Council - 15/10/2019

Sandwell

Metropolitan Borough Council

Agenda Item 8(b)

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM)
15 October 2019

Overview of Transport for West Midlands Activities

1. Commonwealth Games

The transport planning for the Commonwealth Games is proceeding well with
the development of an Integrated Transport Programme reporting into a multi¬
agency Joint Transport Group (JTG). The JTG includes officers from Sandwell
as part of its governance, and work is progressing in ensuring a fully
integrated transport response to the Games.

A Games Strategic Transport Plan (GSTP) has been developed and was
taken to the WMCA Board in September. Following this, the plan has been
published and is subject to a twelve week engagement period. The GSTP sets
out our approach to the detailed planning required for the integrated transport
network. Initial technical design work is progressing on the necessary traffic
management arrangements for the Games; this includes local access
considerations, the games route network and transport modelling and demand
forecasting. The exact measures required will be finalised for review in
approximately 2021.

Venue transport working groups have also been set up so that we can
understand the requirements for accessing the sites including the Sandwell
Aquatic Centre. Officers from Sandwell are leading this group.

Initial discussions have also taken place with DfT in relation to the support
required and with Highways England, HS2 and Network Rail. More detailed
briefings are being planned.

2. M5 Oldbury Viaduct works

The project remains on track for completion in autumn 2019. Some 14,000
repairs have been carried out on the northbound carriageway and good
progress has been made. The contraflow has been removed and a 40mph
introduced. The next major milestone for the project will be the completion of
works on the deck.

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3. Bus Network

- Vision for Bus

Progress has been made on delivering the aims and objectives of the
Strategic Vision for Bus in the West Midlands that was approved by the
WMCA Board on the 9 th November 2018. Delivery of some of the objectives is
already commencing within current frameworks, partnerships and
agreements, through current activities inside the West Midlands Bus Alliance,
including, but not limited to:

• TfWM’s emerging Fares & Payment Strategy to simplify payments and
make fares more affordable for users across the network;

• Development of highway investment schemes to improve bus journey
time predictability across key routes and communities;

• Development of the Safer Travel Partnership, which continues to
explore ways to make public transport safer and help overcome
perceived and actual barriers to greater public transport usage. A
significant strand of achieving this will be through the Bus Byelaws
which were recently approved;

• The establishment of a Network Performance Board through the Bus
Alliance, to monitor patronage, journey speeds and reliability, with
accountability for intervention where required from relevant
stakeholders; and

• Continuation of developing Network Development Plans through the
Bus Alliance, taking an area-by-area approach to exploring ways to
reduce congestion on the roads, improve bus travel times, and ensure
bus travel is seen as affordable and reliable.

As approved by the WMCA Board on the 28 th June 2019, TfWM will
commission an Outline Business Case (OBC) assessing the options within the
Bus Services Act 2017 to understand the most appropriate mechanism for
improving bus services, with clear understanding of risks, costs, opportunities
and legal implications. As per the Strategic Outline Business Case
recommendations, the three mechanisms to be assessed are:

• Voluntary partnership based on Bus Alliance (including associated
Advanced Quality Partnership Schemes and other Qualifying
Agreements);

• Enhanced Partnership; and

• Franchising.

It is estimated that the OBC will take between 18 to 22 months to complete.

On completion of a detailed assessment of options listed above, there will be
recommendations of the most appropriate mechanism or mechanisms for
delivering the Vision for Bus objectives in the longer term.

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In addition to the approval of an OBC, the WMCA Board endorsed a
commitment for a minimum Euro VI bus fleet by April 2021 to improve air
quality in the area of the West Midlands Combined Authority, subject to
funding. This endorsement from the WMCA Board on the 28 th June 2019 will
help TfWM to secure further investment levels from bus operators and
continue to bid for further funds and investment to make this commitment a
reality.

