Midlands Rail Hub to deliver transport boost for Warwickshire

Midlands Connect and rail chiefs met to discuss how the Midlands Rail Hub could deliver a transport boost for Warwickshire.

At the meeting, Midlands Connect, Rachel Taylor MP, and Warwickshire County Council were joined by representatives from Network Rail, West Midlands Trains, CrossCountry, and the West Midlands Rail Executive.

As part of Midlands Rail Hub, Coleshill Parkway train passengers would see less crowding as a result of two additional Birmingham to Leicester trains running each hour. 

This will result in an additional 2 million seats on the trains going through Coleshill Parkway each year. Making rail travel more appealing and increasing access to opportunities for education, work, and leisure for those living in Warwickshire.

The project will also deliver a jobs boost, more than 13,000 roles in the supply chain and over 300 apprenticeships expected to result from the Midlands Rail Hub programme.

Construction is expected to run from 2025 to 2033, following investment from the Government.

Paul Butters, Director of Communications at Midlands Connect, said:

"Being able to provide faster and more frequent services through Coleshill to Leicester and Birmingham can only benefit residents, businesses and commuters. All in all, this is a big boost for Warwickshire.

“As part of the project, we can also deliver 2 million extra seats a year on this corridor between Birmingham and Leicester, which will mean much more space for those boarding trains at Coleshill Parkway.”

Rachel Taylor MP said:

"Passengers from Coleshill Parkway are at their wits' end with overcrowding on their morning commute to Birmingham, so I’m very enthusiastic about the plans for the Midlands Rail Hub that would help alleviate this. Transport options in and around North Warwickshire need urgent investment, so this scheme is something I and my constituents really welcome."

Cllr Jennifer Warren, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning at Warwickshire County Council, said:

 “I was excited to hear the plans to improve the rail network across the Midlands. It is vital that the County Council continues to work closely with Midlands Connect to help secure the funding needed to deliver the full programme of works so that residents and businesses in Warwickshire can benefit from the Midlands Rail Hub scheme, particularly between Birmingham, Coleshill Parkway, Nuneaton and Leicester.”

The Midlands Rail Hub project is co-sponsored by Midlands Connect, the Department for Transport and West Midlands Rail Executive.