Review of Operations

Travel West Midlands (TWM) is Europe’s largest fleet of easy access vehicles operating on a single area bus network. Our fleet of 1,800 buses provides more than 500 services to 361 million passengers each year. TWM performed well during 2000, despite the disruption caused by the redevelop-ment of Birmingham city centre. Passenger growth was driven primarily by our investment in Quality Partnerships and infrastructure. In addition, we extended our marketing activity and ticketing range. Sales of group tickets and travelcards continued to increase and sales of day tickets increased by 14%.

Services

Road closures and the relocation of bus stops as a result of the work on Birmingham city centre adversely affected our services. However, once the reconstruction is completed the city centre will be a far more attractive destination for shopping and entertainment. Our services will benefit from this investment in the city.

During the year, we launched the “Infrastructure Investment Project”, a £30m three-year investment in vital congestion-busting schemes across the region. Working in partnership with the seven local metropolitan councils, we invested in new bus lanes, new signage, bus slip roads, lower kerbing, better bus shelters and information systems as well as landscaping on bus routes. These investments will help beat congestion, attract passengers and improve services. During 2001, we will be investing £6m in a variety of such schemes.

We continue to develop additional Quality Partnership Showcase routes. There are currently five such schemes delivering passenger growth of over 20%. Through these partnerships, we work with the local councils to increase the appeal of bus travel by relieving congestion. As individual Showcase routes develop across the region, “Showcase Zones” which encompass a number of routes, are being created. During the year one of these, the 67 Tyburn Road route which uses a dedicated fleet of articulated single-deck buses, won a National Bus Industry Award for innovation.

We are meeting the needs of a number of new destinations that are being developed outside Birmingham city centre. For example, we extended our bus services to the new Star City Cinema complex at Spaghetti Junction in June, and will provide extra bus services to serve the Touchwood Court shopping centre, in Solihull, which is due to open in 2001.

Integrating transport

Following its launch in 1999, Midland Metro became an integral part of the West Midlands public transport network and a total of 5.4 million journeys were made on the Metro. A new range of tickets and passes was introduced to encourage further integration between train and bus. More than 50% of fare-paying Metro passengers now use multi-modal tickets.

Following the commencement of the Metro service we were awarded a European Public Transport Prize 2000 for Culture and Mobility, for the accessibility and quality of Wolverhampton’s transport.

Training

We invest in our staff to ensure we can provide quality services. With increased turnover of drivers, we believe this investment is essential.

We continue to support the New Deal initiative. Under the scheme, long-term unemployed people who wish to return to work, are retrained. On the back of the closure of a number of large, established businesses in the Midlands, we have set up job shops to attract potential recruits.

More than 40% of TWM staff have achieved, or are working towards, National Vocational Qualification level 2. This is double the target which we had set for the end of 2002. Our aim is to register a further 700 drivers for NVQ level 2 during 2001. This is a nationwide qualification which recognises drivers’ skills and competence. It forms part of the Government initiative to ensure that drivers are professionally qualified to do their jobs, an initiative that we wholeheartedly support.

Security

In 1999 we launched Operation Hackney, in co-operation with the West Midlands Police, to reduce vandalism and abuse of staff on buses. In 2000, TWM sponsored police officers to combat anti-social behaviour on the region’s public transport, and considerable efforts are being made to visit schools and educate students. To date, Operation Hackney has resulted in more than 350 arrests for a variety of offences, from fare evasion through to drug-related offences. We are committed to ensuring that our passengers can travel safely on our services.

The future

We continue to invest in the future by developing local partnerships and investing in our operations, particularly in our fleet. In early 2001, we placed a £23m order for 180 new low floor double-deck buses to be introduced over the next 18 months. These vehicles will be the first in the UK to be fitted with Euro III engines – the lowest emission engine currently on the market. This brings TWM’s investment in new buses to more than £100m since acquisition in 1995.

Integration

Supporting an integrated transportation system, TWM operates out of multi-modal locations which provide links between bus, coach, train and Metro services.

Comfort

Grab rails in bright colours help people who have mobility difficulties and restricted vision. Quality lighting and large windows make the environment more appealing to passengers.

Accessibility

All new buses are low floor, easy access, enabling mothers with buggies and people with disabilities to get on and off buses more easily.

Information

Bus stop information has been improved with clearer identification of bus stop locations and improved service information provision making it easier for passengers to use services.


