Transport body announces Midlands Rail Hub plans

Faster and more frequent train services are on the cards for up to 43 communities, towns and cities throughout the region, as part of a package of improvements to transform east-west connections in the Midlands.

The proposals will reduce journey times, increasing rail journeys and supercharge the economy by bringing the East and West Midlands closer together.

Midlands Connect believe that this would create over 14.6 million more seats on the railway every year and will enhance access to HS2 for 1.6 million more people. It will also help safeguard 1,600 jobs in the construction industry.

The plans submitted to the government by Sub-national Transport Body Midlands Connect were launched in Birmingham, bringing together politicians like West Midlands mayor and chair of the West Midlands Rail Executive Andy Street, Preet Kaur Gill MP, Deputy City Mayor of Leicester Cllr Adam Clarke, councils and business leaders to all back the ambitious proposals.

The plan, entitled 'Going for Growth ' proposes to build two chords as well as 11 further engineering interventions throughout the region to deliver a massive step change in rail transport in the Midlands.

The biggest engineering proposals are between Bordesley and Moor Street, called the West Chord, allowing access to Birmingham Moor Street from South-West and Wales, and making sure services are improved on the Hereford and Worcester corridors. The project 's second chord is called the East Chord. This creates an access to Birmingham Moor Street from the East Midlands.

The improvements will make space for up to ten extra trains per hour in and out of Birmingham. This means that passengers will see up to one hundred extra trains on the rail network in the Midlands every single day.

If funded by the Government, this will deliver a series of major benefits for passengers, commuters and businesses.

The plans are in partnership with Network Rail, and with the backing of 47 partner organisations including West Midlands Combined Authority, local authorities, LEPs, chambers of commerce, HS2 and East Midlands Airport.

Commenting on the report, Sir John Peace (pictured), Chairman of Midlands Connect said: "This is a truly momentous occasion for us, we are proud to unveil this detailed plan for infrastructure changes which will transform our region.

"We know the project has the backing of the businesses, communities and political leaders in the Midlands, and we stand ready to kickstart its delivery and get spades in the ground. ”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Rail Executive, said: “Midlands Rail Hub is a game changing scheme for our region. The benefits it can bring to local people and businesses are many - whether it 's connecting millions more people to the HS2 network; creating space for more local journeys, stations, and rail lines; or opening faster and more frequent rail links for commuters as well as business and leisure travellers.