Latest news with #MidlandsRailHub
BBC News
4 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".
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Reeves's Midlands Rail Hub announcement a funding 'milestone'
Confirmation of government funding is an "important milestone" for a £1.75bn scheme which plans to add 300 trains a day to the West Midlands rail Midlands Rail Hub is set to improve rail links between Birmingham and more than 50 locations including Lichfield, Worcester, Nuneaton and outlining government spending plans on Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "I can announce today that I'm providing funding for the Midlands Rail Hub, the region's biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme for generations."Midlands Connect chief executive Maria Machancoses said details were unclear but were welcomed. She added: "We really need to celebrate that this government, in these very tight constrained budgets, has decided to continue to support the rail hub."We want support from government not only [in] the development stages but we need to start also talking about securing the capital investment that is required to make this a reality."Midlands Connect said the scheme would provide "faster, better and more frequent" connections, adding 20 million extra seats and creating 13,000 construction Machancoses said it would be delivered "in the next few years". The upgrade proposes to deliver six trains per hour through the core of the Cross City Line, with four starting at Lichfield Trent Valley and two at Four MP for Lichfield Dave Robertson said the funding news was "absolutely brilliant" for people travelling between Staffordshire and described how a decrease since the pandemic to just two trains an hour between Lichfield and Birmingham had led to overcrowding and was "stifling... opportunity" for local people."The Midlands Rail Hub would not only bring our trains back but it'll guarantee them. So actually we can be safe and secure in the knowledge that those opportunities will be available for people in the future," he said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rail hub will ‘speed up housing developments' across Midlands
A major new rail project which will bring 20 million extra seats in and out of Birmingham could speed up housing schemes, a new report claims. Midlands Rail Hub could help to facilitate new housing across large parts of the region, by providing means for people to access jobs, services and opportunities. The new report highlights the annual housing need of the Midlands as 21,210 extra homes per year. The Government wants to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of parliament and is overhauling planning rules with the aim of cutting red tape and speeding up decisions. One of the projects cited in the report is Worcestershire Parkway, which will deliver approximately 10,000 dwellings and 50 hectares of employment land in phases near Worcestershire Parkway railway station. Midlands Rail Hub will add 140 new train services to Worcestershire Parkway a week, providing more frequent services to Birmingham, Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Cardiff. The £1.75 billion Hub aims to provide faster, better and more frequent connections across the Midlands. The scheme will add up to 300 additional trains and 20 million extra seats on the rail network per day into or out of Birmingham and provide faster, more frequent or new rail links for over 50 locations, creating nearly 13,000 construction jobs. It proposes building two 'chords' and over 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 improving services 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 Bordesley viaduct widening. Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect said: 'Our new report shows how the Midlands Rail Hub project can support the government's housing mission and help to speed up vital housing projects in the Midlands. 'Transport can help make the Government's vital mission, building the homes we need, a reality. 'But the scheme can and must do more than that; it must be an enabler for growth. 'To make those communities flourish, we need strong and better access to well-paid jobs and amenities. Midlands Rail Hub sits at the heart of that. 'Our new report shows how our flagship project could be another building block in that story, helping to deliver a national priority.' Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon OBE MP said: 'We are committed to delivering 1.5m new homes across this Parliament – and new homes need new infrastructure. 'Projects like the Midlands Rail Hub are exactly what we want to see: empowered local leaders clearing away obstacles to the new, high-quality housing their communities deserve. 'Brilliant initiatives like this one will also drive local growth, attracting investment into the region and boosting opportunities for local residents in the process.' The Midlands Rail Hub project is co-sponsored by Midlands Connect, the Department for Transport and West Midlands Rail Executive.
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.
