West Midlands Rail Promises

Rail Promises For The West Midlands Due To HS2 Phase 2 Cancellation

Here is a brief summary of the West Midlands' investments mentioned by the Prime Minister at the end of the Conservative Party Conference. Most are vague, all lack a time scale, none is costed. A change of government in 2024 could have a significant effect.

From the speech, from the gov.uk update, and from media coverage, the total fund allocated to the West Midlands region would be £9.6 billion.

Lines re-opening

Stoke to Leek, This route is leased to Mooriland and City Railway, which wanted to bring stone and cement from Caldon Low by rail. A new station on the edge of Leek is now being built by Churnet Valley Railway for heritage steam service, the original station site now being Morrison's supermarket.

Gobowen to Oswestry, [This needs to cross the A5, presently a derelict level crossing. The plan has been a concrete box under the road when it is made a dual carriageway. There is mention of a new station at Park Hall. This is the former halt reopened next to the Orthopaedic Hospital, with the Cambrian Railways' volunteer group suggesting a shuttle from Gobowen to here until the A5 can be crossed. They already have Pacers.

Burton to Leicester. Recently it was suggested that only Burton to Coalville would be reopened, as beyond Coalville the population density is lower and the junction at Knighton requires a reversal to reach Leicester station. The original side of the triangle to run directly into Leicester had factories built on it and these will need demolition, making this very costly.]

New station

Meir. This is situated on the eastern edge of Stoke on the Derby line, close to tunnel mouth on a steep grade, which would not usually get DfT approval.

Service improvement

Birmingham to Leicester to go from two per hour to four per hour. Leicester station cannot cope with that, and it may limit plans for a new Coventry to Nottingham service via a new dive under at Nuneaton.

Midlands Rail Hub

This was mentioned in the Prime Minister's speech but not in the gov.uk statement. It is probably a last minute addition to the list to 'buy' Andy Street. This would be the most expensive item, with both Camp Hill chords and new platforms at Moor Street. In a TV interview, Andy Street mentioned £1.75 billion for it. It was previously priced at £1 billion.

Metro

There are vague references to West Midlands Metro extensions, with £100 million 'to deal with ongoing Metro and Arden Cross cost pressures'. Money for the phase 2 extension of the Metro from Dudley to Brierley Hill is a possibility. Arden Cross is the area around Birmingham Interchange HS2 station.

The full Department for Transport document covering all regions is entitled "Network North - Transforming British Transport" and may be viewed by clicking on the link below.