The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, better known as Centro, is the Passenger Transport Executive resposible for promoting and co-ordinating public transport services thoughout the West Midlands county in England.

Centro does not actually run passenger services, which are run by private companies, but is responsible for:

• Subsidising some bus services which are considered socially necessary but would not otherwise be viable. And providing bus stops and shelters. It also operates twelve major bus stations throughout the West Midlands.
• Managing the funding and administration of concessionary fares for the elderly and disabled etc. Centro also runs "Ring-and-Ride" services for the disabled.
• Centro controls local train services operating in the county, and specifies fares and service levels. Although the services are operated on Centro's behalf by Central Trains under a franchise agreement.
• Centro is responsible for developing public transport facilities across the county, such as new stations, transport interchanges and the Midland Metro.
• Centro is also responsible for, providing information about public transport services, and operates multi-modal ticketing schemes.

Centro is accountable to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority (WMPTA) which sets policies and budgets for the executive. The WMPTA is a joint-authority made up of 27 appointed councillors from the local authorities of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton, which make up the West Midlands, it is also co-funded by these authorities.

See also

• Transport in Birmingham
• Central Trains
• Travel West Midlands

External links

• Centro's homepage
• West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority