Powering the Midlands Engine
Now and in 2020 passengers, communities and businesses in the Midlands benefit from big changes happening on our railway.
Big Changes now and in 2020
Trains
- On East Midlands Railway a new half-hourly service from St Pancras International-Luton-Corby
- Continued rollout by West Midlands Trains of 180 new train carriages and standing room for an extra 50,000 passengers to and from Birmingham in Metro style carriages
- Faster journeys on CrossCountry routes between the Midlands and North East of England
Stations, tracks, depots
- Station improvements underway at Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford, Market Harborough, Kidderminster, Warwick and Banbury
- Continued rollout by West Midlands Trains of 180 new train carriages and room for 50,000 extra passengers to and from Birmingham in metro style carriages
- 200 new train crew now on West Midlands Trains
Communities
- East Midlands Railway will manage 30 preapprenticeships for local young people and host 25 employability masterclasses at schools
- Birmingham New Street station now has a dedicated waiting lounge and team to support additional mobility and sensory needs
- Chiltern Railways will be trialling a greener and noisereducing hybrid battery-diesel train
Major upgrade work
- Electrification of the Midland Main Line to Corby will go live in 2020
- New Wolverhampton Interchange Project is on track to open for customers in Summer 2020 as part of a £150 million transport hub
Changes happening now in the Midlands
Below are press releases from rail companies in the Midlands promoting changes and improvements happening in the area.
![West Midlands Train at station]()
New rail timetable to bring more reliable service to Coventry and WarwickshirePassengers in Coventry and Warwickshire will benefit from a more reliable rail service when the new West Midlands Railway...
![West Midlands Train side on shot with doors open]()
New rail timetable to create more reliable Chase Line servicePassengers using the Chase Line between Rugeley and Birmingham will benefit from a more reliable service when the new West...
![Birmingham New St Station Concourse]()
New rail timetable to benefit passengers in BirminghamPassengers in Birmingham will benefit from a more reliable rail service when the new West Midlands Railway timetable comes...
![Multiple Tickets Close-up]()
Extra Compensation for London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway CustomersLondon Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway will provide additional compensation to its customers following a drop...
![HUll new trains]()
A new era for hull trains with new trainsAfter months of driver training and behind the scenes preparations, Hull Trains welcomes the first of five state-of-the-art,...
![2020 graphic]()
EMR December 2020 timetable consultation is now openThe public consultation into EMR’s December 2020 timetable is now open to passengers, businesses, stakeholders and local...
People across the Midlands support rail companies’ proposals for change
The rail industry recognise the need for big changes, that's why together we submitted proposals for a radical alternative to the current franchising system to the independently-chaired Williams review looking into the future of Britain's railway. We proposed for a more customer focussed, joined-up and accountable railway.
See what’s happening elsewhere in Britain
What big changes do you want?
Rail companies are calling for big changes but what matters to you?
