Camp Hill line - progress updates

[deltic]

I couldn't see any threads on this. Any news on how this is progressing, what still needs doing and when it is likely to open, sometime in 2026?

 

[The Planner]

I couldn't see any threads on this. Any news on how this is progressing, what still needs doing and when it is likely to open, sometime in 2026?

Allegedly end of the year.

 

[stuu]

Lots of photos and occasionally on-topic conversation in this thread on the Skyscrapercity forum:

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/thre...n-stations-camp-hill-line-u-c.2196562/page-78

 

[Snow1964]

A new award for £27m seems to have been made to Volkerfitzpatrick for construction of 3 stations (total 6 platforms 150m long)

If I am reading it correctly appears to be because original contract had insufficient value, and has been awarded to complete the stations.

1 buyer​

• West Midlands Combined Authority Birmingham

1 supplier​

• Volkerfitzpatrick Hoddesdon

Description​

The Project will consist of the design and construction of (3) three new stations at Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell and supporting rail infrastructure works, on the Camp Hill Line between Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton to support access for new train services that increase connectivity in the Greater Birmingham area." * The above is a description of the original procurement *

Total Quantity or Scope​

Project Overview: We are seeking to appoint a Principal Contractor on a design and build basis under a NEC 4 ECC Target Cost Contract to construct 3 new stations at Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell including supporting rail infrastructure works. The timeline for completion is 31/03/2024, although an earlier completion date is desired. Further to holding an extensive market briefing and engagement event, we have listened to market concerns and have refined the approach and content of the procurement and requirements in a number of areas to address potential issues where possible. WMCA propose to incorporate Clause X1 into the building contract to alleviate Contractors risk on material price fluctuations. This will cover primary materials such as timber, concrete and steel and the codes from BCIS will be provided at ITT. Further Information: The new stations are on the route between Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton to support access for new train services that increase connectivity in the Greater Birmingham area. To meet this objective the project shall deliver: Moseley • Two 6-car platforms (operational length 150m) • Pedestrian access to the station comprising 2no. raised walkways, stairs and lifts • Geotechnical works including piling and soil nailing • Platform waiting canopies, lighting, CCTV, Ticket Vending Machines, Passenger Help Points, PA, CIS Incoming DNO, LV Power Supply/Distribution System. • Permanent Way slew through platforms and associated lineside drainage • Passenger drop-off area with connecting highway access from the adjacent B4217 St Mary’s Row. • Upgrading current highway network to signalized junction to support the above drop off point. Kings Heath • Two 6-car platforms (operational length 150m); • Pedestrian access to the station including a footbridge, lifts and stairs • Platform waiting canopies, lighting, CCTV, Ticket Vending Machines, Passenger Help Points, PA, CIS, Incoming DNO, LV Power Supply/Distribution System. • Permanent Way slew through platforms and associated lineside drainage • A435 High Street highway upgrade Hazelwell • Two 6-car platforms (operational length 150m); • Pedestrian access to the station inc. stairs and lifts • Platform waiting canopies, lighting, CCTV, Ticket Vending Machines, Passenger Help Points, PA, CIS, Incoming DNO, LV Power Supply/Distribution System. • Permanent Way slew through platforms and associated lineside drainage • Passenger drop-off area with connecting highway access from the adjacent Cartland Road. Tenderers are directed to the Project Summary, Scope and the design information for a detailed description of the proposed stations.

Award Detail​

1	Volkerfitzpatrick (Hoddesdon) Rail Package 2 Camp Hill Line New Stations Reference: 011048-2025-1 Value: £27,000,000

CPV Codes​

• 45213321 - Railway station construction work

Legal Justification​

A contract award notice was published in relation to the Package Two on 22 June 2022 (under FTS reference 2022/S 000-016720), and described the contract as follows: "We are seeking to appoint a Principal Contractor on a design and build basis under a NEC 4 ECC Target Cost Contract to construct 3 new stations at Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell including supporting rail infrastructure works. The Project will consist of the design and construction of (3) three new stations at Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell and supporting rail infrastructure works, on the Camp Hill Line between Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton to support access for new train services that increase connectivity in the Greater Birmingham area." It has become necessary to modify the contract and increase the Target Price due to unforeseen circumstances The amendments do not alter the overall nature of the contract that was originally procured, however, it would not be possible to compete this work on the open market due to timescales and work carried out to date by the awarded provider. To ensure service continuity the WMCA has taken the decision to award the contract to their current provider under Regulation 32(2)b (ii) of the Procurement Regulations 2015, based on the grounds that competition is absent for technical reasons. The West Midlands Combined Authority will now enter a 30 day standstill period before formally awarding the contract.

