Nearly half of West Midlands bus routes at risk as fuel costs rise 50% per litre, with Transport for West Midlands warning that nearly half the region’s bus network could be withdrawn if a critical subsidy scheme expires without extension.

Up to 49% of current services face potential cuts as fuel costs have surged from £1.07 to £1.60 per litre, according to the agency. The at-risk routes would affect more than 65 million passenger trips in the current financial year, representing over a quarter of all journeys across the network, according to Moovit.

The financial pressure stems from fuel prices rising approximately 50% per litre following global conflict, creating unsustainable operating conditions for bus operators across the West Midlands. The region’s Combined Authority has previously allocated £50m annually to prevent service reductions, supporting routes that would otherwise be commercially unviable. Without continued intervention, operators have indicated through comprehensive financial reviews that large portions of the network cannot be maintained at current service levels.

Transport for West Midlands has conducted full open-book negotiations with operators to verify the scale of financial risk facing the network. Even if fares were increased by 25%, the analysis shows the network would still contract by 28% without additional subsidy support. The authority is now proposing to extend the existing subsidy scheme from June 1 through November 30, 2026, to maintain service continuity while longer-term solutions are developed.

The proposed extension would bridge the gap until the region moves toward a franchised bus system, with further approvals required from April 2026 to sustain subsidy arrangements throughout the 2026/27 financial year. The timeline reflects the transitional period as the West Midlands works to restructure how bus services are planned and funded across the metropolitan area.

(Picture: Transport for West Midlands)