Transport logjams are hurting the West Midlands economy, the Government was warned today.

In its response to Advantage West Midlands' regional economic strategy, the West Midlands Business Council says there is a "fundamental need to ensure real improvements and co-ordinated action for air, road, rail, bus and tram".

Crying out was improved access to the North Staffordshire conurbation, extra capacity for the M42 box and the M6 between Birmingham and Manchester, the runway extention at Birmingham International Airport and rail services including the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station.

The report warns: "Transport logjams – in road or rail – have led to serious problems for the West Midlands economy."

According to the British Chambers of Commerce, problems with the UK's transport infrastructure are costing each business, on average £27,000 per year.

And a Federation of Small Businesses survey found eight per cent of West Midlands members had missed out on more than £5,000 through traffic congestion while 15 per cent reported losing over 100 man hours in a year.

WMBC states: "For West Midlands firms the transport congestion and poor infrastructure is being felt every day. This is despite the fact being in the Midlands should provide geographical advantages – from just-in-time deliveries to developing logistics and professional sectors."

All partners – AWM, the West Midlands Regional Assembly, the Highways Agency, Network Rail and others – needed to come together "to tackle an issue that should be a key strategic commercial advantage".

Progress, it agrees, is being made.
* A master plan for the development of Birmingham International Airport has been produced.
* Active traffic management is being piloted on the M42 and the Government has decided to unblock M6 congestion.
* Local authorities have responded to "quick win" suggestions for local road improvements – but not in the shire counties and Wolverhampton.
* A business case for the physical development of Birmingham New Street Station has been presented to the Government, albeit the problem of lack of access for more trains remains.
* Options for a restored Walsall to Wolverhampton rail service and an increase in trains between Birmingham International and Milton Keynes Central were on the table.

The report goes on: "The key determinate for an effective transport infrastructure is integration between all transport modes – road, air, rail, tram and bus."

But WMBC says its research shows transport integration is "ineffective" in the West Midlands. It claims bus services are not linked to other transport modes. And they rarely operate across urban areas.

"For example, there is no bus service across Worcester. Services operate in a similar pattern to rail in providing transport in and out of urban centres – but not linking into