Midlands Rail Hub 20m extra seats

[Palmerston]

The Government did explicitly state "brand new rail links to over 50 locations" when commenting on the Midlands Railway Hub. Someone might be able to work out if that implies one set of chords or two (or possibly none).

 

[The Planner]

If the chords are removed, there's not much to this project. New Street needs them to move out XC and in its new services.

The announcement is vague on what stage of the projects this funds - "The Spending Review confirmed funding to progress the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub". Will there be a follow-up press release with a GRIP number?

GRIP has gone, though in that process its around the 3 to 4 stage. Its not moving all of the XC out.

 

[Norm_D_Ploom]

The Government did explicitly state "brand new rail links to over 50 locations" when commenting on the Midlands Railway Hub. Someone might be able to work out if that implies one set of chords or two (or possibly none).

Do you trust what this government says?

 

[cle]

The 'funding'* is only for the western chord (and associated bits at Snow Hill, Kings Norton, etc).

*As far as I can tell, it's only the money to keep progressing the project, rather than funding to do the actual work, and is just a reannouncement of the announcement a few weeks ago, itself a reannouncement of something the previous government announced. Gotta love British transport policy...

Exactly this. And the services it indicates (promises?) are supposed to be additional:
1tph Bristol TM
1tph Cardiff
1tph Hereford

as I recall. Possibly also taking up the Camp Hill locals (2tph) which are due to begin from New Street. Services to those other places from New Street will continue.

Moor St platform 5 certainly (could be started up today) and I think the side 6 might be included too - although the 'East' side of the Hub would also be accessed from the higher numbered 'western' platforms at Moor St, so perhaps p5 is enough for this stage? Would be good to have a standard Camp Hill platform, and fit the regional services into the others.

But this diagram implies Snow Hill takes the Camp Hill locals (to terminate, but maybe to run on around the loop / folded into the Snow Hill lines network?) - - - and that the East chord access is from the east side, which wasn't my understanding of the trackwork.

 

[tfw756rider]

Does the Moor Street project involve diverting any of the XC 170 services into Moor Street?

Yes, if the Bordersley east chord is constructed.

Would be really good for Turbostar spotters with 168s, 170s and 172s

 

[Russel]

If the chords are removed, there's not much to this project. New Street needs them to move out XC and in its new services.

The announcement is vague on what stage of the projects this funds - "The Spending Review confirmed funding to progress the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub". Will there be a follow-up press release with a GRIP number?

Seems to be the way these sort of projects go though, big announcement, then slowly strip bits back and scale things down until it becomes little more than a very expensive white elephant.

HS2 Being a prime example.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Are there individual threads for the components of this project, or is this the only thread covering the different bits?

 

[absolutelymilk]

Midlands Rail Hub looks to the future with preferred alliance partners

Network Rail has named its preferred alliance partners

Work will be prioritised to explore how smaller, but vital, pieces of work which will provide passengers and communities with quicker benefits, including new journey options and more trains can be delivered as soon as possible.

They include reopening platform 4 at Snow Hill station so additional Chiltern Railways services can run directly between Birmingham's business district and London Marylebone, and redeveloping Kings Norton station and the lines through it so extra Cross City trains can be added and new Midlands Rail Hub-enabled services can call there.

 

[Palmerston]

The press release explicitly refers to two chords - one to the South West and another to the East Midlands

 

[D365]

The press release explicitly refers to two chords - one to the South West and another to the East Midlands

It does state that there is a challenge in connecting Moor Street, but doesn’t go so far as to commit to both chords.

 

[D365]

My original point, is that i don't like the idea of the next generations of transport users having their journies compromised by creating dead end platforms in the middle of a city in the middle of the country.

What's the alternative? Wait another lifetime for an amount of money that will probably never be forthcoming in order to build a load of new tunnels?

