Ring and Ride service saved after National Express takeover confirmed
The Ring and Ride service used by thousands of people in the Black Country has been saved.
The service, which transports elderly and disabled people to day centres, churches and hospitals, was put under threat earlier this year after its operator went into administration.
But now West Midlands Accessible Transport Ltd has confirmed it has secured its future.
Around 11,000 people are registered with the service which was established in 1983.
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It emerged last week that the firm, which is a subsidiary of transport giant National Express, was on the brink of securing a deal to save the service.
Administrators Matthew Ingram and Tyrone Courtman, both of Duff and Phelps Ltd, confirmed the sale, which was finalised today.
Mr Ingram, joint administrator, said: “I am delighted that we can finally assure all users of these fantastic services, of certainty for the future.
“Since the group entered administration earlier this year many people have come together and worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome, including my own team and our advisors, the group’s employees, representatives of the local authorities and the purchasers and their advisors.
“We are very grateful to them for that support and wish National Express and all those involved with this great organisation every success for the future.”
The service, which provides door-to-door transport, has six depots across the region – including in Pool Street, Wolverhampton, and next to the Black Country New Road in Wednesbury.
It has more than 12,500 registered users across the West Midlands – but they were put at risk when Accessible Transport Group (ATG) collapsed into administration in March.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) had agreed to keep the service over the last few months while efforts were made to save it.
Detailed conversations with a number of prospective service provides were carried out, with the National Express subsidiary chosen to provide a “high level” of stewardship for the service.
The insolvency of the group had “real consequences” for many of the most vulnerable in society, the administrators found.
Ring and Ride, founded in 1983, provides transport services across the region for people with disability, mobility restrictions or special educational needs.
It also operates several subsidised bus routes to rural and under-served communities.
