People in the midlands are set to benefit from improved transport links thanks to a new government funding boost for the Midlands Rail Hub.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that £123m will be able to kickstart the project, which is expected to be transformational for rail travel across the midlands.
Made possible as a result of the reallocated HS2 funding, the Midlands Rail Hub will benefit seven million people and more than 50 stations.
The programme is part of the DfT’s Network North plan which is backed with £36bn – of which, £1.75bn has been committed to the Midlands Rail Hub.
Rail services will increase by between 50% and 100% on most routes, according to the government.
The first phase will enable an extra train each hour in both directions between central Birmingham and Worcester, Cheltenham, Cardiff, and Bristol.
“This investment will not only better connect communities…”
The transport secretary, Mark Harper, outlined his expectations that the project will unlock economic growth in the west midlands, as well as transport connections.
“This investment will not only better connect communities to convenient and rapid public transport services but also attract further investment into our region, delivering jobs, growth and greater prosperity,” said Andy Street, echoing Harper’s sentiment.
Street, who is the mayor of the west midlands, continued: “It’s important not to forget that this new funding comes on top of the billions of pounds worth of transport investment we have already secured for the West Midlands.”
The £123m investment closely follows the announcement that, from April 2025 to 2032, the midlands will receive £2.2bn to improve transport infrastructure outside city regions.
This will give local authorities long-term stability to invest in large-scale projects like building new roads or installing mass transit systems. Over the seven years, the funding will be nine times what local leaders currently receive.
The local transport fund will be significant for the region and will turbo-charge public transport improvement plans, added Street.
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