Finally, there is an identified risk to the delivery of Sprint in time for the
Commonwealth Games without adequate mechanisms to protect investment
and create an operational model. TfWM recommended an Enhanced
Partnership (EP) as the most suitable mechanism to address this risk.
Approval was given by the WMCA Board on 28 th June 2019 for TfWM to give
notice of the intention to prepare an EP Plan and accompanying EP Schemes
to help deliver the two priority Sprint routes (A34 and A45). TfWM gave notice
on 17 th July for an EP Plan and subsequent EP Schemes, with all relevant
local bus operators notified and other key stakeholders including each of the
local highway authorities. Approval to ‘make’ the EP Plan and Scheme will be
sought from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, during the development
of the EP, later in 2019.

- Ring and Ride Update

Ring and Ride was operated by Accessible Transport Group (ATG) on behalf
of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). On Friday 22 March 2019, ATG
became insolvent and administrators were appointed to take control of its
affairs.

TfWM worked very closely with the Administrator to secure the future
operation of Ring and Ride and a new operator for the service was found.

From 1 August 2019, the Ring and Ride service is operated by West Midlands
Accessible Transport (WMAT), a new company and wholly owned subsidiary
of National Express West Midlands. TfWM has worked hard to ensure that this
transition is simple and easy for customers. The Ring and Ride team currently
operating the service transferred to the new operator so users can be assured
of the same high standard of customer care previously enjoyed.

Going forward, we will be working hard with the new operator to ensure Ring
and Ride services continue to work for local people and wherever possible,
are improved based on customer feedback.

- West Midlands Bus Alliance

The West Midlands Bus Alliance renewed its commitment to 50 deliverables
across 8 key objectives by 2020. These are around congestion, air quality,
ticketing and making it easier, cheaper, safer and more pleasant to travel by
bus.

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A key deliverable of the Bus Alliance is to deliver a series of bus Network
Development Plans (NDP) across the region. The plans will describe how the
network and associated infrastructure will change up to 2026 in response to
changes in land use and policy in a specified geographical area. NDPs seek
to enhance what is currently in place (e.g. with better ticketing, bus stops,
congestion management), rather than change the network itself. TfWM
officers have liaised with Sandwell MBC officers and local bus operators to
develop the technical evidence baseline for the Sandwell NDP. The Bus
Network Development Plan for Sandwell has been drafted and is subject to
consideration by the Sandwell Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport,
before public release. Many of the activities and initiatives within the NDP are
already being developed and implemented, but an approved NDP strengthens
the Alliance commitments to delivering bus improvements in Sandwell.

This has built upon the rollout of contactless ticketing by National Express
West Midlands to all their buses. TfWM has also waived the £10 fee for 16-18
photo cards, so they can now get 50% discounts on bus, train and tram travel
for free; concessionary pass holders still benefit from National Express West
Midlands’ £1 pre-0930 fare.

4. Rail Investment & Partnerships

- West Midlands Franchise

The introduction of West Midlands Train’s new timetable on 19 th May 2019
represented the most significant change in services in the West Midlands
since 2008 and included a multitude of service changes and improvements for
passengers.

The changes included the operation of new services on a number of routes,
the linkage of services across New Street and Coventry, splitting and joining
of services at New Street and changes to the timings and formations of certain
peak service.

The complexity of the changes has meant that there was a high degree of
scrutiny prior to the implementation of the timetable, and a high degree of
monitoring has been occurring since then. It was always recognised that some
aspects of the timetable had the ability to import operational risk onto services,
which needed to be balanced against the passenger benefits of better
services.

Whilst the new timetable is successfully delivering new journey opportunities,
there are two broad areas of concern:

• Service performance has declined; and

• Certain trains are suffering from overcrowding.

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Performance has seen a decline since the start of the new timetable. Initial
teething problems were always likely to occur, especially considering the
splitting/joining and other new operational arrangements. However, now that
the service has had a chance to bed in, it is possible to identify more
underlying performance issues to be tackled.

To bring performance back to high levels, West Midlands Trains and Network
Rail will focus on a number of key areas:

• Performance - Tactical: Short term wins to improve how the railway is
operated;

• Performance - Strategic: Medium/longer term interventions to improve
how the railway is operated;

• Timetable - Tactical: Short term amendments to improve timetable
integrity and/or capacity; and

• Timetable - Strategic: Medium/longer term changes to the structure of
the timetable to materially improve resilience.

