We are leading work to review and modernise the bus network as part of a new 'Bus Vision' for the West Midlands and commenced consultation on a draft vision document early in 2008.

Customer views on bus travel show the most important areas for improvement are reliability, frequency, affordability, personal security, information, attractiveness and comfort - particularly while waiting.

Taking these ideas on board, Centro recently signed an innovative new partnership initiative with Travel West Midlands (the largest private bus operator in the region) and is seeking similar arrangements with other bus companies. The six key partnership routes in Birmingham, Walsall and West Bromwich have been launched and some routes feature leather seats on air chilled, state-of-the-art buses.

On all routes, passengers are benefiting from faster, cleaner and more frequent services and, for the first time, are able to get refunds if high standards of punctuality are not met. Routes feature limited stop services with increased frequencies and new, high quality bus shelters at 149 stops along the routes with a dedicated cleaning team.

Passengers will also benefit from an additional daytime litter removal service. Other upgrades include Real Time Information at many stops so passengers know exactly when the next bus will arrive and CCTV is also being installed at key bus shelter locations to improve security.

Centro, in partnership with the region's largest bus operator, National Express West Midlands, implemented the largest shake-up of bus services in 20 years within one of the West Midlands' biggest boroughs.

Residents, commuters and visitors to Dudley now benefit from a new, improved and easy to understand bus network providing more frequent services to the borough's key destinations - taking people where they want, when they want.

The new network is the result of demands from passengers and businesses for a more modern and effective system.

The alterations to services and routes came into effect on April 27, 2008, and reflect the many new developments, both residential and commercial, that have been built in Dudley in recent years.