Bus travel is changing in the West Midlands - what will it mean for you?
PA MediaBus services in the West Midlands conurbation are to be brought back into public control for the first time in 40 years.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham was in Wolverhampton to make the announcement and backed what he called a "bold move" and the "biggest act of public control" since he came into office.
The West Midlands bus deal would protect thousands of jobs, Mr Burnham said, after they were threatened after the parent company behind local operator National Express indicated it was leaving the market.
He also lauded a second transport announcement saying the extension of free travel for disabled bus pass holders would "make a huge difference to people's lives".
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said it would protect bus routes and jobs.
But what does this mean for the passenger and how will things change?
Who owns the bus network now?
Mobico, an international transport operator, is the parent company of the National Express coach business.
It says it runs about 1,400 buses in total, facilitating about 120 million passenger journeys.
WMCA will pay £24m up front for the business's West Midlands arm, and will be given full control of the network, assets and operations.
When and where is this happening?
National Express West Midlands operates in a huge urban area.
This includes Birmingham and the Black Country, Wolverhampton and Coventry.
You can see a map of its operating area here.
The sale is expected to be completed in November.
Why has the bus network been bought?
Mobico said the sale came after the WMCA approved plans to shift from deregulated bus services to a local franchising model by the end of 2029, with the latter "presenting a significant headwind" for the group where managing costs was concerned.
Later this month, bus operators will be invited to tender to run routes across parts of the network.
What about the politics?
Buses were a key policy for new prime minister Andy Burnham in his last job as mayor of Greater Manchester.
There, he introduced the Bee Network, which integrated a franchised bus network into a region-wide public transport system.
Labour had already announced plans to extend bus franchising - closer control of bus services by regional and local authorities - before he became PM.
His visit to Wolverhampton bus station on the day the West Midlands announced it would directly own much of its fleet underlines it as a priority.
Tory shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said it was "strange" that the government did not try to facilitate a franchised private operator to take over, "but instead transfer about £100m of liabilities to local taxpayers".
What's going to change?
In the near future, there will not be any changes to routes, fares or services, other than the usual resumption of September timetables, National Express West Midlands said.
All tickets remain valid, including monthly and annual tickets.
Franchising the buses will begin in April next year, says Parker.
"When we start, the public will see those real differences," he stated.
"We'll be deciding the network, the timetable and the fares."
Benefits to the public could include making fares more affordable.
The move also means that about 4,800 jobs are protected, Parker says, as well as up to 750 buses running a day.
Burnham said: "The West Midlands can now move more quickly towards an integrated public transport system across bus, tram, and train, and one which is very much set up to serve the public.
"When you've got that public control, you can deliver more public benefit, in lower fares, newer buses, and that is exactly what will happen here in the West Midlands."
What's changing for disabled people?
The prime minister has announced that time restrictions on disabled bus passes will be scrapped.
Currently, disabled bus passes are only eligible for use between the hours of 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays.
The new changes will come into force on 1 April.
Nabila Gardner, a disabled business owner from Birmingham, said the change was "really useful".
She told the BBC it would make a difference getting to appointments, seeing family, seeking new work opportunities, and socialising in new places.
She added that a franchise model would "make sure people have decent travel over profit".
Alexandra Davis, who is deaf and uses a wheelchair, makes social media videos about accessibility.
"It feels like the government are realising that disabled people don't just exist between set times," she said of the change.
"Being disabled, you have to plan so much already - not having to worry about leaving the house, or getting on a bus too early, it's one less thing to worry about."
She said the sale of the network would make disabled people and the public's lives less complicated.
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