predecessor organisation which existed 1969 2016 see west midlands passenger transport executive . transport for west midlands location of the west midlands within the united kingdom abbreviation tfwm predecessor west midlands passenger transport executive west midlands integrated transport authority formation 17 june 2016 type public body purpose transport authority headquarters 16 summer lane birmingham england region served west midlands county and parts of staffordshire managing director laura shoaf parent organization west midlands combined authority website www.westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk transport for west midlands tfwm is an executive body of the west midlands combined authority wmca with bus franchising from may 2017 and highway management powers similar to transport for london . 1 2 3 it is responsible for transport infrastructure and public transport services in the west midlands metropolitan area with the remit to develop a network that fully integrates the region s road rail bus and tram systems . 4 tfwm is branded as network west midlands for the purposes of public transport information . upon creation tfwm absorbed the functions responsibilities assets and staff of two former organisations the west midlands integrated transport authority wmita and centro which was the operating name of the west midlands passenger transport executive wmpte . the predecessor organisations were dissolved . tfwm s initial priorities are the expansion of the metro through east birmingham brierley hill and birmingham airport improvements to the m5 and m6 motorways and new cycles routes as part of a metropolitan cycle network . there are also plans to work with central government over the future of the underused m6 toll . 5 contents 1 governance 6 2 responsibilities 3 branding 4 midland metro 5 key projects 5.1 high speed rail 5.2 bus rapid transit 6 ticketing 6.1 nbus 6.2 ntrain 6.3 swift 7 see also 8 references 9 external links governance 6 edit the wmca s transport delivery committee is a 19 member sub committee of the combined authority board . it forms part of tfwm s activities and provides oversight of the operational delivery of transport across the west midlands and advises the combined authority board through the transport portfolio holder on transport policy matters . the members are nominated by their respective local authorities ; birmingham city council nominating seven members the six other metropolitan boroughs nominating two members each . each member has a single vote . the chair and vice chair of the transport delivery committee are appointed by the combined authority board . responsibilities edit the wmca is the local transport authority and has a statutory responsibility to implement policies and strategies that co ordinate and promote the use of public transport in the west midlands . the wmca s transport responsibilities include 6 setting and monitoring the authority s transport budget determining the grants to be made to passenger transport companies and determining the borrowing limits of the combined authority in relation to transport matters . the allocation and prioritisation of central government grants and other forms of funding . long term strategy for the west midlands public transport system contributing to regional economic development through a network of high volume public transport corridors . developing a rapid transit network including midland metro . developing the rail network in partnership with network rail and train operating companies and formulating policies regarding a devolved rail franchise from october 2017 . maximising the benefits of hs2 across the west midlands region . considering and approving the creation and development of bus quality contract schemes operating a concessionary fares scheme and implementing the government s national concessionary scheme . integrated ticketing and developing smartcard ticketing technology within the region . increasing bus travel and supporting the modernisation of the bus network in the region with the west midlands bus alliance . subsidising socially necessary but commercially non viable bus services . providing an annual grant to the operator of the door to door ring and ride service for people who have difficulty using other public transport facilities . working with public transport operators the police and district councils for the promotion of safe efficient and economic transport facilities and services . providing integration between public transport modes including the provision of interchanges . promoting and publicising the public transport network and providing travel information as part of the network west midlands initiative constructing and maintaining bus stations and public transport infrastructure . branding edit the name network west midlands was introduced by tfwm s predecessor centro in 2005 and used for a rebranding of the existing bus and train service based on the premise that survey information had indicated that more people would use public transport if a strong brand was identifiable . promotion of the brand has included television advertising print media and online media . all bus stops metro stops and train station signage were replaced with network west midlands signage . the network west midlands brand was retained by tfwm when it assumed responsibility for public transport from centro in 2016 . the nwm logo midland metro edit main article midland metro midland metro urbos 3 tram in wolverhampton in june 2014 tfwm s predecessor centro was responsible for the reintroduction of tram services to the west midlands with the development of the midland metro . plans for a multi line light rail system for the west midlands were first drawn up in the early 1980s . the first and so far only line of the midland metro was opened in may 1999 between birmingham and wolverhampton . 7 the line s first extension into the streets of birmingham city centre from its original terminus at birmingham snow hill to birmingham new street opened in may 2016 . 8 further extensions of the system are planned . 9 key projects edit high speed rail edit in august 2009 tfwm s predecessor centro backed construction of a new railway in the west midlands region for use by high speed 2 trains which would allow existing lines to have better and more frequent local services . 10 bus rapid transit edit plans are in place for a new network of sprint services . 