a “bold move” and the “biggest act of public control”
Bus services across the West Midlands are set to return to public control for the first time in 40 years.
The move is expected to reshape how passengers travel across the region.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the deal during a visit to Wolverhampton, describing it as a “bold move” and the “biggest act of public control” since becoming PM.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) will pay £24 million upfront for National Express West Midlands.
The deal will give the WMCA control over its network, assets and operations.
It follows plans to introduce a franchising model across the region.
This will give local authorities greater control over bus routes, timetables and fares.
Passengers will not see immediate changes to routes, fares or services.
National Express West Midlands said existing tickets will remain valid, including monthly and annual passes.
Normal September timetable changes will also continue as planned.
The purchase is expected to be completed in November. Bus franchising will then begin from April 2027.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said passengers would start seeing “real differences” across the network.
Under franchising, the WMCA will decide the network, timetables and fares.
The changes could eventually lead to more affordable fares and newer buses across the region.
National Express West Midlands operates across a large part of the West Midlands conurbation.
Its network covers Birmingham, the Black Country, Wolverhampton and Coventry.
The deal is expected to protect around 4,800 jobs. It will also support the continued operation of up to 750 buses each day.
Parker said public control would help protect routes and employment across the region.
The move follows plans to shift from deregulated bus services towards local franchising.
Mobico, the parent company behind National Express, said the planned franchise model created challenges for the business.
A 2025 public consultation found around 75% of respondents supported introducing franchising across the region.
Bus operators will later be invited to tender for routes across different parts of the network.
The move also follows Andy Burnham’s experience introducing the Bee Network in Greater Manchester.
The system brought bus services under greater public control as part of a wider regional transport network.
Disabled bus pass holders are also set to benefit from government-announced changes.
Currently, disabled bus passes can only be used between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays.
Those restrictions will be removed from April 1, 2027.
This will allow eligible disabled passengers to use their passes throughout the day.
Removing the time restrictions would therefore provide greater flexibility.
The government says the wider changes aim to create a more integrated public transport system.
This will cover buses, trams and trains across the region.
For passengers, the biggest changes will come after franchising begins next April.
Local authorities will then have greater control over how services operate across the West Midlands.
