Plans to introduce more transport safety officers and a streamlined fare structure are included in an £88 million package of measures designed to transform bus services over the next three years.

Further proposals outlined in the region’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will see greater coordination between Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and private operators, improvements to the bus network and more targeted fare offers and flexible ticketing to encourage new and returning customers onto buses.

TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), drew up the plan in answer to the Government’s ‘Bus Back Better’ call for proposals to improve bus services following the Covid pandemic.

The plan was given the green light from the WMCA Board and will now be submitted to the Department for Transport for approval and funding.

This funding is in addition to the £162 million capital investment, being delivered through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, to create 50km of new bus priority routes and cross-city services, as well as investment in improvements to smart ticketing, demand-responsive transport and live travel information.

Key features for the £88 million transformation plan include:

• Lower and streamlined fares – with prices frozen to 2018 level until 2025
• Enhanced bus network with greater operating hours, increased frequency and greater integration with other transport services
• Boost the Safer Travel team with nine extra uniformed transport safety officers to offer greater protection and reassurance to passengers
• Create a Bus Passenger Charter to set out clear pledges for customer satisfaction and retention

TfWM, councils and operators already work closely through the West Midlands Bus Alliance and our existing Enhanced Partnership will be extended to support the BSIP delivery.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “Travelling by bus remains a popular choice for West Midlands residents.

“Pre pandemic, we were the only region outside London where bus passenger numbers were increasing – helped of course by our lower fares and offers like half-price for apprentices.

“Now we want to see our bus services bounce back from Covid and this plan sets out how we will go about doing just that – winning back not just existing customer loyalty but also encouraging even more people to give the bus a go.”

The report to the WMCA board also warned of risks of some bus services being lost at the same time as Covid-19 support funding handed to operators from Government throughout the pandemic is withdrawn later this year and operators face the challenge of rising fuel costs.

TfWM will continue discussions with Government over support for existing bus services.

Pictured: The new-look Walsall bus station