West Midlands Mayor Affirms Value of £1m Free Bus Initiative

The West Midlands mayor has stated that a five-day initiative providing complimentary evening bus travel, despite its £1m cost, offers good value for money. This initiative, which commenced on Monday and concludes on Friday, permits all individuals to utilize bus services without charge within the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) region after 19:00 GMT. The authority reported a 25% rise in passenger numbers on specific routes during the initial two days; however, precise figures were unavailable because tickets were not issued. Mayor Richard Parker characterized the scheme as an instance of deploying government funds to foster investment and promote increased ridership of the bus network. “We’ve decided this time of year, given the expenses people are incurring, it’s a great initiative to run – supporting our night-time economy, supporting our high streets and encouraging people back on to buses,” he said. On Friday, the leaders of the seven councils comprising the WMCA are scheduled to review proposals for a consultation regarding the reintroduction of bus services under public control through a franchise model, a key election commitment of the Labour mayor. Parker pledged that this approach would grant the region enhanced authority over fares, routes, and timetables. The WMCA indicated that transitioning to a franchise model would incur a cost of £22.5m across a three-year period. Auditors, in a report presented to board members, asserted that this transition would deliver “better value for money.” The authority presently furnishes an annual subsidy of approximately £50m to private operators, yet it noted that this has not prevented fare hikes and service reductions.