A significant overhaul of accessible transport in the West Midlands has taken effect this week, marking a new chapter for the region's Ring and Ride service.
Unified Service Launches Across the Region
From Monday, 5th December 2025, the separate Ring and Ride services in Birmingham and Solihull have been formally merged with Coventry's On Demand service. They now operate under a single, streamlined brand: West Midlands Bus On Demand. The primary goal of this consolidation is to create a network that is simpler and more straightforward for passengers to navigate and use.
The contract to run this new, unified demand-responsive transport service across Birmingham, Solihull, and Coventry has been awarded to the operator Via. This company is no stranger to the sector, having provided the technological backbone for the West Midlands service since June. Via already manages 35 similar dial-a-ride and on-demand transport schemes elsewhere in the UK, including partnerships with Transport for London, Transport for Manchester, and Transport for Wales.
Key Upgrades and Service Details
Alongside the operational change, West Midlands Bus On Demand has introduced a series of upgrades designed to enhance both efficiency and the passenger experience. A notable improvement is the introduction of a fleet of smaller, more agile vehicles. This shift allows multiple wheelchair users to travel together, addressing a previous limitation.
Service hours remain unchanged for existing users. Importantly, all passengers who were eligible for the former Ring & Ride scheme retain their access to travel throughout the wider West Midlands region. For the Coventry area specifically, the On Demand service is available to anyone for journeys of up to five miles within the city limits.
Leadership and a Separate Black Country Contract
West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, welcomed the change, stating it was about securing the service's future. "By bringing in a new operator we are not just improving the service, we are guaranteeing affordable, high quality and accessible transport for some of our most vulnerable residents for years to come," he said, linking it directly to his priority of creating "journeys for everyone."
Sam Griffiths, head of the UK & Nordics at Via, expressed pride in the partnership with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). "We've seen how innovative mobility can improve connectivity for local communities across the UK," Griffiths said, "and we're pleased to support TfWM's ambition for a more accessible and inclusive region."
In a parallel development, a separate new contract for the Black Country Ring and Ride service has been awarded to operator HATS and also commenced this week. The changes follow scrutiny from local councillors, who at a West Midlands Combined Authority committee meeting last month noted that improvements to the service had been 'a long time coming'.
