Latest news with #MidlandsConnect
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Midlands Railway Hub represents 'major investment' for region
A planned rail hub approved by the government represents "a major investment" for the East Midlands, a transport group has Midlands Rail Hub will allow more than 20 million extra seats for passengers and up to 300 extra trains every day across two "chords" for the east and west of the region, according to Midlands was announced last month for the hub by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, but an announcement on Tuesday confirmed money to progress the scheme to the next Connect said the scheme would provide "faster, better and more frequent" connections, as well as creating 13,000 construction jobs. The Department for Transport said the hub "will be the region's biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme to date".Reeves previously said the hub would improve connections from Birmingham, across the West Midlands and into Wales, but did not mention the East Midlands. Maria Machancoses, chief executive of Midlands Connect, told the BBC: "There's a lot of conversations around the Midlands Rail Hub for what it means for the East Midlands."It's a major investment. Government is committed to deliver it."It is all about creating much more capacities, east-west connections."The programme itself will take different steps to delivery, but eventually the idea, the ambition that we all have in mind and what leaders and mayors across the region are working really close together on, is to get this programme on the ground."Ms Machancoses added that Midlands Connect was now "waiting on a final figure" from the government. Analysis By Peter Saull, political editor, BBC East MidlandsAt the Spending Review last month, Rachel Reeves announced funding for the "region's biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme for generations".The Midlands Rail Hub, she added, would improve connections from Birmingham, across the West Midlands and into she failed to mention links to the East Midlands, even though that was supposed to be one of the project's main day after, on a visit to Derby, Reeves told me she was committed to the scheme across the Midlands."The initial work will be in the west - that is necessary before that work starts in the East Midlands," she weeks on, the Department for Transport has announced there is actually money available for both east and west "chords".
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
New route to M6 northbound from Powys for first time
MOTORISTS across Powys and Shropshire will have a direct route onto the northbound stretch of the M6 for the first time after a new link road was given the green light. The UK Government says the go-ahead for the project will mean drivers across the Midlands, and those heading there from Mid Wales, will see faster journeys and better links to key economic hubs. The £200 million development will see the introduction of a 2.5km (1.6-mile) road between junction one of the M54 and junction 11 of the M6. The new link will be between the M6 at Laney Green in Staffordshire to junction 1 at Featherstone. Government funded transport body Midlands Connect said the link road would lead to an 82 per cent drop in traffic along the A460 which currently connects the motorways. At present, Cannock Road carries approximately 23,000 vehicles each day, 28 per cent of which are freight vehicles. Local roads will also continue to be supported. 'Transport is the backbone of our economy, which is why we are giving them the record funding boost they need, putting taxpayer's money where it matters most and making every-day journeys easier,' said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. 'With over £92 billion investment, including the biggest ever boost for city regions in the north and Midlands, we're delivering the schemes that fast-track economic growth and jobs, connect communities and will help us build 1.5 million new homes, as we deliver our Plan for Change." The new road is expected to reduce journey times, saving commuters, business and freight thousands of hours every week. Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app The government says the scheme will also support economic growth in Shropshire. There is currently no link from the M54 onto the M6 northbound, with 26,500 vehicles having to queue on the A460, with a 30mph speed limit, and HGVs making up 10 per cent of that traffic.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans to improve Derbyshire M1 junction in 'early stages'
National Highways is in the "early stages" of exploring ways to improve "safety and travel times" at a motorway junction in organisation, which maintains motorways and major A roads in the UK, said it was seeking to "develop solutions" to benefit all road users at junction 28 of the M1 in South comes after transport focused group Midlands Connect said there could be more than 80,000 additional journeys a week at the junction in Highways said it was awaiting the results of a government spending review for a longer-term strategy after it received a £4.8bn interim settlement from the Department for Transport for 2025/26. Midlands Connect said data showed there could be 81,830 extra trips a week using junction 28 of the M1 in 2035 due to the potential increase in the number of homes and jobs in the organisation, which is made up of local authorities, businesses and representatives of government bodies, said "rat-running" through nearby towns and villages would be reduced if repairs were carried out. 