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Connecting the West Midlands
The West Midlands Regionworking together
A better railway for the people and economy of the West Midlands
Managing West Midlands railway services locally
Local Enterprise for Local Rail
Who are West Midlands Rail? West Midlands Rail is a partnership of the fourteen local authorities and Centro 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 economic growth and a belief that local control will help to maximise the contribution it can make.
Proposed routes included within West Midlands Rail Contract(services currently operated by London Midland)Other passenger routes
Key stations
West Midlands Districts
Shires and Unitary authorities
West Midlands Rail Contract (2017)
Further information If you are interested in finding out more, contact:
: westmidlandsrail.com* [email protected]( 0121 214 7058
WMR’s propositionWMR, representing the region’s metropolitan, shire and unitary authorities, plans to commission and manage local rail services from 2017 within a new devolved West Midlands Rail Contract.
WMR will:
• Transform the quality and value of rail services as the centrepiece of an innovative, strongly identifiedpublictransportnetworkwhichisfocused upon the needs of passengers, businesses, the economy and a sustainable environment
• Maximise the local value of investment from Government together 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
• Haverobustmanagementarrangementsreflecting the interests of all its constituent authorities, bringing fresh local democratic accountability close to the people who use rail services.
The PrizeFive outcomes underpin WMR’s proposition:
1. Economic growth stimulated by greater rail capacity and better connectivity and integration
2. A local rail network ready to support and benefitfromHS2
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.Amoreefficient,effectiverailwaywhichis better value for the taxpayer
Why West Midlands Rail?The West Midlands rail network is essential to the well-being of the region’s economy and plays a key role in connecting people to jobs both within the metropolitan area and surrounding counties. It enables people to reach the retail, commercial and tourist hearts of the region’s cities and towns, and helps to sustain the local environment.
Rail services matter most to local people and businesses who use them to connect the places they need to travel to. It needs to attract people to the West Midlands, and be easy to use and value for money. Because we are local, West Midlands Rail (WMR) understands what local people want, how the rail network supports the West Midlands economy, and is clear on how it needs to grow.
A locally accountable decision-making process close to the trains which serve the people of the West Midlands willmaximisethebenefitstobegainedfrombothnationalandlocalinvestmentintherailnetwork.Locallycommissionedandmanaged,WMRofferssignificantadvantagesovertheexistingDfTcentrally-ledfranchise process, in particular:
How is WMR going to achieve this?The devolved West Midlands rail network closelyreflectstheeconomicandpoliticalgeography of the West Midlands Travel to Work Area.
In covering this single geographic area with a single accountable client body, governance of WMR is straightforward. WMR becomes the single point of contact for the DfT, and a major client for Network Rail’s delivery in the region.
WMR’s proposition will be delivered through a practical 7-point plan for the 2017 concession:
1.Aninclusivegovernancestructurereflecting the interests of all its constituent authorities
2.Specificationofpassengerservices,standards and performance indicators by WMR
3. A budget agreed with DfT for local passenger services for the length of the Contract
4. Direct control over contract management by WMR
5. Fares, ticketing arrangements and technology agreed by WMR
6. Visible, attractive local branding integrated with other local transport services
7. Prioritised, funded network enhancements planned with rail and local stakeholders
Most importantly we WANT to provide a better, more relevant local rail service for the people and economy of the West Midlands and to do so through the ENTERPRISE and DETERMINATION for which the West Midlands Region is famed.
• Beingmoreflexible,andexpeditiousin 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 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 withbetterconnectivityspreadingbenefitsacrossthedevelopingcityandsub-regionaleconomiesoftheWestMidlands.
