Centro, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive and Authority, promotes and develops public transport across the West Midlands.

 

Our aim is to transform public transport so that the people of the West Midlands have a world class public transport system provided by a best in class organisation.

 

We are working hard to ensure everyone in the region benefits from an effective public transport system that meets the economic, social and environmental needs of the West Midlands.

 

The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) was created in 1969 following the 1968 Transport Act. The West Midlands Metropolitan County was formed in 1974 as a result of the 1972 Local Government Act and incorporated Coventry.

 

The 1985 Transport Act deregulated and privatised bus services across the UK. From that date, WMPTE assumed its new role co-ordinating the services of all local private bus operators and adopted the name of Centro shortly afterwards to distinguish itself from its previous role as an operator.

 

The seven District Councils which make up the West Midlands County – Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton – each have representatives on the Authority and there are a total of 27 local councillors who work together to decide upon the policies and financial structure of the organisation.

As a Council Tax payer, some of your contributions go towards funding the work that Centro carries out. Centro is also able to raise revenue from the Government, as well as the European Community through various grants and also receives income from the private sector.

Being responsible for promoting public transport, Centro is a highly customer focused organisation, one that is fully committed to achieving high standards in the services it provides and giving value for money in return for the finances it receives. Centro invests in a number of activities designed to improve and enhance the regional transport structure, providing safe and secure travel, working towards a fully integrated public transport system and planning for the future.

 

Now more than ever, it is crucial to invest in the development of public transport as seemingly endless traffic jams, longer journey times and increasing pollution become commonplace on our towns' and cities' roads, adding even more stress to our daily lives.

 

We are committed to a public transport system for the benefit of all West Midlands residents and are involved in a wide range of initiatives to achieve this goal. We very much value your opinions and input and if you would like to become more involved in the issues surrounding public transport in your area, you can join in discussions and public meetings of the Transport Users Forum (TUFs). These are held in each district of the West Midlands and allow you to ask questions or raise matters in relation to public transport.

 

If you use public transport and have travelled around the region, most people will have seen the Network West Midlands logo and you will have also seen our exhibition bus out and about in town and city centres and at shows and special events, spreading the news of the services we provide. But some people might still be unsure of what exactly it is that we do.

 

We provide Travel Information Centres at Coventry, Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton and work with partners who provide centres at Merry Hill, Walsall and West Bromwich.

 

We work in partnership with operators in the West Midlands (under the Network West Midlands brand) to develop integrated ticketing that meets customers needs. Centro also provides a range of concessionary fares for children, the elderly and disabled travellers.

 

Centro does not directly operate any of the trains which serve the region.

 

Centro does not operate any buses. However, we do pay for socially necessary services to operate that are not profitable – such as those in the early morning, in the evening or on a Sunday.

 

Centro is responsible for promoting and developing Midland Metro, which it owns, but it does not operate any services.