Wolverhampton councillor responds to National Express franchise loss

Councillor Phil Bateman, Labour councillor for Wednesfield North wrote a detailed response to the announcement in his blog.

The councillor was chairman of the old West Midlands County Council Passenger Transport Committee and is an ambassador for transport in the region. In 2004, he was awarded the MBE for services to transport in the West Midlands.

He wrote: "We should have gratitude to National Express.

"The loss by National Express of the Midland Metro franchise is now a reality but still one of sadness for me.

"National Express should be remembered for launching the line, investing into it, and delivering reliable services over the last 18 years. I want to thank them as a company for having a belief in the Metro when few others had. They also shared a vision of our region that had a network of tram lines acting together with strong local bus services for the benefit of integrated transportation."

Transport for West Midlands, an arm of the new West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will take over running the service when the current concession finishes in October next year.

Around 200 National Express staff will transfer to TfWM as part of the move. It is understood no-one is will lose their job as a result of the changes.

Councillor Bateman continued: “With Local Authorities now taking control of the Metro tram service, and the financial risk, indeed all aspects of Metro delivery planning and operation. This is the time to push on and make bold plans.

"Wolverhampton is now in a prime position to now call for new tram extensions that take it beyond the planned service extension to the City’s Rail & Bus station. Line one needs an extension at this end of our conurbation to ensure it moves forward into the future."

TfWM says it will plough millions of pounds of future profits back into expanding the network.

A new subsidiary company – Midland Metro Ltd – which will be wholly owned by the WMCA, will run the service. TfWM already owns the network and the trams.

The combined authority is set to start a number of extensions which will see the network triple in size over the next decade, with passenger numbers forecast to increase from around 6.5 million at present to more than 30 million.

Councillor Bateman suggested that a tram line should be built to serve New Cross Hospital and other areas in his ward.

He said: "The top of its future extensions should be a link by tram to Wednesfield. Serving the giant New Cross hospital site which already attracts multi thousands of staff, patients and visitors, also the retail and leisure sites, then perhaps with it pointing towards Willenhall and Walsall – that town and its politicians may yet be able to see the opportunity that exists by using tram technology for their borough?"