New train franchise for West Midlands

A new franchise, managed jointly by a consortium of local councils and the government, will usher in a new era of rail travel for passengers in the West Midlands.

The new franchise, consisting of West Midlands Rail (WMR), a consortium of 16 local councils and the Department for Transport, will run until March 2026 and will see more services and more space for passengers as a result of nearly £1 billion investment into the local network over the next eight years.

This includes 20,000 extra seats for rush hour passengers in Birmingham, compensation if services are delayed by more than 15 minutes and free Wi-Fi on all main line services. Additional benefits will see 100 new carriages on the Cross City line and 80 new carriages for the Snow Hill lines, as well as the roll out of smart ticketing and live passenger information.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Our local rail network has a crucial role to play in making sure our region has the connectivity it needs to compete and prosper on a global stage. So being able to bring local knowledge to bear in shaping and managing this new rail franchise means we have been able to secure more of what passengers have told us they want – things like earlier and later weekday services and more trains on Sundays. The region will now work hard in partnership with West Midlands Trains to make sure this new franchise and the £1 billion investment it brings will deliver the sort of railway our passengers need and deserve and one that can drive and support further economic growth.”

Roger Lawrence, chair of WMR and leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Today really is a watershed moment for our region’s rail network and it will bring many improvements for passengers over the coming months and years. This is the first time that West Midlands councils have had such a level of influence in setting out what a train company must deliver and we have used that control to make sure this new franchise gives passengers and our businesses what they need from their local railway in order to prosper.

“The increased frequency and on-board capacity is particularly important for the tens of thousands of people who rely on the network to get to work each day but it is also important for those making business trips or simply going out to enjoy our region’s cultural and leisure attractions.”