Other Information​

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** The description provided in section II 2.4 of this notice covers the original competitive procurement that was awarded in June 2022. The additional works to which this VEAT notice provides for have come about as a result of unforeseen circumstances that the WMCA could not possibly have known about, and therefore were not factored into the original contract value.

Reference​

• ocds-h6vhtk-04f841
• FTS 011048-2025

Domains​

• wmca.org.uk

Status​

This tender has been awarded.
The contract end date is not specified.

History​

• 25 Mar 2025 - Contract Award Notice

Rail Package 2 Camp Hill Line New Stations [Award]

The Project will consist of the design and construction of (3) three new stations at Moseley, Kings ... A Contract Award Notice by West Midlands Combined Authority. Value £27M.

bidstats.uk

 

[deltic]

Lots of photos and occasionally on-topic conversation in this thread on the Skyscrapercity forum:

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/thre...n-stations-camp-hill-line-u-c.2196562/page-78

Thanks

 

[ABB125]

What was the original planned timescale for the stations? I've just gone past and they look nowhere near ready, with little progress since I last had a look nearly a year ago. And how much was the original contract for? £27m additional cost seems quite a lot...

 

[The Planner]

What was the original planned timescale for the stations? I've just gone past and they look nowhere near ready, with little progress since I last had a look nearly a year ago. And how much was the original contract for? £27m additional cost seems quite a lot...

May be wrong, but I thought it was an Andy Street Commonwealth games thing, so 2022.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

What was the original planned timescale for the stations? I've just gone past and they look nowhere near ready, with little progress since I last had a look nearly a year ago. And how much was the original contract for? £27m additional cost seems quite a lot...

From the following article on the BBC here.

It was originally hoped the Camp Hill line in the south of the city would be ready for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
However West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said it would take "a little while longer", adding the news was "disappointing".
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) said it was now aiming to open the line by the end of 2024.

 

[ABB125]

May be wrong, but I thought it was an Andy Street Commonwealth games thing, so 2022.

Bit like University station then... Though I must say I'm surprised by how much the project has slipped, I wasn't expecting it to be quite that bad!

From the following article on the BBC here.

Thanks, end of 2024 rings a bell from a site visit I did there last year.

 

[fgwrich]

Seems to be some progress happening at Kings Heath. Photos by Transport for West Midlands.

Images of progress / construction at Kings Heath station including a new bridge over the tracks.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Don't forget, both this and the Darlaston route stations were affected by the contractor going bankrupt so the projects stopped whilst that happened (see Anfield Road stand at Liverpool FC) and then a new contractor sorted out etc. I would say this added around 12 months to the slippage easily

 

[jmking]

I couldn't see any threads on this. Any news on how this is progressing, what still needs doing and when it is likely to open, sometime in 2026?

Trains from all three stations have appeared on Realtime Trains from the 14th of December.. The stations are earmarked for opening at the end of 2025 so hopefully we'll see some service before 2026.

 

[zwk500]

Trains from all three stations have appeared on Realtime Trains from the 14th of December.. The stations are earmarked for opening at the end of 2025 so hopefully we'll see some service before 2026.

They're in for today, but as Q paths: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L33876/2025-08-12/detailed, https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:PIR, so the lack of a Q on them after December is hopeful.

 

[Snow1964]

A new video has been posted showing construction progress on the new stations on Camp Hill line

 

[MPC]

Once construction of the stations is complete, how long does testing and commissioning take please?

 

[zwk500]

Once construction of the stations is complete, how long does testing and commissioning take please?

Varies depending on the station and whether the ORR find anything wrong. Can be a few weeks to several months.

 

[MPC]

Varies depending on the station and whether the ORR find anything wrong. Can be a few weeks to several months.

Thanks.

 

[zwk500]

Thanks.

As an example, Ashley Down station in Bristol was described as having 'most' of the construction complete and beginning extensive testing in late May 2024, was authorised by the ORR in Mid-September and opened 2 weeks later on the 28 September 2024.

Ashley Down station could open before end of 2024

Extensive testing is currently taking place

www.bristol247.com

 

[MPC]

As an example, Ashley Down station in Bristol was described as having 'most' of the construction complete and beginning extensive testing in late May 2024, was authorised by the ORR in Mid-September and opened 2 weeks later on the 28 September 2024.

In the case of the Camp Hill line there are three stations, so more potential for longer testing and Commissioning.

