A partnership between West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) is working to deliver a rail network for the West Midland that is both more locally accountable and better integrated.
Last March, a Trailblazer Deeper Devolution Deal was agreed between the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Government, and this partnership is designed to bring closer collaboration between the railway and the wider region, by giving local leaders more influence over the railway, so it meets the needs of West Midlands' communities and rail travellers.
The aim is for rail to be integrated into buses and trams in the wider West Midlands transport network and allow customers to plan and pay for their journeys seamlessly, and the partnership will:
- develop and implement ways to improve the customer experience, including station and on-board experiences such as customer information, wayfinding, and branding;
- make it easier for people to make journeys by public transport journeys right across the West Midlands;
- ensure the railway is able to support both regional and local plans for transport, housing, and health in delivering economic growth.
West Midlands' existing Swift platform will be used to provide a fully integrated multi-modal fares and ticketing structure. There will soon be an announcement about a pilot agreement for a new pay-as-you-go ticketing offer, other changes are being made so that the process of buying rail tickets is simpler and easier to understand.
A Partnership Oversight Group (POG) will oversee the development of the partnership so that expertise from across the sector, such as Network Rail, the Department for Transport and others, are brought together to help unlock genuinely dynamic and agile decision-making and produce innovative ideas that benefit the people and businesses in the West Midlands.
Mal Drury- Rose, Executive Director of the WMRE said: “I am excited by this partnership which will deliver enhanced local accountability and influence and therefore enable rail to better serve the people of the West Midlands. We've made significant progress on integrating West Midlands Railway with other public transport services through our existing partnerships with DfT and the rail industry. However, this new GBRTT/WMRE partnership will go one step further – improving customers' experience at stations, on trains and as they move between bus and tram.”
Rufus Boyd, Interim GBRTT Lead Director, said: “GBRTT's vision for a future guiding mind for rail is to bring different parties together so that decisions about train services are made in partnership with people who know what's best for their region.
“This new partnership with the West Midlands is an example of that vision and brings together key organisations involved in the wider region's transport. As well as enabling people to make and pay for journeys seamlessly across trains, buses and trams, this improved connectivity and joint approach can unlock jobs, housing and economic growth across the wider region.”
Has anyone any faith that yet another layer of bureaucracy will put the passenger first? Launched at a time when yet another round of strikes are due to hit the rail traveller. It is a system focused on delivery, not another “vision”, that is required.
Good for the west Midlands as a whole but Warwickshire is left out again we need better services every day
This revolutionary concept of joined up thinking is good news. I am sure a few people will remember rail and bus services before privatisation and deregulation, and the days before local government faced bankruptcy. Let’s hope public transport is given greater priority in the future.
Be interesting to see how this works . I’ve made EIGHT complaints to West Midlands Trains for services scheduled to run from Witton Station after football matches at Villa Park to New Street from Platform 2 via SoHo Loop to New Street. Great idea but never run, why they do this no idea, it causes problems for fans as they’re scheduled! I’ve now written to West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street. No one is remotely interested
Getting away from Villa Park by car, bus or train absolute joke in 2023. I have no faith in yet another initiative to improve transport in the hands of bureaucracy or the political class