The performance actions will focus on issues such as improving infrastructure
resilience, optimising train regulation, operational contingency plans and train
crew deployment.

The timetable amendments include some short-term capacity changes, but
will also be exploring options to make alterations to timetables at the next
timetable change in December.

- West Coast Main Line Franchise award

On 14th August 2019 the DfT announced the winner of the competition to
operate the new West Coast Partnership Franchise. The new contract has
been awarded to a joint venture between First Group and Italian state operator
Trenitalia, and will commence in December 2019 and run until 2031. The new
West Coast Partnership Franchise will be responsible for both the current inter
city services and for designing and running the initial High Speed 2 services
for the first 3 to 5 years of HS2 operation from 2026. First / Trenitalia will be
collaborating with HS2 Ltd to design, launch and operate the initial HS2 train
services.

First/Trenitalia will play a key role in the development of future timetable
changes on the West Coast Main Line to take advantage of the extra capacity
provided by HS2 Phase 1, especially on the core Birmingham - Coventry -
Milton Keynes - London corridor. West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) is
already working with Network Rail, DfT and the wider rail industry to ensure
that the regional aspirations for such post-HS2 timetable changes, as set out
in the new West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy, form a key part of such
future timetable plans.

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5. HS2 Connectivity Package

The HS2 Growth Strategy sets out how the positive effect of HS2 will be felt
across the region. The approach uses HS2 to create an outstanding legacy in
terms of regeneration, jobs, skills, economic development and connectivity for
the Midlands.

Work on the Connectivity Package has been progressing in line with the
Implementation Plan, with updates being provided through regular dashboard
reports to the HS2 Growth Delivery Board.

A headline summary of activity is set out below:

Sprint: Work has been progressing on the three priority Sprint Routes,

Walsall to Birmingham via Sandwell (A34), Birmingham to Birmingham Airport
and Solihull (A45), and Sutton Coldfield to Birmingham via Langley (SBL), with
work being undertaken by TfWM and Local Authorities. During the period, the
following activity has been undertaken:

• The consultation report was published in December 2018, with a follow
up report in March 2019 setting out what changes would be considered
as part of the feedback received during consultation;

• The Outline Business Case for the A34 and A45 schemes have been
approved by through the WMCA Assurance Framework;

• Detailed design work is underway and early contractor involvement
(ECI) has commenced; and

• There is ongoing work with potential operators for the schemes.

Rail: Significant activity has been underway developing a number of rail
investment projects by WMRE/TfWM. A joint project team has been created to
help the delivery of the investment programme. Projects currently underway
include:

• Snow Hill 3 rd Entrance (in delivery - May 2020 completion);

• Willenhall and Darlaston new stations (2021-22 delivery);

• Camp Hill line new stations (Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell)
(2021-22 delivery)

• University station rebuild (2021-22 delivery);

• Perry Barr station rebuild (2021 -22 delivery); and

• Dudley Port Station - Initial work undertaken by TfWM, WMRE,

Network Rail and Sandwell MBC on outline proposals to improve
interchange facilities and accessibility at the station.

Work on the options for providing rail services to serve the new stations is also
being taken forwards.

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WMRE is actively engaging with Midlands Connect, DfT and Network Rail
about accelerating the delivery of certain elements of the Midlands Rail Hub
project, such as Snow Hill Platform 4, using the new Rail Network
Enhancement Pipeline (RNEP) process which in future will be the process by
which the DfT funds enhancement projects on the rail network.

6. Metro Programme and Operations

- Metro Programme

The Metro programme has been redefined into two main phases based on
funding position and current project status.