I’ve created a new thread for what appears to be an alternative proposal by @Stossgebet

 

[59CosG95]

Little update from the Beeb quoting a Midlands Rail Hub staff member, hinting at increased calls at Ashchurch, but also more interestingly at Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble & Swindon:

Redirect Notice

Major improvements to the railway network in the Midlands could result in hundreds more trains passing through Gloucestershire every week.

Midlands Connect said the £1.75bn Midlands Rail Hub will create capacity for an extra 624,000 seats a year for the county.

The project aims to stop the bottleneck at Birmingham New Street Station by improving connections with the other main stations in the city.

Paul Butters, from Midlands Connect, said the project would "improve rail links between Birmingham and more than 50 locations" including Gloucestershire.

A photo showing the face of a man. He has grey hair and stubble and is wearing a blue shirt and a dark jacket. There are windows in the background
Image source,Midlands Connect
Image caption,Paul Butters said Gloucestershire could see an extra 260 trains a week
Mr Butters said New Street is "the most congested train station outside of London" and lots of trains end up being delayed because there is "no capacity".

"Unblocking the trains allows us to put in about 200 extra trains in and out of Birmingham every single day to lots of places like Cardiff, but also down to Gloucestershire and through to Swindon", he added.

"Places like Stonehouse, Stroud and Kemble will see extra trains, as will Ashchurch. Around 260 extra trains a week, so it should also help to deal with some of the commuter overcrowding."

The work involves creating two new rail links, or viaducts, one called the West Chord, which will enhance services using the Hereford and Worcester corridors and allow trains to access Moor Street station from the South West and Wales.

A photo of a man stood in front of a shop with closing down signs in the window. He is wearing a light jumper and a dark coloured coat
Image caption,Max Wilkinson said the hub would unlock a lot of useful services
The project will also benefit Cheltenham and was welcomed by the town's Liberal Democrat MP, Max Wilkinson.

"Cheltenham train services to London, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff are often a talking point for local people, because we feel we're underserved for the size of the town we are," he said.

"The Midland Rail Hub has the potential to unlock quite a lot of useful services which could have a really big impact on the ability of people in Cheltenham to get up to Birmingham for work or for leisure."

Mr Wilkinson said it could also bring investment into the town: "People who are visiting Cheltenham and investing in our local economy, spending money at the Literature Festival, going to the races. Improving that access is something I think we will all benefit from in time," he said.

A computer generated picture of what the new Midland Rail Hub will look like
Image source,Midlands Connect
Image caption,Funding was confirmed in the government's spending review
Councillor Richard Stanley, leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: "Although there's no confirmed increase in train services to Tewkesbury and Gloucestershire as yet, any improvements, particularly at Ashchurch Station, would be very welcome.

"Sustainable travel is one of our key priorities, and better rail links are key to achieving it. We've had early discussions with Network Rail about future opportunities for Ashchurch Station.

"Improved services would help our residents access jobs in cities including Birmingham and Bristol, while easing traffic and supporting greener travel."

Funding for the Rail Hub was confirmed in the government's spending review in June, and work on the infrastructure is expected to start in the next year.

Anyone for Nottingham - Birmingham MS - Chelt Spa - Swindon services?

 

[Palmerston]

Midlands Connect - INSIGHTS: Midlands Rail Hub – An Autumn Stocktake

www.midlandsconnect.uk

Saw this recently. Seems to confirm that both chords will get built.

 

[BanburyBlue]

In order to reinstate platform 4 at Birmingham Snow Hill, do the Midlands Metro lines need to be moved between St Chads and St Pauls, just north of Snow Hill station?

 

[takno]

In order to reinstate platform 4 at Birmingham Snow Hill, do the Midlands Metro lines need to be moved between St Chads and St Pauls, just north of Snow Hill station?

Quick glance at Google Maps suggests that there is space all the way down the platform, and then enough room to run into a junction on the end. I thought that clearing the platform for rail use was one of the project aims when the extension was done anyway.

 

[The exile]

Midlands Connect - INSIGHTS: Midlands Rail Hub – An Autumn Stocktake

www.midlandsconnect.uk

Saw this recently. Seems to confirm that both chords will get built.