Travel West Midlands (TWM) is Europe’s largest fleet of easy access vehicles operating on a single area bus network. Our fleet of 1,800 buses provides more than 500 services to 361 million passengers each year. TWM performed well during 2000, despite the disruption caused by the redevelop-ment of Birmingham city centre. Passenger growth was driven primarily by our investment in Quality Partnerships and infrastructure. In addition, we extended our marketing activity and ticketing range. Sales of group tickets and travelcards continued to increase and sales of day tickets increased by 14%. Services Road closures and the relocation of bus stops as a result of the work on Birmingham city centre adversely affected our services. However, once the reconstruction is completed the city centre will be a far more attractive destination for shopping and entertainment. Our services will benefit from this investment in the city. During the year, we launched the “Infrastructure Investment Project”, a £30m three-year investment in vital congestion-busting schemes across the region. Working in partnership with the seven local metropolitan councils, we invested in new bus lanes, new signage, bus slip roads, lower kerbing, better bus shelters and information systems as well as landscaping on bus routes. These investments will help beat congestion, attract passengers and improve services. During 2001, we will be investing £6m in a variety of such schemes. We continue to develop additional Quality Partnership Showcase routes. There are currently five such schemes delivering passenger growth of over 20%. Through these partnerships, we work with the local councils to increase the appeal of bus travel by relieving congestion. As individual Showcase routes develop across the region, “Showcase Zones” which encompass a number of routes, are being created. During the year one of these, the 67 Tyburn Road route which uses a dedicated fleet of articulated single-deck buses, won a National Bus Industry Award for innovation. We are meeting the needs of a number of new destinations that are being developed outside Birmingham city centre. For example, we extended our bus services to the new Star City Cinema complex at Spaghetti Junction in June, and will provide extra bus services to serve the Touchwood Court shopping centre, in Solihull, which is due to open in 2001. Integrating transport Following its launch in 1999, Midland Metro became an integral part of the West Midlands public transport network and a total of 5.4 million journeys were made on the Metro. A new range of tickets and passes was introduced to encourage further integration between train and bus. More than 50% of fare-paying Metro passengers now use multi-modal tickets. Following the commencement of the Metro service we were awarded a European Public Transport Prize 2000 for Culture and Mobility, for the accessibility and quality of Wolverhampton’s transport. Training We invest in our staff to ensure we can provide quality services. With increased turnover of drivers, we believe this investment is essential. We continue to support the New Deal initiative. Under the scheme, long-term unemployed people who wish to return to work, are retrained. On the back of the closure of a number of large, established businesses in the Midlands, we have set up job shops to attract potential recruits. More than 40% of TWM staff have achieved, or are working towards, National Vocational Qualification level 2. This is double the target which we had set for the end of 2002. Our aim is to register a further 700 drivers for NVQ level 2 during 2001. This is a nationwide qualification which recognises drivers’ skills and competence. It forms part of the Government initiative to ensure that drivers are professionally qualified to do their jobs, an initiative that we wholeheartedly support. Security In 1999 we launched Operation Hackney, in co-operation with the West Midlands Police, to reduce vandalism and abuse of staff on buses. In 2000, TWM sponsored police officers to combat anti-social behaviour on the region’s public transport, and considerable efforts are being made to visit schools and educate students. To date, Operation Hackney has resulted in more than 350 arrests for a variety of offences, from fare evasion through to drug-related offences. We are committed to ensuring that our passengers can travel safely on our services. The future We continue to invest in the future by developing local partnerships and investing in our operations, particularly in our fleet. In early 2001, we placed a £23m order for 180 new low floor double-deck buses to be introduced over the next 18 months. These vehicles will be the first in the UK to be fitted with Euro III engines – the lowest emission engine currently on the market. This brings TWM’s investment in new buses to more than £100m since acquisition in 1995.

Integration Supporting an integrated transportation system, TWM operates out of multi-modal locations which provide links between bus, coach, train and Metro services.

	Comfort Grab rails in bright colours help people who have mobility difficulties and restricted vision. Quality lighting and large windows make the environment more appealing to passengers.

Accessibility All new buses are low floor, easy access, enabling mothers with buggies and people with disabilities to get on and off buses more easily.

	Information Bus stop information has been improved with clearer identification of bus stop locations and improved service information provision making it easier for passengers to use services.