UK: The government has announced that it will provide capital funding for the Midlands Rail Hub programme, which the Department for Transport said would be the region’s ‘biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme to date’, and provide ‘huge numbers of additional trains and extra seats’ into and out of Birmingham.
The £1·75bn programme is co-sponsored by Midlands Connect, DfT and the West Midlands Rail Executive.
Subnational transport body Midlands Connect said Chancellor Rachel Reeves had highlighted the scheme in the Comprehensive Spending Review in June, and the July 8 announcement ‘goes beyond this, providing the capital investment needed to make it a reality’.
Full business case completion is planned for 2028, with parts of the scheme to enter service in the early 2030s.
The programme includes two new chords and more than 10 other engineering interventions which would allow the operation of more up to 300 extra trains per day. The West Chord between Bordesley and Birmingham Moor Street would allow access to Moor Street from the southwest and Wales, while the East Chord will provide access to Moor Street from the East Midlands.
Birmingham Moor Street will see 14·2 million extra seats per year and Birmingham New Street an extra 5·4 million.
The Cross City line will get two extra trains in each direction per hour. Redditch, Alvechurch and Barnt Green will see one extra train in each direction per hour. Nottingham, Hereford, Coleshill Parkway, Worcester, Hinckley, South Wigston, Droitwich Spa and Worcestershire Parkway will see at least 2 million more seats. Derby will see 4·1 million more seats.
‘This is a breakthrough moment for our region, one which will led to a fundamental shift in opportunities and investment, and we will see growth in jobs, housing and in our economy as a direct result’, said Midlands Connect Chief Executive Maria Machancoses. Midlands Rail Hub ‘is a once in a generation chance to change our collective future for the better’.
Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker said ’this will transform the region, drive growth and opportunity in every community - and help us deliver better journeys for everyone. It shows what we can achieve when government, mayors, local leaders and our partners work together for the good of the Midlands.’
