A draft strategy to revolutionise rail services across the West Midlands over the next three decades has been unveiled.

The West Midlands Rail Executive has launched a consultation over its draft strategy for delivering better rail services across the whole region.

The strategy highlights that rail has a key role to play in connecting people and communities and will support the exciting regeneration and growth plans that exist. In this Rail Investment Strategy, the WMRE sets out both medium and long term proposals for developing services, backed by clear economic evidence.

Many improvements are already announced and will be delivered by operator West Midlands Railways over the next few years. This Rail Investment Strategy highlights WMRE’s ambitious plans to improve local rail services and stations and maximise the benefit of HS2. Cllr Roger Lawrence, chair of WMRE and leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, said:

“Rail is vital to the West Midlands. Our draft strategy outlines how we plan to deliver better rail services across the whole region over the next thirty years.

“The strategy will support the exciting regeneration and growth plans that exist across all our partner authorities, recognising the role that rail plays in connecting people, communities and businesses.”

The strategy has seven principal components, driven by their value to the West Midlands economy:

1. West Midlands Trains franchise quick wins: 2018-2026
Working with the West Midlands Railway franchise, which WMRE co-manages with the Department for Transport, to deliver a range of promised improvements including cross-Birmingham connectivity, better Sunday and evening services, new Camp Hill and Walsall-Wolverhampton services, new stations, more train capacity and reliable performance.

2.  High frequency ‘6-4-2’ rail services
These are minimum standards of six, four and two trains per hour at stations.

3. Midlands Rail Hub: 2026-2032
Making the case now for new services across the wider Midlands region maximising use of additional capacity delivered by the Midlands Rail Hub scheme, developed in partnership with Midlands Connect.

4. Our high growth rail corridors: 2018-2032
Developing the high-growth corridors set to see the greatest economic and population growth to 2032 and which can benefit most from new and enhanced connectivity. 

5. High Speed 2: 2026 and 2033
Active support for delivery of both phases of High Speed 2 (HS2) in 2026 and 2033, working closely with HS2 to maximise the capacity and new local and regional opportunities it releases for the West Midlands.

6. Radical change towards 2047
Starting work now to identify the radical infrastructure change needed after delivery of HS2 and the Midlands Rail Hub. 

7. Supporting rail-freight development and growth

Malcolm Holmes, executive director, WMRE, added:

“Our Strategy shapes the new era for rail travel by West Midlanders. It evidences our ambitious plans to work together with Midlands Connect and the rail industry to transform the train services and physical network to support the needs of the region.”

The WMRE wants to hear the views of a wide range of organisations, businesses and individuals on the draft Rail Investment Strategy. The draft Strategy, questions and consultation details are available at: wmre.org.uk. The consultation is open until noon on Monday November 19, 2018.