West midlands bus franchising

[Stu]

Have the total and ongoing costs of franchising in Manchester been revealed?

The other pertinent question to be answered is has franchising bus services in Manchester made them more reliable?

[B7RLE]

The other pertinent question to be answered is has franchising bus services in Manchester made them more reliable?

As someone who has multiple friends from different areas of Greater Manchester, I can confirm the answer to this is no

[ellspurs]

I went through Manchester (on my way to Glasgow) on Tuesday. I barely saw any of the yellow buses. Have they not franchised the area that covers the city centre/airport yet?

[B7RLE]

I went through Manchester (on my way to Glasgow) on Tuesday. I barely saw any of the yellow buses. Have they not franchised the area that covers the city centre/airport yet?

The south of Greater Manchester (south of the city) is set to be franchised in early 2025 - that includes the airport area

[ellspurs]

Ah, okay. That would explain the lack of yellow buses. Thank you.

[frostjay974]

As someone who has multiple friends from different areas of Greater Manchester, I can confirm the answer to this is no

It would be better if you went there and tested the services yourself before saying that. 

[Tony]

It would be better if you went there and tested the services yourself before saying that.

The biggest problem in Manchester is traffic seems even worse than Birmingham. If I go up there in the morning peak looking for specific buses to photo most of them seem to arrive in Central Manchester 20-30 minutes late. Franchising does nothing to help that. It seems Manchester is even more in need of Bus Priority than Birmingham is.

[Rachvince53]

The south of Greater Manchester (south of the city) is set to be franchised in early 2025 - that includes the airport area

I went through Manchester (on my way to Glasgow) on Tuesday. I barely saw any of the yellow buses. Have they not franchised the area that covers the city centre/airport yet?

Yes. The franchises have gone to Diamond North West and Metroline. The yellow buses for Metroline are currently in store, some in Cardiff I understand. 

[B7RLE]

It would be better if you went there and tested the services yourself before saying that.

I hear everyday about struggles with Bee Network services, across a wide range of them. I have also been up there once and I witnessed a convoy of vehicles on the 135, 59 and 409. 3 of the 6 routes that I rode on that day.

[ellspurs]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c86qy500545o

More info about moneys being distributed across the country for bus networks.

[LD713821]

TfWM has published documents about it, found some intreseting stuff

West Midlands Bus Network will be fully implemented by 2029 by which time there will be a vehicle requirement of 1177 vehicles to operate the West Midlands Bus Network
New Birmingham East depot to replace BC
TransportUK/GoAhead/Transdev/Midland Red/Rotola/NX was contacted for some questionnaire and NX got a "seperate meeting"
Seperated into nine zones, Wolverhmapton, walsall, west brom, dudley, birmingham north, birmingham SW, birmingham east, birmingham SE / Solihull, Coventry

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/media/k1ilbwhq/assessment-of-the-proposed-franchising-scheme-for-west-midlands-buses.pdf

[LD713821]

Right

[Coventrybususer95]

Right

They will just add it to everyone's tax bill 

[EK40]

TfWM has published documents about it, found some intreseting stuff

West Midlands Bus Network will be fully implemented by 2029 by which time there will be a vehicle requirement of 1177 vehicles to operate the West Midlands Bus Network
New Birmingham East depot to replace BC
TransportUK/GoAhead/Transdev/Midland Red/Rotola/NX was contacted for some questionnaire and NX got a "seperate meeting"
Seperated into nine zones, Wolverhmapton, walsall, west brom, dudley, birmingham north, birmingham SW, birmingham east, birmingham SE / Solihull, Coventry

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/media/k1ilbwhq/assessment-of-the-proposed-franchising-scheme-for-west-midlands-buses.pdf

more summary for those who dont want to read a whole 600 page doc.

Phase 1 - Coventry, Walsall & Birmingham North
Procurement - Starting Q2 2026
Mobilisation - Starting Q1 2027

Phase 2 - Black Country Areas
Procurement - Starting Q2 2027
Mobilisation  - Starting Q1 2028

Phase 3 - South Birmingham & Solihull
Procurement -Starting Q2 2028
Mobilisation - Starting Q1 2029

Fleet and depot acquisition to start Q2 this year.
NX wolves,PB & Diamond tividale to be bought. new depot built in oldbury and new depot to replace BC or re-opening of the old Lea Hall depot.

[winston]

TfWM has published documents about it, found some intreseting stuff

West Midlands Bus Network will be fully implemented by 2029 by which time there will be a vehicle requirement of 1177 vehicles to operate the West Midlands Bus Network
New Birmingham East depot to replace BC
TransportUK/GoAhead/Transdev/Midland Red/Rotola/NX was contacted for some questionnaire and NX got a "seperate meeting"
Seperated into nine zones, Wolverhmapton, walsall, west brom, dudley, birmingham north, birmingham SW, birmingham east, birmingham SE / Solihull, Coventry

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/media/k1ilbwhq/assessment-of-the-proposed-franchising-scheme-for-west-midlands-buses.pdf

If the new WM Bus Network will only require 1177 vehicles, everyone best be prepared for large scale service cuts. 

NX's fleet alone is currently circa 1420, Rotala circa 170 in WM + the other independents.