 

[swt_passenger]

EWR is a current example of how long ‘usual procedures’ can take. Even if the only new station opened they’d probably not have the rolling stock and traincrew sorted…

Then once it’s open the general public quickly find all the fare and routeing issues that seem to take pricing managers by surprise every time…

 

[zwk500]

EWR is a current example of how long ‘usual procedures’ can take. Even if the only new station opened they’d probably not have the rolling stock and traincrew sorted…

Then once it’s open the general public quickly find all the fare and routeing issues that seem to take pricing managers by surprise every time…

Slightly different as EWR was a new route, whereas Camp Hill is stations on an existing line, no extra depot or anything so WMT can get on with training (and any extra recruitment) before the stations are complete.

 

[Russel]

What is the service and calling pattern going to be for the Camp Hill line?

 

[JonathanH]

What is the service and calling pattern going to be for the Camp Hill line?

Half hourly trains from Birmingham New Street to Kings Norton, all stations. They are already in RTT.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Birmingham New Street between 0200 and 0159 on 08/01/2026

Train information at Birmingham New Street between 0200 and 0159 on 08/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The reverse at Kings Norton falls in the gap between CrossCity trains.

 

[Nottingham59]

Slightly different as EWR was a new route, whereas Camp Hill is stations on an existing line.

It took ORR about six months to authorise a new platform at Market Harborough to be brought back into use after the work had been completed.

 

[zwk500]

It took ORR about six months to authorise a new platform at Market Harborough to be brought back into use after the work had been completed.

And it took them about 6 weeks to sign off Ashley Down AIUI. Maybe its down to how well the project has its paperwork in order to allow the ORR to do its checks. Or Market Harborough had a problem that genuinely needed fixing.

 

[Russel]

The Camp Hill line reminds me of the Maryhill line in Glasgow, a short diesel line surrounded by electric!

 

[bleeder4]

Did the Camp Hill line last week and was pleased to see the stations had come along considerably since I last went that way. The footbridges are now in place (without the steps), platforms are in place, gangs of orange hi-vis workers hard at work. They're really taking shape now.

 

[AeM]

Content is subscriber only, but you might get lucky with a free view of the page:NCE - Challenges in Delivering the New Camp Hill Line

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Content is subscriber only, but you might get lucky with a free view of the page:NCE - Challenges in Delivering the New Camp Hill Line

It let me view it, content below:

Building three new stations by a live line in urban areas, with a few surprises thrown in, have made for an interesting delivery for VolkerFitzpatrick on Transport for West Midlands’ Camp Hill line project.

It was never going to be easy, building three new stations by a live railway line in suburban Birmingham. But VolkerFitzpatrick’s project for Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to bring back passenger services to the Camp Hill Line has thrown up more surprises than anyone expected, among them difficulties in ground investigations and soil nailing, a listed garden wall, uncharted below-ground infrastructure and badgers.

The Camp Hill line runs South from Birmingham New Street station to Kings Norton and will pass through the three new stations: Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road in Stichely. Currently used for freight and the occasional diversion of a cross-country passenger train, the line was open to passengers until 1941 when a shortage of coal, and the need to conserve it for other things during World War II, meant that the stations closed.

Almost 85 years later, TfWM hopes that re-opening the line to passengers will bring both economic and environmental boosts to communities around the stations. As well as moving commuters out of cars and onto trains, easing congestion and reducing air pollution, the authority hopes it will encourage more people to visit local high streets near the new stations.

“We are targeting people who will not get the bus,” says Jo Shore, director of delivery for TfWM. “Some people will not get on a bus, but they will get on the train.”

The trains will run every half hour, with a journey [to Birmingham New Street] from Moseley taking eight minutes rather than 20 minutes or so by bus. West Midlands Railway will operate the service using diesel trains with six carriages. “We are hopeful that 1M passenger journeys will be made each year,” says James Callingham, project sponsor at the West Midlands Rail Executive and TfWM.

Once the Midlands Rail Hub project is complete, trains on the Camp Hill line may be redirected into Birmingham Moor Street Station via a new chord. The Midlands Rail Hub is currently at the business case and design stage.

 

[InTheEastMids]

It took ORR about six months to authorise a new platform at Market Harborough to be brought back into use after the work had been completed.

Or Market Harborough had a problem that genuinely needed fixing.

There must have been some non-critical snagging or a delay to the paperwork because the platform was not out of service for 6 months
The MML was closed for about a week whilst the critical work was done.

you might get lucky with a free view of the page

I find I can skew luck significantly in my favour by starting a new InPrivate Windows each time I want to read something.