OVER a hundred additional trains will be added to the East and West Midlands rail network benefitting thousands of commuters with faster journey times.
Midlands Connect has outlined up to £1.5billion of new and improved infrastructure, slashing train times between Birmingham and Hereford by up to 13 minutes.
An additional train will be added between Birmingham and Hereford via Worcester, which will also stop at Bromsgrove, Great Malvern and Droitwich as part of its Midlands Rail Plan.
Sir John Peace, 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.
“The Midlands Rail Hub will significantly impact the future of travel for generations to come.”
It is hoped the improvements will be completed between 2025-2030, improving the lines across 43 communities.
An estimated 14.6 million more seats on the railway every year ‘will enhance access to HS2 for 1.6 million more people’, they have said and safeguard 1,600 well-paid jobs in the construction industry.
Politicians like the Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Rail Executive, Andy Street, Preet Kaur Gill MP, Deputy City Mayor of Leicester Coun Adam Clarke, councils and business leaders have all backed the proposals so far.
Andy Street 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.”
The new plans submitted to the government will be launched today in Birmingham.
