00:00A funding extension has been agreed to keep West Midlands bus services running.
00:08The bus network support grant will continue until the end of April, before a new deal
00:12kicks in for the rest of the year.
00:14Without it, more than 30% of commercial routes could have been lost, with fares rising even
00:19further.
00:20The mayor says the current system isn't delivering for passengers.
00:24While the authority provides around £50 million in grants to operators each year, fares have
00:29still gone up and services have been cut.
00:32Bus travel remains a vital service for many people.
00:35Thousands rely on it to get to school, work and essential appointments, but reductions
00:40in routes have made some journeys longer and more expensive.
00:43There are concerns that even with this funding, reliability and affordability could still
00:48be an issue.
00:49The long-term plan is to bring the region's buses under great public control.
00:54Under a proposed franchising model, transport for West Midlands would set fares, timetables
00:58and routes, with private operators running the services.
01:02It's a major shift away from the current deregulated system and the changes could have
01:06a significant impact on passengers and operators alike.
01:10A public consultation on the plans has already had thousands of responses.
01:15The deadline for feedback is the end of March, with a decision expected later in the year.
01:20If approved, the changes could mean more stability for passengers, but the details of how the
01:25system will be managed and whether it will lead to lower fares are still being debated.
01:30For now, passengers will see no immediate changes, but with rising fares and uncertainty
01:35over long-term funding, the future of bus travel in the West Midlands is still at a
01:40crossroads.
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