'Maximum capacity' MPs, councils and businesses have asked for the project to be included in the government's upcoming Road Investment Strategies (RIS), Midlands Connect MP Natalie Fleet said upgrades to the junction were "essential" and added she would "continue to press" the government to make the government said it would fund works on motorways and major A roads by providing an interim settlement of £4.8bn to National Highways in 2025/26 while a new longer term strategy is Rob Reaney, deputy leader of Derbyshire County Council said the junction was at "maximum capacity"."This problem isn't going away and it's clear that extra investment is needed now to keep pace with the level of economic development, in the area in the future," he Highways head of planning and development, Kamaljit Khokhar, said the body was "always looking" at ways to improve journeys. "Working closely with Midlands Connect, we continue to support a strategic approach to long-term investment as we seek to develop solutions to benefit all road users," he added.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trains to gain millions of seats in £1.75bn drive
Millions of extra seats on 300 new trains will be running in and out of Birmingham in a £1.75bn project, its bosses say. The Midlands Rail Hub is expected to deliver 20 million more seats in a major transformation of the region's network. Under the plans, Birmingham Moor Street will see 14.2 million extra seats and Birmingham New Street will gain an extra 5.4 million seats. "Being able to run faster, more frequent services and deliver 20 million extra seats is the definition of a win-win project," said Andy Clark, head of rail at Midlands Connect. The scheme is also expected to see the Cross City line getting two extra trains, in each direction, every hour, creating 5.4 million seats annually. Redditch, Alvechurch and Barnt Green will see one extra train, in each direction, per hour and 2.7 million new seats for passengers, whilst Bromsgrove will see 4.7 million new seats. Lichfield will gain 5.4 million seats. Nottingham, Hereford, Coleshill Parkway, Worcester, Hinckley, South Wigston, Droitwich Spa and Worcestershire Parkway will see at least two million new seats. Derby will see 4.1 million new seats. The ambitious programme aims to provide faster, better and more frequent connections across the Midlands and help boost the economy and protect jobs. Bosses propose building two "chords' and and more than 10 further engineering interventions throughout the region. The West Chord will consist of improvements between Bordesley and Moor Street, allowing access to Birmingham Moor Street from South-West and Wales, and making sure services are improved on the Hereford and Worcester corridors. While the East Chord will create access to Birmingham Moor Street from the East Midlands. Engineering upgrades will include works to platforms at Moor Street, Snow Hill, improvements around Kings Norton to Barnt Green, Water Orton remodelling and the widening of the viaduct at Bordesley. "The benefits... will be felt by millions of people across the Midlands and beyond," Mr Clark said. "The Midlands Rail Hub is our flagship project at Midlands Connect, and we are working to deliver massive benefits to all corners of the Midlands." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Work on Midlands Rail Hub set to begin Local Democracy Reporting Service Midlands Rail Hub
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Midlands Rail Hub to provide millions of seats in £1.75bn drive
Millions of extra seats on 300 new trains will be running in and out of Birmingham in a £1.75bn project, its bosses Midlands Rail Hub is expected to deliver 20 million more seats in a major transformation of the region's the plans, Birmingham Moor Street will see 14.2 million extra seats and Birmingham New Street will gain an extra 5.4 million seats."Being able to run faster, more frequent services and deliver 20 million extra seats is the definition of a win-win project," said Andy Clark, head of rail at Midlands Connect. The scheme is also expected to see the Cross City line getting two extra trains, in each direction, every hour, creating 5.4 million seats Alvechurch and Barnt Green will see one extra train, in each direction, per hour and 2.7 million new seats for passengers, whilst Bromsgrove will see 4.7 million new seats. Lichfield will gain 5.4 million Hereford, Coleshill Parkway, Worcester, Hinckley, South Wigston, Droitwich Spa and Worcestershire Parkway will see at least two million new seats. Derby will see 4.1 million new ambitious programme aims to provide faster, better and more frequent connections across the Midlands and help boost the economy and protect propose building two "chords' and and more than 10 further engineering interventions throughout the West Chord will consist of improvements between Bordesley and Moor Street, allowing access to Birmingham Moor Street from South-West and Wales, and making sure services are improved on the Hereford and Worcester the East Chord will create access to Birmingham Moor Street from the East Midlands. Engineering upgrades will include works to platforms at Moor Street, Snow Hill, improvements around Kings Norton to Barnt Green, Water Orton remodelling and the widening of the viaduct at Bordesley."The benefits... will be felt by millions of people across the Midlands and beyond," Mr Clark said."The Midlands Rail Hub is our flagship project at Midlands Connect, and we are working to deliver massive benefits to all corners of the Midlands." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.
