Commissioning and Managing the West Midlands Railway

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Our Vision“Championing the needs of passengers and business, West Midlands Rail will manage local rail services as part of an integrated public transport network, directing future investment at increasing our economic performance”

Commissioning and Managing the West Midlands RailwayA collaboration of West Midlands transport authorities have come together to promote the creation of a devolved rail franchise for the West Midlands. The local rail network is a key driver of economic growth in the region and connects all the transport authority areas that support this proposal.

Experience from across the country demonstrates that better outcomes for passengers and taxpayers can be achieved with local determination of rail services. We believe the West Midlands has a strong case for a transfer of responsibility from central to local government with wide-ranging benefits for government, taxpayers and, most importantly, passengers.

Working together as ‘West Midlands Rail‘, Partner Authorities wish to take responsibility ,with Department for Transport (DfT), for specifying and managing local rail services in the region from 2017 in line with the refranchising programme for London Midland.

Our proposition outlines how we wish to do this and describes the significant benefits we believe will flow from local determination of local rail services and the associated re-mapping of services.

We are seeking government’s agreement to this proposal in order that WMR can commence joint working with DfT to develop the proposed franchises and the associated legal and funding frameworks over the coming months.

Through local WMR collaboration our proposals offer significant advantages:

• Being more flexible, and expeditious in responding to local investment priorities

• Holding real capability for better integration of rail with metro, buses, cycles, pedestrians and roads

• Closely understanding travel patterns and the growing demand for local rail capacity

• Working directly and routinely with local with local people, businesses, local government and LEPs

• Understanding the local balance between fares, service levels, facilities and investments

• Greater oversight and scrutiny of commercial and operational performance

HS2 will transform national and international connectivity to and from the West Midlands, and with it the attraction and competitiveness of its economy. It will release capacity for more local and regional train services with better connectivity spreading benefits across the developing city and sub regional economies of the West Midlands.

Timetable for devolution

Proposal submitted to Secretary of State:• September 2014

Decision to proceed in principle from Secretary of State:• Autumn 2014

Develop detailed specifications in collaboration with the DfT and WMR partner authorities:• Autumn 2014 – March 2016

Contract procurement:• 2015 - 2016

West Midlands Rail Contract commences operation – DfT in partnership with WMR:• June 2017

The PrizeFive outcomes underpin WMR’s proposition:

1. Economic growth stimulated by greater rail capacity and better conectivity and intergration

2. A local rail network ready to support and benefit from HS2

3. Investing in rail services and stations attracting more passengers and reducing carbon emissions

4. A rail service which is more accountable and responsive to local people and businesses

5. A more efficient, effective railway which is better value for the taxpayer

WMR’s PropositionWMR, representing the regions’ metropolitan, shire and unitary authorities, plans to work in partnership with DfT to commission and manage local rail services from 2017. Our proposition proposes the re-mapping of the London Midland franchise to create two new franchises focused on different markets which we have termed:

• West Midlands Rail Contract - local services in the West Midlands

• West Coast Connect - London commuter and regional West Coast Main Line services, including those operating within the West Midlands

WMR will seek to:

• Transform the quality and value of rail services as the centrepiece of an innovative, strongly identified public transport network which is focused upon the needs of passengers, businesses, the economy and a sustainable environment

• Maximise the local value of investment from Government togther with investment stimulated by the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)

• Prepare the ground for the step-change in rail capacity, connectivity and economic performance offered to the West Midlands by HS2 from 2026

• Have robust management arrangements reflecting the interests of all ots constituent authorities, bringing fresh local democratic accountability close to the people who use rail services.

Further informationFor further information about West Midlands rail devolution proposals, please contact:

www.westmidlandsrail.com

MalcolmHolmes@westmidlandsrail.com

0121 214 7058

Who are West Midlands Rail

West Midlands Rail is a partnership of the fourteen local authorities that cover the geography of the proposed devolved local rail network. Partners are united by a recognition of the key role that rail has to play in driving econonmic growth and a belief that local control will help to maximise the contribution it can make.

Birmingham City CouncilCoventry City CouncilDudley CouncilHerefordshire CouncilNorthamptonshire County CouncilSandwell CouncilShropshire Council

Solihull CouncilStaffordshire County CouncilTelford and Wrekin CouncilWalsall CouncilWarwickshire County CouncilWolverhampton City CouncilWorcestershire County Council

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West Midlands Rail Contract (WMRC) Service

West Coast Connect (WCC) Service:Jointly specified by DfTSpecified by DfT

WMRC StationWCC Station

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