West Midlands

The overgrown island platform at King's Norton station. PETER PLISNER.

News

Midlands Rail Hub plans for East Midlands 'put on hold'

Only schemes in the West Midlands are being taken forward.

Midlands Connect 2 Jul

Tyne and Wear Metro Stadler Class 555 No 555021 arrives at Pelaw. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Tram-trains, new metro lines and mass transit systems part of £15bn city region transport plan

Nine regions to benefit from £15.6bn in funding for a series of transport projects.

Government 4 Jun

Artists impression street view of a tram passing the entrance to the Heartlands hospital. MIDLAND METRO ALLIANCE

News

West Midlands Metro: plans for east Birmingham extension revived as part of football club move

Proposal to relocate Birmingham City FC could lead to tramline extension

Tram 8 May

News

News Analysis: GBR searches for answers to ticketing simplification

THE future under Great British Railways is one which few are privy to yet. But one area where it does appear to be marching forward with a clarity and purpose is ticketing.

Ticketing 6 Feb

News

New Devolution Framework unveiled could help Mayors control rail services

The Government has outlined further plans for devolution for English regions as Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor released its English Devolution White Paper on December 16.

Department for Transport 17 Dec

The construction site for Pineapple Road station, formally the site of Hazelwell station. PETER PLISNER.

News

West Midlands transport review recommends major changes to help deliver projects on time and on budget

Delays and cost overruns have affected several projects, prompting the new Mayor of the West Midlands to order the review

West Midlands 29 Nov

Parkhead viaduct, which once carried the Great Western Railway over the Dudley Canal, and in future will do the same for West Midlands Metro. PETER PLISNER.

Feature

Brunel viaduct receives makeover in readiness for new use as part of tram network

An historic Dudley landmark has been undergoing a major restoration ahead of its new use as part of the West Midlands Metro network.

Maintenance and refurb 27 Nov

Feature

GBR a "real winner" for West Midlands - TfWM's Mal Drury-Rose

As Director of Rail at Transport for West Midlands, Mal Drury-Rose is set to play a crucial role as the region targets more control over local rail services.

Regulation 25 Nov

WMM’s Wolverhampton city centre extension opened in 2023. CAF tram 57 calls at the bus station stop at Piper’s Row with a service to the terminus adjacent to Wolverhampton station. PETER PLISNER.

Feature

Obstacles to growth of the West Midlands Metro

Now 25 years old, the West Midlands Metro has been slow to expand. COVID and inflationary pressures have meant funding issues and delays. Peter Plisner reports.

Light rail 28 Oct

News

Rising costs put West Midlands Metro extensions under threat

Three miles of West Midlands Metro’s southern extension may never be built because construction costs are spiralling out of control.

West Midlands 7 Aug

Work progresses at the sites of Moseley Village station. PETER PLISNER.

News

Autumn 2025 opening as Camp Hill Line stations hit by further delays

The opening of three new stations on Birmingham’s Camp Hill Line has been delayed again.

Stations 25 Jul

London Midland Class 172s at Birmingham Moor Street on March 26 2015. RICHARD CLINNICK.

News

West Midlands mayor calls for urgent review into West Midlands transport projects

New West Midlands mayor, Richard Parker has ordered an “urgent review” into the region’s transport policy after delays and rising costs on multiple schemes are causing pressures on the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) finances.

Birmingham 19 Jul

Services will continue on towards Manchester Victoria after passing through Crewe. JACK BOSKETT.

News

London Northwestern plans to extend Euston-Crewe service to Manchester Victoria

London Northwestern Railway (LNR) has announced plans to launch new services between Manchester, the West Midlands and London.

West Coast Main Line 2 Jul

Mayors Andy Burnham and Andy Street meet with the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rail Minister, and senior officials from the DfT

News

Private investment might link West Midlands-Greater Manchester by rail

West Midlands and Greater Manchester mayors meet DfT and private sector to ‘solve a national priority for better rail connectivity.’

