The Midlands Rail Hub project is set to deliver a major expansion in rail capacity across central England, adding 20 million new seats each year. Designed to address rising passenger demand and improve regional connectivity, the project introduces infrastructure upgrades and service enhancements to reduce congestion, increase train frequency, and stimulate economic growth across key towns and cities.
Bromsgrove will see a capacity increase of 4.7 million seats annually. At the same time, Redditch, Alvechurch, and Barnt Green are set to gain a new hourly train service in each direction, equating to an extra 2.7 million seats per year. Worcester, Droitwich Spa, and Worcestershire Parkway will benefit from around two million new seats, supported by approximately 20 new daily train services. The Cross City Line will be enhanced with two additional trains per hour in both directions, resulting in 5.4 million extra seats annually.
The engineering programme, which includes two new track ‘chords’ and over ten additional infrastructure interventions, is a central hub element. These will allow up to 300 more trains per day to run into and out of Birmingham, significantly boosting capacity and reliability for both local and long-distance routes.
The project is led by Midlands Connect and backed by the Department for Transport and West Midlands Rail Executive. It aims to strengthen the Midlands’ appeal as a business and travel destination by making rail travel faster and more convenient. Improved access is expected to benefit tourism, hospitality, retail, commercial property, and regional logistics industries.