Project

Planned Ooenina

Phase 1

Centenary Square Extension

December 2019

Wolverhampton City Centre Extension

December 2020

Edgbaston Extension

December 2021

Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension

December 2023

Phase 2

Birmingham Eastside Extension

TBA

East Birmingham Solihull

2026

Work continues to progress all six extension projects being undertaken by the
Midland Metro Alliance (MMA). During the period, the following activity has
been undertaken:

• Wolverhampton City Centre Extension - tracks have been laid and
infrastructure is in place ready for overhead line equipment and tram
stops up to Railway Drive. Works to the highway will be completed by
the end of September 2019 and paving work to the footways will be
ongoing along Pipers Row. The final section of trackwork across the
new station plaza cannot commence until mid-2020 when the station
redevelopment project expect to vacate and hand over land required for
the new Metro terminus.

• Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro Extension - The Full Business Case
and funding was approved by the WMCA Board in March 2019.

Network Rail have agreed in principle to transfer the corridor for West
Midlands Metro, though some issues are still under discussion. Subject
to resolving some matters of details it is anticipated that the transfer will
be complete in October 2019. Midland Metro Alliance will re-submit their
TCI proposal in September for review by TfWM. A work site has been
established in Dudley centre and Utility work will commence by October
2019.

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• Centenary Square Extension - Construction works are now progressing
rapidly on several fronts as the project works towards opening for
passenger service in December 2019. Trackform has been laid in most
sections now. Tram stops are now under construction and surrounding
paving works are ongoing. Testing and Commissioning will commence
in October 2019, to be followed by driver training.

• Edgbaston Extension - Work has continued at the Five Ways
Underpass, which was closed to traffic without any major complaints
thanks to prolonged stakeholder engagement and advanced
information. Construction now moves to the west end of Broad Street
with a sophisticated traffic management approach agreed with
stakeholders allowing for a full section of Broad Street to be closed in
one phase providing quicker delivery. Work will then continue along
Broad Street to Centenary Square. The project remains on schedule to
open in December 2021.

• Birmingham Eastside Extension (BEE) - We are still awaiting issue of
the Transport and Works Act (TWA) Order for BEE, which is expected
shortly. The project has been agreed with DfT but they require TfWM to
provide a Full Business Case for final approval of the budget. This
process is expected to be completed by mid-2019. We will then
construct the Digbeth High Street and Bull Street junction sections of
the route first. Once agreement is reached with HS2 we will continue to
construct the “middle” section under Curzon Street to complete the
connection.

• East Birmingham to North Solihull Extension - The preliminary outline
design has been completed and reviewed by the owner and is currently
being updated. Public consultation took place in September 2019 with
preparation ongoing for submission of the TWA Order on May 2020.

The Catenary Free project is continuing with 19 trams scheduled to be
retrofitted in time for passenger service in December 2019.

Procurement of the third generation trams required to operate the extensions
from 2021 is almost complete. Two bidders, CAF and Alstom tendered, and a
final decision will be taken in September 2019. The initial contract will be for
the 21 trams required to provide passenger service to phase 1 of the
programme with an option in the contract to increase the vehicle numbers to
cover phase 2.

- Metro Operations- Midland Metro Limited

On the 24 th June 2018, Midland Metro Limited (MML) trading as West
Midlands Metro (WMM), took over responsibility for the operation and
maintenance of the metro under a Public Service Contract (PSC), awarded to
MML by the asset owner West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Improvements made during the first 6 months have previously been reported
and included MML’s fresh new identity, better value fares and tickets, new

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ways to pay and the introduction of the new Customer Services Officer role.
Over the last 6 months MML has built upon these early initiatives and
introduced further improvements to the operation.

These include:

• Rebranding roll out

o At transition a programme of rebranding commenced across
West Midlands Metro network. The branding forms part of the
new transport brand for the region and gives West Midlands
Metro a new fresh identity. The roll out of rebranding has
continued with all tram stops between Grand Central and Black
Lake now completed and nearly half of the tram fleet in distinct
new livery. The opportunity has also be taken to enhance the
customer information including new guidelines fitted prominently
to shelters, signage showing options to ‘buy before your board’,
clearer identification of the city hops zones and a uniform
approach to directional signage for local amenities and at
interchanges.

