Bradley met with representatives from Midlands Connect and West Midlands Rail Executive at Bromsgrove Station to discuss how their plans for the Midlands Rail Hub could benefit his constituency.
The Midlands Rail Hub will increase the number of trains that can run to Bromsgrove to three per hour meaning that commuters into Birmingham or to Worcester and Hereford would be able to get faster and more frequent trains and millions of extra seats every year.
The Midlands Rail Hub will allow for an additional Cross City train to run each hour to and from Bromsgrove, giving a regular three trains per hour Cross City service from Bromsgrove into Birmingham. Bromsgrove will also continue to be served by faster trains to Birmingham that have originated in Hereford or Worcester.
Barnt Green and Alvechurch, will also benefit from the proposals. They will also benefit from an additional Cross City service to and from Redditch, which the Midlands Rail Hub provides extra capacity for.
The project was supported by previous MP Sajid Javid who, when Chancellor, gave £20 million to support the early development of the scheme. In February 2024 funding was announced to deliver the Full Business Case for the Midlands Rail Hub moving the project forward to the delivery phase.
The Rail Hub is the flagship scheme of Midlands Connect. At the meeting, Midlands Connect and Bradley Thomas MP were also joined by Mal Drury Rose, Executive Director of West Midlands Rail Executive.
Bradley said:
“As part of my plan for Bromsgrove and the Villages, improving local transport is a top priority.
“It’s clear the Midlands Rail Hub will bring benefits to rail users across Bromsgrove and the Villages and it therefore has my full support.
“I look forward to working with Midlands Connect to ensure the new Government continues to back the Midlands Rail Hub.”
Strategic Partnerships Lead Sarah Spink said:
“The Midlands Rail Hub will deliver a step change in transport into and through Bromsgrove and the wider Midlands by delivering faster and more frequent train services – improving customer experience, giving people access to opportunities, encouraging economic growth and enabling a sustainable future for all.
“As a local resident I know what better transport links will mean for this area. All-in-all it will deliver better, quicker east-west connections and it will make a massive difference. This project will also create and safeguard 12,750 jobs, it is a nationally significant scheme.”
