Bus Service Registrations within the West Midlands

From Sunday 5 March 2023, the Traffic Commissioner’s Office has delegated bus service registration powers for services within the West Midlands Enhanced Partnership to Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).

This means that for local bus services that operate wholly within the West Midlands area[i] Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) receives and publishes these registrations on this webpage on a two-weekly basis.  It is important to note that this power does not give TfWM powers to decline or cancel registrations unless the service is either registered at short notice or does not meet a requirement set out in the Enhanced Partnership. 

The following document indicates those registrations that were active in the West Midlands area on this date and indicates those for which TfWM has taken responsibility alongside new registration numbers: 

WM Active Registrations as of 05 03 2023

This page sets out the different aspects of the registration process that TfWM manages, how registrations can be submitted and how registrations can be obtained.  

Operators wishing to submit registrations wholly within the West Midlands

Operators wishing to submit bus service registrations that operate wholly within the West Midlands should register for an account with TfWM through emailing BusServiceRegistration@tfwm.org.uk.  Subject to relevant checks individuals registering for an account will receive an invitation by email. 

Operators are still required to submit registrations at 70 days’ notice and registrations submitted at short notice may be declined.  Additionally, as outlined in the Enhanced Partnership operators are required to approach TfWM with regards to bus station and city centre slots at least 14 days before the registration is initially submitted.  Operators needing support with this process should contact BusServiceRegistration@tfwm.org.uk.

If a registration has a service registered at any stopping point outside the West Midlands boundary then this service should continue to be registered with the Traffic Commissioner.

Fees charged

TfWM charges fees for registrations received.  This is currently set at £60 per registration.

This is made up of:

• £54 Staff cost
• £3 Accommodation cost and;
• £3 Ancillary cost.

Fees do not apply when operators are:

• varying a service only to meet the requirements that prohibit or restrict the use of any road by vehicular traffic.
• Varying a service temporarily for a week containing a bank holiday.
• applying to record a change in the operator’s address.
• cancelling a registration.

This charge is paid immediately upon submission and is refundable up to 43 days before services in the registration commence in the event of the submission being withdrawn.

Bank Holidays

For amendments to registered services temporarily with a week containing a bank holiday operators should use the form below no later than 21 days before an amendment to service is made. 

A bank holiday week is defined as a period of 7 days starting from a Monday containing an officially recognised bank holiday. 

Operators requesting changes to service on a week with a bank holiday with a shorter notice period will have to submit this through their system account. 

Notices

TfWM issues the registrations received by the authority on a two-weekly basis (usually on Thursday afternoons).  All local bus registrations that operate wholly within the West Midlands area[i] will appear here – for registrations that for any part of their route use a stop that is not within this area you will need to consult the Traffic Commissioners Notices and Proceedings.  

Copies of registrations received by TfWM can be obtained either:

• by email
• by appointment at 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD

To organise this, please contact the TfWM Customer Relations team.

Appointments must be booked at least 3 working days in advance.  Slots are available Mondays to Fridays (except Bank Holidays) between 10am and 3.30pm. 

[i] As defined in the West Midlands Combined Authority Constitution