• Buy before you board

o During peak times, Metro services can be extremely busy making
it difficult for conductors to manoeuvre through the tram to collect
fares. In April 2019 MML commenced a trial of at stop selling.
Using patronage and sales data by stop and time of day, MML
applied a targeted approach placing conductors at key tram stops
to actively sell Metro tickets. Following a successful trial this
initiative has been extended with a dedicated team of at stop
sellers now covering key locations during the weekday am and
pm peaks. Whilst this provides customers with greater
opportunity to purchase a ticket for travel it has also been well
received by Metro season ticket holders, many of which view its
introduction as a more equitable approach to revenue collection,
capturing those who actively avoid paying.

• Metro Matters

o MML began the operation with a commitment to better
understand what its customers want and how best MML can
deliver it. To help achieve this MML has introduced ‘Metro
Matters’, a re-invigorated former Metro Passenger Panel which
provides a platform for Metro users to feedback on the service but
also be involved in shaping its future. The launch involved a
campaign to broaden the existing passenger panel membership,
to encourage a wider customer demographic to join the group. An
induction meeting was held in May 2019 with members selected
from many applicants, with some being placed on a waiting list,
demonstrating its popularity.

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The focus for the first year of Metro Matters will be to empower
the panel members to actively participate in their voluntary role,
consulting with them on new initiatives and proposed changes to
the service as well as extending invitations to key events.

• Sector based work academy

o MML is committed to building success within the West Midlands
community by setting up local links and partnerships. These
include partnerships which help people who are unemployed get
into work and to grow their talents. In doing so MML has
partnered with the Sector Based Work Academy to develop a
training and employment programme for Metro which provides
individuals with a period of training on Metro and a guaranteed
job interview at the end of the training period. The initiative has
been a great success and resulted in job offers to over 10 people.
All are now passed out as conductors with 6 also certified as
drivers. Not only has this improved their personal circumstances,
but they are a great addition to the team.

• Spotlight

o Safety is the number one priority for MML, and it is important that
staff are able to report near miss incidents and other safety
concerns efficiently, without the need for long-winded forms which
can often discourage individuals from doing so. To make
reporting easier MML has introduced a new app-based reporting
system, ‘Spotlight’. Spotlight has been installed on every mobile
phone utilised in the business and provides a platform for easy
and instantaneous reporting. The app is simple to operate, allows
for real time completion and has the facility to upload
photographs. It also provides alerts and notifications to relevant
parties who would need to be informed, in order that they can
take appropriate action swiftly.

• Building resilience of the Overhead Line Equipment (OLE)

o Following a turbulent start to the operation with OLE failures,

MML commissioned an asset condition survey and put in place a
programme of prioritised improvement works. The initial work was
to identify and repair high risk defects. Following this a
programme of work was developed. This work has been tendered
and it is expected that the contract will be placed in September
2019. The contract will include a rapid response element so if
there is an OLE failure the contractor will be able to mobilise
rapidly with the necessary specialist machinery.

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7. Sustainable Travel

- Travel Choices

Transport for West Midlands continues to support those working, studying and
living in Sandwell to travel around the West Midlands region. Our main
demand management activities are focused on areas facing disruption due to
infrastructure changes and improvements.

Over the last year we have worked with businesses and education sites in
Sandwell while Highways England improve Junction 2 on the M5, attending
engagement events organised by the Black Country Chamber and engaging
with young people in Secondary schools, helping them to add to their
Modeshift Stars profile on the national sustainable travel awards scheme.
TfWM sponsors membership and subscription of the Modeshift STARS
system for West Midlands Constituent Authorities.

The team will continue to offer help to those affected by highway
improvements on Junction 10 of the M6 when work begins there in 2020. We
will also work with the Commonwealth Games team and engage with
residents around the site of the new Aquatic Centre, where construction has
already started.

The Travel Choices team is also working with businesses looking to relocate
within and to the area as we encourage residents, commuters and students
within the Sandwell area to make better travel choices for the future.

