What is Centro?

There is sometimes confusion about the role Centro plays in public transport in the West Midlands. The information below should help to clarify this.

Centro is the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive and Authority. It is a publicly-funded body which promotes and develops public transport in the West Midlands, and represents passenger interests.

We do not operate any buses, trains or trams.

Our aim is to provide the West Midlands with a world class, modern and effective public transport system that meets the economic, social and environmental needs of the West Midlands.

Centro’s Chief Executive is Geoff Inskip (pictured left).

Policy for Centro is set by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority which is made up of 27 councillors from the seven city and metropolitan borough councils of the West Midlands. The chairman (pictured right) is Cllr Gary Clarke (Conservative) and vice-chairman is Len Clark (Conservative).

Bus, train and tram (Midland Metro) services are run by private sector operators – there is a varying degree of public control over these.

Bus services

Buses in the West Midlands are operated by several dozen commercial companies. The largest of these (with almost 85% of the network) is National Express West Midlands (pictured left).

Bus services (outside London) are de-regulated – which means commercial operators are more or less free to run any services where they think they can make a profit.

Centro can pay operators, through public subsidy, to fill any gaps in the network, such as socially necessary services and un-profitable off-peak services. Approximately 200 bus services (7% of the bus network) are subsidised in this way.

Centro has been working closely in partnership with bus operators in the region to provide better services for passengers. It has recently signed groundbreaking Voluntary Partnership Agreements with bus companies National Express West Midlands and Stagecoach to provide improvements on several key routes. It has also worked closely with operators and Dudley Council to transform the boroughs bus network so that services reflect changes to the area of recent years and take passengers where they want to go when they want to go. It is hoped that these improvements will soon be replicated on a wider scale.

Another important factor in improving services is Bus Showcase Schemes, which aim to improve reliability, journey times and passenger experience. These initiatives include upgraded shelters and information along a bus route together with traffic priority measures provided by the local council. Operators provide newer, accessible vehicles and customer-care trained drivers.

Much of the support infrastructure for bus services is owned, operated and maintained by Centro. This includes bus shelters, bus stations and passenger information.

Rail services

Rail services in the West Midlands are operated by GoVia under the brand name London Midland. It took over from Central Trains when its franchise ended in November 2007. Centro works closely with GoVia London Midland to provide the region with quality rail services, and welcomes its planned improvements to passenger facilities, smartcard ticketing, passenger security and the provision of 64 new diesel and electric trains.

Centro operates a number of park and ride sites attached to stations, providing over 6,000 free spaces all of which have Safer Parking accreditation. It uses public subsidy to provide the free parking, which currently takes more than 2.75 million car journeys a year off the region’s congested roads.

Over the last three years, Centro has been granted nearly £2million of money from the Department for Transport’s Access for All fund to install Real Time Information at the region’s rail stations. This includes electronic information displays and automatic passenger announcements which tell passengers exactly when their train will arrive. 25 stations have already been completed, with a further 32 due to be up and running soon.

Midland Metro

Centro is the body responsible for developing the Midland Metro tram network. It does not run the trams.

Line One, which opened between Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Birmingham nine years ago, is operated under a concession by Travel Midland Metro, a subsidiary of the bus company National Express West Midlands.

Centro is working to extend Midland Metro Line One to provide the region with an integrated tram network.

It has submitted a robust business case to Government for funding for the Phase One extensions, which would see a line built from Birmingham Snow Hill station, through Birmingham City Centre, up to Five Ways, and from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill in Dudley.

It is also developing the Phase Two extension plans. These include lines from Birmingham City Centre up to the Airport, out to Quinton and the Varsity North route along the A34, as well as the 5Ws line connecting Walsall, Willenhall, Wednesbury, Wednesfield and Wolverhampton.

Network West Midlands

Centro has been working hard to bring the West Midlands an integrated, easy to use public transport system with up to date information and clear signage, under the brand name Network West Midlands.

It clearly identifies the complete network of bus, rail and Metro services that are easily accessible to most people in the region.

The Network West Midlands logo and signs are on all bus stops, rail stations, bus stations and Metro stops. Wherever it is, there will be far better information to make using buses, trains and Metro easier than ever before.

The aim is to work towards creating a smoother, safer, more efficient and user-friendly system.

The Network West Midlands brand has also included the introduction of Real Time Information on bus, rail, and Metro showing exactly when the next services will arrive. This includes displays at stops and stations, as well as up to date bus times being avaialble on mobile phones via text message and WAP.

Subsidised fares

Centro provides people over the age of 60 and eligible blind and disabled people with free concessionary travel.

Since April 2008, as part of a Government initiative, entitled people can travel for free on all local bus services in England after 9:30am Monday to Friday, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Qualifying people living in the West Midlands county benefit from one of the best free travel schemes in the country, as Centro pays for an enhanced concession so they can travel for free on trains and trams within the county boundary as well as buses nationwide.

Commercial operators are also paid a significant subsidy to give half fare for all young people under 16, and those aged 16 – 18 in full time education.

Integrated ticketing

Centro, through negotiation with commercial operators, provides a range of tickets and passes (e.g. nbus, ntrain, ntram and nnetwork) to give people easy travel across different modes of transport. Unlike tickets sold by bus companies which are only valid on their own vehicles, all of Centro’s tickets and passes covering bus can be used on vehicles owned by nearly every operator in the West Midlands.

Local councils

Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and Wolverhampton City Council also have transport responsibilities –predominantly concerned with highways. They implement bus lanes, for example, and are partners in the future development of the Midland Metro.

The seven councils meet together as the West Midlands Planning and Transportation Sub Committee to discuss policy and, with Centro, they submit the Local Transport Plan (funding bid) to Government.