The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) was the public body responsible for public transport in the West Midlands metropolitan county in the United Kingdom from 1969 until 2016. The organisation operated under the name Centro from 1990, and was publicly branded as Network West Midlands from 2005.
Initially, WMPTE was also responsible for the operation of bus services within the West Midlands. However, following deregulation in 1986 it ceased operating services directly and assumed a purely coordinating role.
WMPTE was dissolved in 2016 following the establishment of the West Midlands Combined Authority and its transport arm, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).
Governance
When first established, WMPTE was governed by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority (WMPTA). Initially, this consisted of members from the local government authorities then existing within WMPTE's operating area. The Local Government Act 1972 led to the abolition of these local authorities and the creation of the West Midlands metropolitan county and its seven metropolitan boroughs (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton), which came into being on 1 April 1974. From that date, the original WMPTA was disbanded. In its place, the new West Midlands County Council (WMCC) became the PTA for the West Midlands.
However, this new arrangement ultimately proved to be short lived, as the Local Government Act 1985 abolished the metropolitan county councils, the WMCC among them, with effect from 1 April 1986. On that date, a new WMPTA was formed, comprising members from the West Midlands' seven metropolitan borough councils. The Local Transport Act 2008 subsequently saw the WMPTA reconstituted as the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (WMITA).
In its final form, the WMITA functioned as a committee formed of the leaders of the seven metropolitan boroughs, and a non-voting representatives from each of the region's three local enterprise partnerships, that set the strategic agenda for the WMPTE. These agenda were broken down into six groups, with a set of councillors responsible for each:
Transport Delivery oversaw the work of all the other delivery committees. Policy Co-ordination and Development ensured the WMPTE's policies were effectively delivered. Finance, Delivery & Performance Monitoring managed the WMPTE's budget. Putting Passengers First ensured the WMPTE's policies met the needs of the public. Task & Finish ensured WMPTE's task and finish groups met their delivery timescales. Partner Engagement, Petitions & Appeals Sub-Committee – considered appeals against bus shelter placements and ensured the authority worked effectively with industry partners.
Public consultations were held to gather public views on proposed projects and policies. The authority was primarily funded by a council tax levy from the seven metropolitan boroughs, although some projects were funded by the Department for Transport and the European Union.
Branding
In 1990 WMPTE adopted the corporate name of Centro. Local Class 150 and Class 323 trains were painted in a green Centro livery. Central Trains later applied an updated lime green livery to the Class 150 fleet. From 2007, some received a light blue and green livery when Network West Midlands. Following the franchise passing to London Midland, the introduction of Class 172 rolling stock, and the repainting of the 323s into London Midland livery, Centro livery disappeared from local trains.
The name Network West Midlands was used for a rebranding of existing bus and train services from 2005 onwards, based on the premise that survey information had indicated that more people would use public transport if a strong brand were identifiable. Promotion of the brand included television advertising, print media, and online media. All bus stops, Metro stops, and railway station signs were replaced with Network West Midlands signage.
VAG Rounded was originally used as the corporate typeface by Centro as part of the Network West Midlands initiative; later this was replaced by a custom typeface called Network.
Following creation of Transport for West Midlands, a new logo and signage has been introduced.