- Community Cycle Clubs

In partnership with Cycling UK, 5 Community Cycle Clubs have been set up in
Sandwell. Smethwick Beat the Street Community Cycle Club meet every
Monday at Smethwick Fire Station for Adult Learn to Ride Sessions where
bikes and helmets can be borrowed. The second club at Hallam Street
Hospital is operating and is ideally placed for National Cycle Network Route 5
and any future developments through nearby local cycling and walking
infrastructure plan led investment.

The third club is at Lightwoods Park which has grown since inception with
several members becoming Ride Leaders; the club runs on Wednesday
mornings.

The fourth is Tipton’s Victoria Park Community Cycle Club, which has just
recently been formed with the help of the Bangladeshi Women’s Association.
This club is expanding and is expected to form a separate men’s and women’s
club.

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The fifth club is located at Hadley Stadium which is run with the local charity
called Bensons. This club has around 40 members usually teenagers from
deprived backgrounds attending the club every week. The club uses the
athletics track for cycling.

More information can be found on new and emerging clubs at
www.cyclinguk.org/community-cycle-clubs

- Living Streets Walk to School Programme

In partnership with TfWM, Living Streets have been working with Sandwell
primary schools to encourage children to walk to school with the aim of
improving wellbeing and reducing the number of cars at the school gates to
reduce vehicle emissions and improve road safety. This is done by engaging
the schools with the WOW programme (walk once a week) which rewards
those pupils who are able to “actively travel” to school at least once a week
with a distinctive badge. There are 11 badges (designed by children) to collect
each school year. The seven primary schools are:

• Blackheath Primary School;

• Corngreaves Academy;

• Crocketts Community Primary School;

• Ferndale Primary School;

• Glebefields Primary School;

• Our Lady and St Hubert's Catholic
Primary School; and

• Yew Tree Primary School.

Launching assemblies booked in for early September 2019 are with;

• Moat Farm Infant School; and

• Grove Vale Primary School.

With an additional coordinator now in post we anticipate further schools being
added early in the new school term.

Any schools can be approached to take part in WOW, and Living Streets
works closely with the Sandwell Public Health team and Active Black Country
to try and engage those schools where this intervention can have the greatest
impact.

- Managing Short Trips Infrastructure improvements

Managing Short Trips (MST) is a programme of infrastructure schemes that
has delivered cycleway improvements to canal towpaths in the Black Country.

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These improvements are all designed to create cycle friendly corridors
between existing cycle routes, residential areas and local centres.

The second phase of this tranche started in May 2018 and is now complete,
and includes the sections along the Birmingham New Main Line in Sandwell,
Dudley and Wolverhampton and it is now possible to cycle from
Wolverhampton to Birmingham, through Dudley and Sandwell, on a
continuous traffic free cycle route. An additional section of the Walsall canal
from the border of Walsall past Wednesbury has also been completed with
funding from MST, NPIF and Sandwell Council.

- West Midlands Bikeshare

Nextbike were appointed as the preferred supplier in March 2018 under a
concession contract to deliver 5000 bikes across the 7 constituent local
authorities. The scheme was to be entirely capex and revenue free to TfWM
and the local authorities. TfWM terminated the contract with nextbike on 25th
July 2019 due to several failed obligations by the operator. Nextbike have
since removed their assets from Wolverhampton city centre and the scheme is
no longer available to the public.

TfWM has commenced looking into the delivery of a new bike share scheme
for the West Midlands, including engaging with the 7 local authorities on
lessons learnt and engagement with the market.

- Better Streets Community Fund

TfWM launched the Better Streets Community Fund in May 2019. The
scheme enabled anyone in the West Midlands to submit their ideas for
projects to improve their local area for cycling and walking. The application
window closed on the 31st July 2019 and Sandwell had 15 applications.

TfWM, WMCA and Sandwell Council are currently assessing the applications
with the aim of announcing the successful schemes in early October.

- Workwise

TfWM’s Employment Engagement Officer has been working with Job Centres
across Sandwell to promote discounted travel to those gaining new
employment. The team are also supporting Jobs Fairs and Events across
Sandwell.

