West Midlands Rail DevolutionNovember 2015

• West Midlands local authorities have formed West Midlands

Rail (WMR), a partnership to deliver improved rail services

across the region

Who is West Midlands Rail?

Birmingham Coventry Dudley

Herefordshire Integrated Transport

Authority

Northamptonshire

Sandwell Shropshire Solihull

Staffordshire Telford and Wrekin Walsall

Warwickshire Wolverhampton Worcestershire

• WMR is working with DfT on procurement of new franchise

• WMR will have a strong role in the specification and

management of local rail services in the West Midlands

• Rail is a key economic asset

for the region

• Tens of thousands of people

rely on rail each day to

access jobs

• Promotes and kick starts

regeneration

The Economic Value of Rail

• Local influence in rail

services is currently limited

• Deep knowledge of West

Midlands rail network exists

in the region, but not

previously able to

materially influence outputs

• Difficult to effect change or

develop new services

• Key decisions currently

made in Whitehall

The Problem

• The local focus made possible

by rail devolution elsewhere has

delivered:

– Industry leading passenger

satisfaction

– Industry leading train operating

performance

– Reductions in anti-social behaviour

and fraud

– Better stations

– Improved integration

– Opportunity for local investment

• Has been very successful

elsewhere in the UK

Benefits from Local Control

• Rail devolution progressing well -

very similar to WMR

• Rail North is a consortium of LTAs

and CAs

• Partnership agreement signed with

DfT

• Rail North have since been fully

involved and led parts of

specification development

• Joint franchise management, based

in Leeds

• Positive outcomes with extra

services and new trains

Successful Devolution in the North

• Government consultation in 2012

seeking expressions of interest

– Centro submitted on behalf of the

region

• Extensive engagement with

disparate partner authorities

– Mets and shire/unitaries

• Engagement with many of the

region’s MPs

– Generally cross-party support

• Formal Proposition was requested by

DfT

– Submitted in October 2014

Progress to Date

Government Support

• Meeting with

Secretary of State

on 2 March

• Letter from

Secretary of State

confirming

commitment to joint

working between

WMR and DfT for

procurement and

management of the

next franchise

• The existing London Midland franchise

which provides local rail services is

being renewed in 2017

• Two business units:

– West Coast – Services on WCML,

including Coventry/Northampton and

Stafford

– West Midlands - local rail services

• WMR to work with DfT on specification

• Partnership for ongoing management

• Precursor to possible further devolution

in line with 2014 Proposition

How Will it Work?

West Midlands Franchise – Business Units

Liverpool

Lime St

Wolverton

Milton Keynes Central

Bletchley

Leighton Buzzard

Cheddington

Tring

Berkhamsted

Hemel Hempstead

Apsley

Kings Langley

Watford Junction

Harrow and Wealdstone

Wembley Central

London Euston

Gravelly Hill

Butlers Lane

Colwall

Stechford

Lea HallMarston Green

Hampton-i-A

Berk

swell

Canl

ey

Tile

Hill

Widney Manor

Lapworth

Hatton

Polesworth

Atherstone

Water Orton

Cradley Heath

Bedworth

Coleshill Pky

Penkridge

Warwick

ParkwayWarwick

Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway

Hereford

Droitwich Spa

Worcester Foregate

St

Great

Malvern

Walsall

Kenilworth ( opens

2016)

Stoke on Trent

St Albans

Abbey

Crewe

Shrewsbury

Bromsgrove

Worcester

Shrub Hill

New St

Birmingham Moor St

Stourbridge

Town

Stratford-upon-Avon

Rowley Regis

Birmingham Snow HillSmethwick Galton Bridge

Wolverhampton

Telf

ord

Centr

al

Stourbridge Jn

Kidderminster

Kings Norton

UniversityRugby

Northampton

Leamington SpaLongbridge

Redditch

Dorridge

CoventrySolihull

Sutton Coldfield

Nuneaton

Cannock

Tamworth

Lichfield Trent

Valley

Rugeley Trent

Valley

Stafford

West Midlands Business Unit

West Coast Business Unit:

Jointly specified by DfT and WMR

Specified by DfT

WMBU Station

WCBU Station

Other operator station

Adderley Park

Small HeathTyseley

Acocks GreenOlton

Wilnecote

Birmingham International

Bordesley

Bearley

Claverdon

Northfield

Barnt Green

Alvechurch

Bournville

Selly Oak

Five WaysOld Hill

Lye

Langley Green

Sandwell & Dudley

Tipton

Dudley Port

Coseley

Blakedown

Hartlebury

Hagley

Ledbury

Malvern Link

Wellin

gto

n

Oake

ngate

s

Alb

right

on

Shi

fnal

Cosf

ord

Bilbro

ok

Codsa

ll

Landywood

Hednesford

Rugeley Town

Bloxwich NorthBloxwich

HamsteadTame Bridge Pky

Bescot Stadium

Perry Barr

Witton

Jew

ellery

Q

uart

er

The

Haw

thorn

s

Wylde Green

Chester Road

Erdington

Four Oaks

Aston

Blake Street

Shenstone

Lichfield City

Long Buckby

Fenn

y S

tratf

ord

Bow

Brick

hill

Wobur

n Sand

s

Apsley

Gui

se

Rid

gm

ont

Lidling

ton

Millb

rook

Ste

wart

by

Kem

pst

on

Hard

wic

k

Bedfo

rd S

t Jo

hns

Bed

ford

Watf

ord

Nort

h

Gars

ton

Brick

et

Wood

How

Wood

Park

Str

eet

Smethwick

Rolfe St

Duddeston

Live

rpool Sout

h Pky

Run

corn

Act

on

Bridge

Hart

ford

Win

sford

Stone

Alsager

Kidsgrove

Spring RoadHall Green

Yardley WoodShirley

Whitlocks EndWythall

EarlswoodThe Lakes

Wood EndDanzey

Henley-in-ArdenWootton Wawen

Wilmcote

Bermuda Park (opens

2015/16)

Coventry Arena (opens 2015/16)

Leaders Rail Group

Officers Rail Devolution Group

WMR Programme Board

Work Streams

Work Streams

Work Streams

• Leaders Rail Group

– Formed in September 2014

• Officers Rail Devolution Group

– Officer support for LRG

– Chair/Vice Chair from

Partners

• Programme Board

– Centro led technical activity

– Oversee DfT relationship

Current Governance

WMR Ltd. Board of Directors

West Midlands Rail Ltd.

DfT/WMR Partnership Board

• In June LRG agreed that

WMR should become a

limited company, owned by

Partner Authorities

• Approvals by Partner

Authorities are underway

• Partnership Agreement

between WMR and DfT

• Franchise expected to be

managed by a joint board

WMR Ltd from December

• Competition launched

• Includes two WMR secondees:

– Babs Coombes

– Peter Sargant

• Stakeholder Consultation

– Currently being developed

– Led by WMR secondee

– Will have ORDG and LRG input

– To be a joint exercise

• Discussion beginning to agree future partnership

arrangements

Refranchising Competition

• Direct input into the development and specification of

the new West Midlands franchise

• A role in the evaluation of franchise bids

• A greater ability to influence prospective bidders – in

addition to individual authority engagement

• Local, focussed business unit for the region – local

measurement and influence

• Joint franchise management

• Jointly explore options for further devolution:

– Greater influence

– A role in other franchises

Outcomes for the Region

westmidlandsrail.com

Local Enterprise for Local Rail

malcolmholmes@westmidlandsrail.com