scheme.
* Integrated ticketing and developing smartcard ticketing technology within the region.
* Providing an annual grant to th
operatorof the door-to-door ''Ring and Ride'' service for people who have difficulty using other public transport facilities. (Currently this is operated by Accessible Transport, part of
National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands (NXWM) is a bus operator in the West Midlands that operates services in Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton, and Solihull, as well as limited routes outside of the general area of Birmingham, su ...
.)
Highways
* Management of the West Midlands Key Route Network (WM-KRN) on behalf of the
metropolitan borough
A metropolitan borough (or metropolitan district) is a type of local government district in England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts within metropolitan ...
s and the
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
.
*Create and promote an effective freight strategy throughout the
metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...
.
Branding
Network West Midlands was the brand used by TfWM when it assumed responsibility for public transport from Centro in 2016. In 2018, the system was rebranded as "West Midlands Network," with a diamond motif designed to emulate the success of the
Transport for London roundel. The identity uses LL Circular by
Lineto
Lineto is a Swiss type foundry founded by Cornel Windlin and Stephan Müller in 1993. In 1998, Lineto launched a website to distribute their fonts digitally. In 2007, Jürg Lehni joined the venture.
The most well known fonts on Lineto's catalogue ...
as the primary typeface, replacing the
Network
Network, networking and networked may refer to:
Science and technology
* Network theory, the study of graphs as a representation of relations between discrete objects
* Network science, an academic field that studies complex networks
Mathematics
...
typeface that was previously used.
All public transport infrastructure will carry the identity, with signage and liveries being replaced on a rolling basis.
In 2021, it was announced that the "West Midlands Network" moniker would be dropped, leaving "Transport for West Midlands" as the public-facing brand.
Key projects
West Midlands Metro
TfWM's predecessor, Centro, was responsible for the reintroduction of
tram
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
services to the West Midlands, with the development of the Midland Metro, now known as
West Midlands Metro
The West Midlands Metro (originally named Midland Metro) is a light-rail/tram system in the county of West Midlands, England. Opened on 30 May 1999, it currently consists of a single route, Line 1, which operates between the cities of Birmin ...
. 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.
The line's first extension into the streets of Birmingham city centre, from its original terminus at
Birmingham Snow Hill to
Grand Central opened in May 2016. Lines are currently under construction in Dudley and Brierley Hill with of new track and work on another to serve
Birmingham Curzon Street railway station
Birmingham Curzon Street railway station is the planned northern terminus of Phase 1 of High Speed 2 in the city centre of Birmingham, England. The new railway will connect Birmingham to via and . Curzon Street will have seven terminal platf ...
(a
High Speed 2
High Speed 2 (HS2) is a planned high-speed railway line in England, the first phase of which is under construction in stages and due for completion between 2029 and 2033, depending on approval for later stages. The new line will run from its m ...
station),
Digbeth has begun. Future proposals include extension to North
Solihull
Solihull (, or ) is a market town and the administrative centre of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in West Midlands County, England. The town had a population of 126,577 at the 2021 Census. Solihull is situated on the River Blythe i ...
and Birmingham Airport.
Coventry Very Light Rail
A new tram system in
Coventry
Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...
,
Coventry Very Light Rail
Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) is a light rail tram system proposed to operate in Coventry, England. The system has been promoted as being the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. When finished, it will also be the first tram network to ope ...
, is planned to open by 2024, with a network of 4-6 lines open by 2030. The first vehicle left the assembly line in March 2021 and was taken on a showcase in the city before being taken to
Dudley
Dudley is a large market town and administrative centre in the county of West Midlands, England, southeast of Wolverhampton and northwest of Birmingham. Historically an exclave of Worcestershire, the town is the administrative centre of the ...
for testing.
West Midlands Bus
On 19 August 2018 National Express West Midlands and Diamond launched a joint timetable on services 42 West Bromwich to Tipton/Dudley and 43 West Bromwich to Bilston and 31 Mossley to Walsall 32 Lower Farm to Walsall, with National Express and Diamond buses repainted in red liveries carrying West Midlands Bus route branding.
From 15 March 2020 National Express West Midlands and Diamond launched a joint timetable on services 40 West Bromwich to Wednesbury via Friar Park
In August 2021, Diamond announced that they would cease running joint timetables on partnership services (withdrawing completely from service 32) and no longer serve Dudley on service 42, citing loss of revenue due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
On 5 December 2021 the partnership was back on for services 31/32; 42/43 and 40.
West Midlands Cycle
As part of the "Starley Network" Scheme across the West Midlands, a new transport mode by Transport for West Midlands was unveiled: West Midlands Cycle. As part of this a "West Midlands Walking and Cycling Commissioner" was appointed, Adam Tranter, whose job is to encourage Cycling and Walking as not just an activity, but a mode of transport. Projects to help this include things such as
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
's planned 200km Dutch Cycling Network,
Coventry
Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...
's Starley Network of multiple safe, dutch style cycleways, and a new Cycle Hire Scheme.
In March 2021, Cycle Hire Docking Stations started to appear across the West Midlands, in Coventry, Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Sutton Coldfield. Bikes can be hired for as long as you like and the cost of travel is often less than the equivalent bus journey. The scheme has been hugely successful, and was expanded to areas such as
Warwick University
, mottoeng = Mind moves matter
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £7.0 million (2021)
, budget = £698.2 million (2020â ...
and
Selly Oak
Selly Oak is an industrial and residential area in south-west Birmingham, England. The area gives its name to Selly Oak ward and includes the neighbourhoods of: Bournbrook, Selly Park, and Ten Acres. The adjoining wards of Edgbaston and Harborne ...
.
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
High Speed 2 (HS2) is a planned high-speed railway line in England, the first phase of which is under construction in stages and due for completion between 2029 and 2033, depending on approval for later stages. The new line will run from its m ...
trains, which would allow existing lines to have "better and more frequent local services".
Sprint bus network
Sprint is a
bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes ...
scheme under construction between Walsall, Birmingham and Solihull. Further routes are planned across the region.
Ticketing
TfWM is committed to the introduction of an integrated ticketing system. "n" branded tickets are valid across the entire network, on any operator within the TfWM area.
nBus tickets are valid on almost all operators' services in the West Midlands 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. Metro travel may be added onto nBus passes.
nTrain passes are valid on all local train services within the Network West Midlands zonal rail map (including
Hednesford
Hednesford (pronounced ) is a historic market town in the Cannock Chase (district), Cannock Chase district of Staffordshire, England. Cannock Chase is to the north, the town of Cannock to the south and Rugeley to the southwest.The population ...
), or to select out-of-county stations in the Birmingham travel-to-work metropolitan area.
Swift is the multi-modal, multi-operator smart travel card, similar to the
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a payment method for public transport in London (and certain areas around it) in England, United Kingdom. A standard Oyster card is a blue credit-card-sized stored-value contactless smart card. It is promoted by Transport ...
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.
See also
*
Transport in Birmingham
Birmingham is a major transport hub, due in part to its location in central England. The city is well connected by rail, road, and water. Public transport and key highways in the city are overseen by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).
Railw ...
References
External links
Transport for West MidlandsWest Midlands Combined Authority the body responsible for setting TfWM policy
{{authority control
Companies owned by municipalities of England
History of the West Midlands (county)
Local government in the West Midlands (county)
Public transport executives in the United Kingdom
Transport in the West Midlands (county)
2016 establishments in England