Mayor promises cheaper, more reliable service after taking buses under public control for first time in nearly 40 years

Mr Parker formally signed off plans for a rail-style franchise system for bus services following a board meeting of the West Midlands Combined Authority in Wolverhampton this afternoon.

"It's a really momentous day today for the West Midlands," he said.

"I committed during my campaign once I was elected to bring the bus network in this region back under public control, and today I've made that decision," he said.

"Today we now start the real hard work of that transition from a privatised bus service in the West Midlands, to taking it back under public control."

The first service to operate under the new system will be an express service from Walsall to Solihull via Birmingham, which will be launched at the end of 2027.

Mr Parker said the shake-up will be fully complete by the end of 2029.

He said the scheme will give the West Midlands Combined Authority - a consortium of seven metropolitan authorities, including Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton - the power to control the routes, timetables and fares of bus services for the first time since deregulation in 1986.

It will see the combined authority spend £121.8 million buying up the region's existing diesel bus fleet and depots. A further £22.5 million has been earmarked to cover the cost of administering the transition.