HS2

TfWM to take over running of Midland Metro next year

Day-to-day running of the Midland Metro tram service will be taken on entirely by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) from October 2018 when the current concession, which is held by National Express, ends.

The move has been implemented to enable TfWM, the transport arm of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), to invest its future profits back into expanding the network.

National Express staff working on the trams will be transferred to a newly set up subsidiary, Midland Metro Ltd, which is owned by WMCA, in anticipation for a number of line extensions that will see the network triple in size over the next decade – with forecasts projecting passenger numbers to increase from around 6.5 million to more than 30 million.

The works are expected to bring in the combined authority profits of £50m over the first 11 years, cash that will be channelled back into the network for the benefit of the local economy.

Cllr Roger Lawrence, WMCA lead for transport, commented that the metro was a fundamental part of future plans not just for transport, but for the West Midlands economy as a whole.

“It is a proven catalyst for economic growth and is critical to best connect and feed into HS2 so we can reap the maximum economic benefits possible from the high-speed rail line,” he said.

“That’s why Metro is embarking on an unprecedented period of expansion and we believe bringing services in house will provide the extra flexibility and adaptability needed to meet this exciting new chapter while generating millions of pounds for the benefit of passengers and taxpayers.”

Cllr Lawrence also thanked National Express staff for their work operating the trams as he said that passenger numbers had grown significantly and they had been nationally recognised for the high level of customer service they provide.

He added that transferring staff over from National Express would ensure existing skills and expertise were retained, helping to ensure the Metro’s 99% reliability and its other strengths were taken forward.

Laura Shoaf, managing director of TfWM, said that the end of the concession presented “an ideal opportunity” to change the way services were operated to better meet the needs of passengers, the wider community and ultimately the economy.

“If we didn’t do this and instead outsourced operations to a private company at a time of such major expansion then it would be extremely difficult to accurately define the scope of services required from the operator,” she explained.

“That would lead to continuous and expensive commercial negotiations to agree the price for the delivery of those network changes.

“While bringing operations in-house is not without risk we believe those risks are far outweighed by the advantages and that ultimately the move is good for passengers, good for taxpayers and good for the future prosperity of the West Midlands.”

Colin Saward, general manager of National Express Midlands Metro, expressed his disappointment at no longer running the contract.

“It’s disappointing we won’t get the chance to run the tram service when our current contract is up next year,” he stated. “But we appreciate TfWM’s reasons for taking services back in-house when the network is about to change so much.

“We will continue to work closely with TfWM to ensure a safe handover that is as smooth as possible for passengers and staff.”

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an RTM columnist? If so, click here.