Driver shortages and congestion hit West Midlands bus on demand journeys

Driver shortages and increasing road congestion have contributed to a decline in journeys on West Midlands Bus on Demand (WMBOD) services, according to new figures.

Between October and December, the demand-responsive transport service recorded 54,500 journeys, representing a 2.6% drop compared with the same period in 2024.

A report presented to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee said passenger numbers were affected by reduced service performance during the first two months of the quarter.

The decline was largely attributed to driver shortages and reduced reliability caused by increased congestion on the road network.

Service changes and new operators

The report also noted that two new operators were mobilised from 1 December 2025, after the region’s ring and ride services were reorganised under the WMBOD programme.

Previously, the Ring and Ride service covering Birmingham, Wolverhampton and the Black Country operated separately from Coventry’s on-demand transport. These services were merged last year to form West Midlands Bus on Demand.

Under the new operating model:

• Via now runs demand-responsive transport services in Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry

• Hats has been awarded the contract to operate the Black Country ring and ride service

While the introduction of the new operators initially resulted in “teething issues”, the report states that service availability has now reached 100%.

Upgrades aimed at improving accessibility and efficiency

WMBOD has also introduced a series of improvements aimed at enhancing passenger experience and operational efficiency.

These upgrades include:

• A new fleet of smaller vehicles, designed to improve service flexibility

• Vehicles configured to allow multiple wheelchair users to travel together

The combined authority hopes the improvements and stabilisation of the new contracts will help restore reliability and rebuild passenger numbers following the disruption earlier in the reporting period.