The West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy, which sets out plans for how the region’s rail network will grow and develop the over the next 30 years, is to be revised as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The strategy sets out how the rail sector in the region plans to tackle challenges such as post-pandemic recovery, how to maximise the benefits from HS2, and what it can do to achieve net zero carbon targets.

Key elements of the draft strategy are in line with the first one that was issued in 2018, which called for the continued development of HS2 and delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub. Since then:

• a new station has opened at Worcestershire Parkway;
• five new stations are being constructed on the Camp Hill line in Birmingham and the Wolverhampton to Walsall line;
• Coventry, Wolverhampton, Perry Barr, and University stations are being redeveloped.

Huge changes as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic that have been taken into account in the updated strategy include a fall in passenger numbers as a result of changing work patterns and reorganisation of the rail industry through the establishment of the Great British Railway.

Among the strategy’s key ambitions are supporting the region’s recovery from Covid-19, meeting local and national net-zero carbon targets, supporting the levelling up agenda, and maximising the benefits of HS2. Further aims include encouraging growth in freight on rail and considering long-term radical proposals such as a rail tunnel under Birmingham city centre.

Specified in the strategy is how passenger numbers and rail service frequencies are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2026, and an outline of how the network and infrastructure will require further development to allow further growth.

Leading the draft strategy is the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE), which has developed it with rail industry partners including Midlands Connect and the Department for Transport. The strategy has now been issued for consultation with stakeholders, businesses, and communities, following which a final draft will be presented to the WMRE Board for approval.

Among the strategy’s plans are:

• a rolling programme of electrification;
• developing the Midlands Rail hub which will create capacity for new stations and services on both regional and local routes, such as on the Sutton Park line through north-east Birmingham and extra services from Birmingham and Coventry to Worcester and the east Midlands;
• using spare capacity on the West Coast Main Line as London to Birmingham travellers move to HS2 to improve local and regional services along the Birmingham, Coventry and Rugby corridor;
• launching shuttle services on the Burton to Lichfield line with a station at Alrewas;
• in the longer term, re-the opening the Lichfield to Walsall line.

The draft strategy together with a feedback survey and full details of the consultation arrangements can be found at https://wmre.org.uk/consultation

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMRE said: “We are making great progress on developing our rail network with new stations in the pipeline on the Camp Hill Line and at Darlaston and Willenhall, and working with our partners like West Midlands Trains to improve services and rolling stock.

“But there is no doubt that rail is facing challenges following the Covid 19 pandemic but this strategy shows that passenger numbers will return and it remains a crucial part of our transport network and will play a key role in tackling the climate emergency.

“Therefore we have set out how we plan to grow the network in a coordinated way over the next three decades to better connect communities to the jobs and opportunities our region has to offer.”