11 ticketing edit tfwm is committed to the introduction of an integrated ticketing system . network west midlands tickets are valid across the entire network on any operator involved in the n scheme . nbus edit nbus tickets are valid on almost all operators services in the county . tickets can be purchased for travel within various local travel areas or across the whole of the county and are valid for periods ranging from one day to a year . 12 metro travel may be added onto nbus passes . ntrain edit ntrain passes are valid on all local train services within the network west midlands zonal rail map or to select out of county stations in the birmingham travel to work metropolitan area . swift edit main article swift card swift is the multi modal multi operator smart travel card similar to the oyster card scheme in london . rather than being a single card it is a range of contactless passes and cards that share a common system and brand name . centro began a phased rollout of the swift card scheme in 2012 which was still ongoing in 2016 when responsibility for the scheme passed to tfwm . the system is expected to be extended across the local rail network as part of rail devolution in the west midlands . 13 see also edit transport in birmingham references edit just the ticket west midlands metro mayor to get control of buses . the chamberlain files . retrieved 12 july 2016 . devolution register . local government association . retrieved 20 june 2016 . wmita west midlands ita may 2016 . www.wmita.org.uk . retrieved 27 may 2016 . west midlands combined authority laura shoaf appointed managing director of transport for west midlands . westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk . retrieved 10 june 2016 . west midlands combined authority 4 billion of transport infrastructure over coming decade . westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk . retrieved 12 june 2016 . a b west midlands combined authority . agenda document for the west midlands combined authority board 10.06.2016 pdf . west midlands combined authority . retrieved 22 june 2016 . boynton john 2001 . main line to metro train and tram on the great western route birmingham snow hill wolverhampton . kidderminster . mid england books . isbn 978 0 9522248 9 1 . birmingham city centre extension centro midland metro grand central extension opens . british trams online . retrieved 21 june 2016 . west midlands transport bosses welcome high speed rail . centro . 27 august 2009 . new sprint bus will be a vital link . coventry evening telegraph . 27 june 2006 . http www.networkwestmidlands.com tickethome nbus ticket.aspx http www.birminghammail.co.uk news midlands news just ticket birmingham commuters oyster style 8931699 external links edit network west midlands west midlands integrated transport authority west midlands passenger transport executive v t e transport in the west midlands county transport for west midlands swift card air birmingham airport coventry airport wolverhampton airport bus operators arriva midlands banga buses central buses claribels coastal liner community transport corporate express diamond bus discount travel solutions first the green bus grs travel hanson s local bus hi ride wmsnt invincible coaches johnsons coach & bus travel midland classic national express west midlands national express coventry sandwell travel silverline social travel stagecoach sunny travel thandi executive the a & m group travel de courcey travel express walsall community transport routes 2 3 yardley wood road 7 8a 8c inner circle 11a 11c outer circle 28 28a 28b 50 66 66a 144 40 19 301 302 tracline 65 defunct 1 2 4 11 12 19 19w 19x 23 42 81 81e 81w 360 801 x17 prs park and ride bus stations bearwood bilston halesowen coventry pool meadow cradley heath digbeth birmingham national express dudley merry hill walsall st pauls wednesbury west bromwich wolverhampton pipers row road european route e05 european route e24 a34 a38 a41 a45 a47 a435 a456 a5127 a4040 outer ring road a4400 inner ring road motorways a38 m m5 motorway m6 motorway tram midland metro cycle national cycle route 5 national cycle route 54 rail stations birmingham new street railway station wolverhampton railway station coventry railway station list of open railway stations lines cross city line snow hill lines chase line birmingham loop stourbridge town branch line operators arriva trains wales 2003 present british rail 1948 1997 central trains 1997 2007 chiltern railways 1996 present crosscountry 2007 present london midland 2007 present virgin trains 1997 present other aston manor road transport museum the transport museum wythall coventry transport museum see also transport in birmingham v t e ceremonial county of west midlands metropolitan districts city of birmingham city of coventry city of wolverhampton metropolitan borough of dudley metropolitan borough of sandwell metropolitan borough of solihull metropolitan borough of walsall major settlements aldridge bilston birmingham blackheath bloxwich brierley hill brownhills coventry cradley heath darlaston dudley fordbridge halesowen oldbury rowley regis smethwick solihull stourbridge sutton coldfield tipton walsall wednesbury west bromwich willenhall wolverhampton see also west midlands rivers river blythe river cole river penk river rea smestow brook river sherbourne river sow river sowe river stour river tame canals birmingham canal navigations shropshire union canal staffordshire & worcestershire worcester & birmingham topics places parliamentary constituencies sssis country houses grade i listed buildings grade ii listed buildings conservation areas history lord lieutenants high sheriffs museums black country birmingham airport coventry bedworth urban area transport for west midlands west midlands conurbation west midlands combined authority v t e passenger transport executives in the united kingdom current merseytravel liverpool city region metro west yorkshire nexus tyne & wear strathclyde partnership for transport greater glasgow transport for greater manchester greater manchester transport for london greater london transport for west midlands west midlands travel south yorkshire south yorkshire former west midlands passenger transport executive west midlands west yorkshire passenger transport executive west yorkshire retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title transport for