The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has agreed to buy out National Express West Midlands, ending the company's near-monopoly on bus services in the region since 1995. The deal, confirmed on Tuesday, fulfils Mayor Richard Parker's key election promise to bring buses back under public control, making the West Midlands the first English combined authority to trial full municipal ownership of its bus network.
Parker described the move as a necessary intervention to prevent the collapse of bus services. "I wasn't prepared to stand by and watch hundreds of buses disappear from our roads because a private company decided to walk away," he said during Tuesday's press statement. The mayor's comments revealed that the region had been on the brink of losing its entire bus network, which carries 4.5 million passengers every week.
Secret negotiations and tense atmosphere
The Dispatch can reveal that the deal follows 12 months of anxious negotiations between the WMCA and Mobico, the parent company of National Express West Midlands. While Mobico had publicly supported plans to franchise the bus network from 2027, behind closed doors the relationship was strained.
"I can report a tense atmosphere and a lack of willingness on National Express' part to co-operate," a WMCA insider told The Dispatch. As early as 12 months ago, Mobico was threatening to sell up and move on, potentially leaving the West Midlands without a bus network.
First English combined authority to trial municipal ownership
The deal, described by the WMCA as a "temporary" arrangement finishing in 2029, marks the end of National Express West Midlands' near-monopoly that has existed since 1995. The purchase makes the West Midlands the first English combined authority to trial full municipal ownership of buses.
The negotiations were conducted in great secrecy, with the deal assigned a series of changing codenames to keep it under wraps from employees on both sides. All major players are now subject to non-disclosure agreements until the deal's completion in December.
Impact on bus users
Under the new arrangement, the WMCA will set fares and decide routes, while private companies will be paid to run daily operations. The move follows the model championed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who signalled his approval with a dedicated video on social media featuring a toy bus.
For the 4.5 million passengers who use buses in the region each week, the change means public control over fares and routes, with the WMCA now responsible for ensuring services meet passenger needs. The deal is expected to be completed by December, with the WMCA taking over operations by the end of the year.