Does each direction not require two chords to avoid conflicts (ie a flying junction)?

 

[BanburyBlue]

Quick glance at Google Maps suggests that there is space all the way down the platform, and then enough room to run into a junction on the end. I thought that clearing the platform for rail use was one of the project aims when the extension was done anyway.

Thanks. Looking out of my window from the Snow Hill office it looks a tad tight. The Metro lines seem to skew towards the main line, which made wonder if the would have to be realigned.

 

[Palmerston]

Does each direction not require two chords to avoid conflicts (ie a flying junction)?

I think they are referring to two pairs of chords, yes.

 

[The Planner]

Does each direction not require two chords to avoid conflicts (ie a flying junction)?

On the Camp Hill? No

 

[The exile]

On the Camp Hill? No

So a single/double track chord with flat junctions at either end.

 

[Nottingham59]

So a single/double track chord with flat junctions at either end.

That's what's shown in the track layout in post #33 in this thread.

According to the proposed service pattern in post #64, the terminating platforms at Moor St will handle an extra 7tph (2tph Camp Hill; 1tph to each of Hereford, Cardiff, Bristol; 2tph to Leicester). A flat Delta triangle should have plenty of capacity, if there is only minimal traffic on the third side of the triangle (which would only ever be freight)

 

[Palmerston]

The article I posted today referred to an extra hourly train to each of Cardiff, Worcester and Swindon.

 

[Fidelis]

The article I posted today referred to an extra hourly train to each of Cardiff, Worcester and Swindon.

We must differentiate between media releases from Midlands Connect designed to to increase awareness and support for MRH by MPs and LAs in the areas mentioned, are by their nature are headline seeking outlines and not detailed plans. The article you mention is such a release, not modifications to the Strategic Plan being funded by the DfT.
The announcement on 28th August by Network Rail of a new alliance - made up of VolkerRail, Laing O'Rourke, AtkinsRéalis, Siemens Mobility, and Network Rail stated this Alliance is to design and develop plans and support the build phase needed to deliver the the original proposals as detailed by Nottingham 59

 

[172007]

Budget 2025 Chancellor has announced continued funding for the Midland Rail Hub. Details to come

 

[BanburyBlue]

So where actually are we with this now?

Looking at the posts above there is a proposal?
Is it being designed?
Is funding there?
When will anything physical actually happen?

Many thanks

 

[The Planner]

So where actually are we with this now?

Looking at the posts above there is a proposal?
Is it being designed?
Is funding there?
When will anything physical actually happen?

Many thanks

Its designed, signalling plans etc all exist.

 

[CdBrux]

Its designed, signalling plans etc all exist.

what's the next step, i.e. what is the next part of the money allocated going to do, ground survey for example? Or still in modelling of something phase?

 

[trundlewagon]

Given how the money seems to be drip fed over an eternity for these schemes, it's probably to buy some new coloured pencils so they can colour in the signals on the plans...

 

[Snow1964]

Budget 2025 Chancellor has announced continued funding for the Midland Rail Hub. Details to come

West Midlands Combined Authority has issued update on the £2.5bn over 4 years following the budget.

The four-year funding package announced in budget includes:

• £530m for skills and job support so local people can land the jobs being created
• £177m for new homes with a focus on more social and affordable housing
• £232m for economic regeneration including the revitalisation of high streets and town centres by helping start-up businesses move into empty premises
• £129m to support the environment and fight climate change including work to make homes warmer and more energy efficient
• £2.43m for health and wellbeing including money to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping

That leaves about £1.4bn not allocated to above, presumably some of which will be for transport, but clearly WMCA haven't yet decided how much.

Budget hands Mayor £2.5bn to tackle poverty and drive new growth, jobs and homes

Mayor will use the money to drive his Growth Plan to create 100,000 jobs, 120,000 new homes and better public transport.

www.wmca.org.uk

 

[londonmidland]

I don't suppose this can support any further funding for the MML electrification and capacity improvements between Wigston South and Syston?