Infrastructure 1 Feb

News

Contactless fares coming for West Midlands and Greater Manchester

‘Pay As You Go’ pilot schemes to be trialled across more than 90 rail stations in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester areas from 2025.

Fares 1 Feb

News

Birmingham’s Eastside Metro delayed until 2027

Plans to run trams to the Digbeth area of Birmingham have been delayed by another four years until 2027, because of issues related to HS2.

25 Jan

News

HS2’s Interchange station to create 1,000 extra jobs

The construction of HS2 Ltd’s new £370 million Interchange station, will create up to 1,000 jobs over at least the next five years

20 Sept

News

£370 million Solihull Interchange contract awarded

Laing O’Rourke has been awarded the £370 million contract to build the new interchange station at Solihull in the West Midlands.

16 Jul

News

Midland Metro’s eastward extension plans placed on hold

Plans for a £700 million eastward extension of the Midland Metro from Birmingham city centre towards Solihull have been delayed.

19 Feb

News

Firms encouraged to ready HS2 bids

West Midlands businesses are being actively encouraged to prepare for £25 billion worth of HS2 contracts that will soon start to flow into the supply chain.

19 Dec

West Midlands

Midlands Rail Hub plans for East Midlands 'put on hold'

Tram-trains, new metro lines and mass transit systems part of £15bn city region transport plan

West Midlands Metro: plans for east Birmingham extension revived as part of football club move

News Analysis: GBR searches for answers to ticketing simplification

New Devolution Framework unveiled could help Mayors control rail services

West Midlands transport review recommends major changes to help deliver projects on time and on budget

Brunel viaduct receives makeover in readiness for new use as part of tram network

GBR a "real winner" for West Midlands - TfWM's Mal Drury-Rose

Obstacles to growth of the West Midlands Metro

Rising costs put West Midlands Metro extensions under threat

Autumn 2025 opening as Camp Hill Line stations hit by further delays

West Midlands mayor calls for urgent review into West Midlands transport projects

London Northwestern plans to extend Euston-Crewe service to Manchester Victoria

Private investment might link West Midlands-Greater Manchester by rail

Contactless fares coming for West Midlands and Greater Manchester

Birmingham’s Eastside Metro delayed until 2027

HS2’s Interchange station to create 1,000 extra jobs

£370 million Solihull Interchange contract awarded

Midland Metro’s eastward extension plans placed on hold

Firms encouraged to ready HS2 bids

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

West Midlands

Midlands Rail Hub plans for East Midlands 'put on hold'

Tram-trains, new metro lines and mass transit systems part of £15bn city region transport plan

West Midlands Metro: plans for east Birmingham extension revived as part of football club move

News Analysis: GBR searches for answers to ticketing simplification

New Devolution Framework unveiled could help Mayors control rail services

West Midlands transport review recommends major changes to help deliver projects on time and on budget

Brunel viaduct receives makeover in readiness for new use as part of tram network

GBR a "real winner" for West Midlands - TfWM's Mal Drury-Rose

Obstacles to growth of the West Midlands Metro

Rising costs put West Midlands Metro extensions under threat

Autumn 2025 opening as Camp Hill Line stations hit by further delays

West Midlands mayor calls for urgent review into West Midlands transport projects

London Northwestern plans to extend Euston-Crewe service to Manchester Victoria

Private investment might link West Midlands-Greater Manchester by rail

Contactless fares coming for West Midlands and Greater Manchester

Birmingham’s Eastside Metro delayed until 2027

HS2’s Interchange station to create 1,000 extra jobs

£370 million Solihull Interchange contract awarded

Midland Metro’s eastward extension plans placed on hold

Firms encouraged to ready HS2 bids

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Chiltern Railways on verge of agreeing deal to take ex-TransPennine Express Mk 5s

Why the Class 67s have been running on borrowed time for nearly the whole of their lives

Network Rail begins process to replace rail infrastructure monitoring trains