8. Safety and Security

The Safer Travel Partnership is a collaboration of organisations including
TfWM, West Midlands and British Transport Police forces, Transport
Operators and the 7 regional Local Authorities. They work together with the
purpose of making the public transport network safer.

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The Partnership is responsible for delivering the West Midlands Police and
Crime Commissioner’s ‘Local Transport Policing Plan’. The key objectives of
this plan for 2018/19 continue to be to reduce crime and improve passenger
perception of personal safety.

Overall recorded crime so far in 2019/20 has reduced by 3% compared with
the same time in August last year. This is based on the combined totals from
all three modes of transport - Bus, Train and Metro. On ‘bus’ and ‘train’ there
have been significant reductions of on average 30 - 35% in historically high
crime type areas. On bus this relates to criminal damage and sexual offending
and on train, theft of passenger property and pedal cycle offences.

The Partnership continues to receive good feedback from the independent
watchdog “Transport Focus” in terms of passenger perception of crime. In the
last survey of over 3,000 passengers conducted in autumn 2018, the
Partnership maintained overall satisfaction levels in terms of “personal
security on board bus journeys” at 79% on a par with figures from 2015’s
survey. Those experiencing anti-social behaviour on their journey dropped to
8% of those surveyed compared with 18% in 2011.

The day to day activity of the Partnership involves:

• Intelligence led high visibility police patrols from dedicated Safer
travel PCs, PCSOs and Special constables of problem bus, rail and
metro hotspots;

• Antisocial behaviour (ASB) casework - The Safer travel ASB team
aided by a seconded member of staff from National Express have
now managed well in excess of 5,000 cases since its inception in
2013; and

• 24/7, 365 days a year proactive monitoring of over 1,000 CCTV
cameras right across the public transport network including new
technology allowing live coverage on-board bus services.

Other initiatives and achievements of the Partnership including Sandwell have
included:

• “Safer Bus Station” Accreditation obtained for West Bromwich which
was independently assessed in June, and accreditation maintained
at our other Sandwell stations including Wednesbury, Cradley Heath
and Bearwood. These stations have retained their accreditation for
the 3 rd successive year. The award demonstrates everything is being
done to prevent crime and reduce fear of crime at these locations;

• Development of a set of Bus related Byelaws addressing various
types of anti-social behaviour and mirroring powers already available
on the rail network. The Partnership is currently in the process of
seeking approval for this work from Government;

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• TfWM applying to West Midlands Police for approval to run a
Community Safety Accreditation scheme which would ultimately give
security guards and other accredited persons specific powers to curb
various anti-social behaviour on the bus network;

• During the 2018/19 academic year the Partnerships Education
Officer engaged with over 16,500 young people in over 200
schools, colleges, Pupil Referral Units and SEN establishments
across the whole of the West Midlands to reduce ASB on bus, train
and tram and instill confidence to travel. The various sessions have
included assemblies, Personal, Social and Health Education
(PSHE) sessions, classroom lessons and full day mini school
activities to encourage young people to travel safely and responsibly
while using the public transport network and to follow the rules of
our Passenger Code of Conduct. Many schools and colleges have
incorporated the student contract version of the Passenger Code of
Conduct into their new Year 7 student induction pack. At a higher
age the Partnership continues to work successfully with Sandwell
College promoting and encouraging responsibly behaved travel on
Metro and buses serving the college; and

• The highly regarded restorative justice project addressing anti-social
and low level criminal behaviour from young people on the network
continues to work successfully across the Black Country including
Sandwell.

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Appendix 1 - Measuring Success

Success is measured through the continual monitoring and evaluation of schemes and
programmes to ensure they are delivering against the overall strategic objectives.
Monitoring ensures we understand changes of the performance of the transport
system arising from schemes, for example the reliability of public transport, modal
usage and customer satisfaction.

- Headline Measures

Performance

Patronage

Punctuality

Satisfaction

Bus

261m

79.7%

84%

Rail

59.2m

89.2%

84%

Metro

7.5m

99.6%

87%

- Bus

Overall bus patronage has remained static in the year from August 2018 to July 2019
since the same time period in the previous year. There has been a slight increase in
commercial patronage (+0.2%) and a slight decrease in free concessionary travel (-
2.3%).

