Two points to make about this.
1) What will happen when the 321's and 322's go back to Manchester? As I understand it, LM are only getting 8 new 350's. 3 will be used to lengthen peak time Euston service and 5 will be used to replace 323's on the Walsall - Birmingham - Wolverhampton stopping service so that these 323's can go to the Cross City to lengthen trains ready for the 3tph Redditch service (which I think is planned to start in December 2014).
2) I thought the RUS ruled out a Birmingham to Manchester semi fast service because a path could not be found between Wolverhampton and Birmingham.
It did suggest running the service through to Walsall with it effectivly being an hourly extension to the Walsall - Birmingham - Wolverhampton stopper, but this was ruled out.
I've thought of a couple of alternative myself, but they both have drawbacks. They are;
1) Replace the Smethwick Gaulton Bridge stop on the xx01 New Street to Liverpool service with a stop at Sandwell and Dudley and replace the S&D stop with a SGB stop on the xx05 New Street to Shrewsbury service. This would allow the the Liverpool service to opperate as an 8 car train from Birmingham to Stafford where the train would split (one half to Liverpool, and one half to Stoke and Manchester). This would add time to the Birmingham - Liverpool service and would mean that this train won't be able to use platform 4C at New Street (as it does at present). There would also be problems at Penkridge because some xx01 departures from New Street stop there in the peaks. Either the platforms at Penkridge would have to be extended to 8 car length or extra rolling stock would be needed so that some peak time Birmingham - Wolverhampton stoppers can be extended to Stafford with a stop at Penkridge.
2) The Birmingham - Manchester semi-fast runs fast between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, but the hourly xx05 Birmingham - Shresbury LM service is re-routed to run via the Grand Junction line with a stop at Tame Bridge Parkway. This would give a 5tph service from Tame Bridge to New Street and would meet Centro's long term aspiration for a direct hourly service from Tame Bridge to Wolverhampton. But this would add 10 minutes to the Birmingham to Shrewsbury journey time and trains would clash with Chase Line trains between Bescot and Perry Barr.
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Two points to make about this.
1) What will happen when the 321's and 322's go back to Manchester? As I understand it, LM are only getting 8 new 350's. 3 will be used to lengthen peak time Euston service and 5 will be used to replace 323's on the Walsall - Birmingham - Wolverhampton stopping service so that these 323's can go to the Cross City to lengthen trains ready for the 3tph Redditch service (which I think is planned to start in December 2014).
2) I thought the RUS ruled out a Birmingham to Manchester semi fast service because a path could not be found between Wolverhampton and Birmingham.
It did suggest running the service through to Walsall with it effectivly being an hourly extension to the Walsall - Birmingham - Wolverhampton stopper, but this was ruled out.
I've thought of a couple of alternative myself, but they both have drawbacks. They are;
1) Replace the Smethwick Gaulton Bridge stop on the xx01 New Street to Liverpool service with a stop at Sandwell and Dudley and replace the S&D stop with a SGB stop on the xx05 New Street to Shrewsbury service. This would allow the the Liverpool service to opperate as an 8 car train from Birmingham to Stafford where the train would split (one half to Liverpool, and one half to Stoke and Manchester). This would add time to the Birmingham - Liverpool service and would mean that this train won't be able to use platform 4C at New Street (as it does at present). There would also be problems at Penkridge because some xx01 departures from New Street stop there in the peaks. Either the platforms at Penkridge would have to be extended to 8 car length or extra rolling stock would be needed so that some peak time Birmingham - Wolverhampton stoppers can be extended to Stafford with a stop at Penkridge.
2) The Birmingham - Manchester semi-fast runs fast between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, but the hourly xx05 Birmingham - Shresbury LM service is re-routed to run via the Grand Junction line with a stop at Tame Bridge Parkway. This would give a 5tph service from Tame Bridge to New Street and would meet Centro's long term aspiration for a direct hourly service from Tame Bridge to Wolverhampton. But this would add 10 minutes to the Birmingham to Shrewsbury journey time and trains would clash with Chase Line trains between Bescot and Perry Barr.
Or perhaps the Birmingham - Manchester smei-fast could run via Tame Bridge, if they can get the paths right.