Bus punctuality stands at 79.7% of surveyed buses departing one minute early and
five minutes late. Beyond the current service-based reliability metric, TfWM is also
developing punctuality metrics based on actual bus journey times between defined
start and end points, without distinction between different services a customer might
take. These actual journey times can then be compared against the timetable values
to indicate delay. 95 th percentile measurements for actual journeys are also being used
to gauge journey time variability and its effect on the customer experience. The Bus
Alliance targets major improvement in punctuality.

Bus passenger satisfaction has generally seen a slight long-term increase in the last
five years. The most recent survey (Autumn 2018) showed satisfaction at 84%. This
is a 4% reduction in general satisfaction since the spring 2018 survey.

- Rail

Rail patronage continues to increase, with patronage at 59.2m in the 12 months to
August 2019 compared to 56.1m for the same period the year before, an increase of
5.5%. Growth continues to be central to TfWM/WMRE vision in developing local rail
services to improve rail infrastructure and services and meeting the growing demand.

Rail punctuality (trains arriving not more than 5 minutes late) has been improving since
2013/14. The latest punctuality for WMR (Period 13, 2018/19) stands at 89.2%.

Satisfaction with rail services has fluctuated between 81% to 87%, since spring 2012.
Recent surveys show satisfaction at 84% (spring 2019 survey) .

Page 16 of 18

Metro

Metro patronage also continues to increase and currently stands at 7.5m passengers
during the year period August 2018 to July 2019 in comparison to 6.6m in the same
period the previous year; an increase of 13.6%. Fleet availability (i.e. proportion of
rolling stock available as a percentage of the target number needed to run to timetable)
stood at 99.6% in July 2019.

Satisfaction decreased slightly from autumn 2017 (90%) to 87% in autumn 2018. The
results can be found here .

- Ring and Ride

Ring and Ride patronage across Sandwell for the 12 months to July 2019 showed an
overall decline of 11.93% with 105,022 passenger trips undertaken. This is slightly
higher than the decline in overall patronage across the entire TfWM operating area of
10.08% for the same period. Overall patronage has declined across the entire
operating area which may in part be attributed to the financial difficulties that the ATG
faced prior to and during the Administration period. Encouragingly patronage in July
2019 is up by 2.26% and TfWM will be working with the new operator closely over the
coming months to identify solutions and ways to increase patronage and make
operating efficiencies.

Modal Share

A cordon survey around West Bromwich was undertaken in March 2018. The results
are summarised below.

West Bromwich Cordon
Inbound Trips 07:30-09:30

o

o

14000

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

MtH

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

■ Estimated Car Trips

7696

7542

7333

7346

7978

7734

■ Metro Trips

308

311

310

353

385

608

■ Bus Trips

3760

3534

3499

3597

3788

3868

Inbound AM Peak bus and metro trips have seen increases of 2.1% and 57.9%
respectively in 2018, compared to 2016. Car trips have decreased for the first time
since 2012 resulting in the public transport modal share being the highest since pre
2008 at 36.7%. The number of trips being made into West Bromwich town centre by
public transport has increased by 7.3% in 2018 at almost 4,500 trips; with more people
travelling to West Bromwich during the AM Peak than ever before.

Page 17 of 18

West Bromwich Cordon
Outbound Trips 07:30-09:30

o

o

9000

8000

7000

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

Hill

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

■ Estimated Car Trips

4976

5288

4643

5256

5454

5378

■ Metro Trips

436

496

438

447

543

573

■ Bus Trips

2764

2267

2332

2369

2087

1975

The number of outbound trips made by metro has increased by 5.5%. Car and bus
trips have decreased by 1.4% and 5.4% respectively. Public transport modal share
has decreased slightly from 32.5% to 32.1%.

The next West Bromwich Cordon Survey will be undertaken in March 2020.

Page 18 of 18