Midlands Rail Hub 20m extra seats

[Ploughman]

For one who does not know the area, where is the chord likely to be situated?
And any other notable sites.

 

[Snow1964]

The constraint is more the length of tbe block sections around Droitwich and Worcester. Midlands rail hub won't redouble it all. It will be small extensions.

Although standard equipment to add an intermediate block with 2 aspect signals (stop signal and its associated distant signal) have been around for decades.

The idea that one long block is a long term restriction that can never be changed until full resignalling is a myth.

I would not be surprised if there are a few intermediate units not really being used these days (somewhere like an old MGR coal route) somewhere on the network that could be moved if there was enough motivation.

 

[Nottingham59]

For one who does not know the area, where is the chord likely to be situated?
And any other notable sites.

See the map here:

Camp Hill line - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Picture credit: Wikimedia user Oldhamtw

 

[Palmerston]

For one who does not know the area, where is the chord likely to be situated?
And any other notable sites.

To add to the map above, I'd say this area is post-industrial. Quite close to the city centre, but not close enough to have been gentrified or become fully residential.

 

[jfollows]

See the map here:

Camp Hill line - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Picture credit: Wikimedia user Oldhamtw

With the down line heading towards London?

 

[D365]

See the map here:

Camp Hill line - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Picture credit: Wikimedia user Oldhamtw

Thanks for providing this image. More-or-less explains the key deliverables of this project.

 

[The Planner]

Although standard equipment to add an intermediate block with 2 aspect signals (stop signal and its associated distant signal) have been around for decades.

The idea that one long block is a long term restriction that can never be changed until full resignalling is a myth.

I would not be surprised if there are a few intermediate units not really being used these days (somewhere like an old MGR coal route) somewhere on the network that could be moved if there was enough motivation.

That depends on if people want to add it as a temporary measure to lever frames when the plans are to re-signal the area at some point in the medium term and the associated abortive cost. They would be new installations, I'm not aware of places that get 2nd hand LED units installed.

To add to the map above, I'd say this area is post-industrial. Quite close to the city centre, but not close enough to have been gentrified or become fully residential.

Digbeth etc is getting a lot of redevelopment already on the basis of HS2.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2025 ==

With the down line heading towards London?

Small Heath is the Chiltern Mainline. The right turning arrow to "the midlands" is a bit odd as it should really be more of a straight arrow like the Kings Norton one.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Ahh yes Platform -1, rolls of the tonge

 

[Ploughman]

Thanks for the reply a bit clearer.

 

[Nottingham59]

Thanks for the reply a bit clearer.

This clip from openrailwaymap shows the wider layout.
The West chord will connect line SKN to DCL, running across the current site of Bordesley Station.

 

[lachlan]

What services are planned to use the curve to the north?

 

[The Planner]

What services are planned to use the curve to the north?

Any increase to Leicester or the Tamworth directions.

 

[Pokelet]

The constraint is more the length of tbe block sections around Droitwich and Worcester. Midlands rail hub won't redouble it all. It will be small extensions.

There's possibly not the space between Malvern and Ledbury? So with some shorter sections, when the Worcester area resignalling eventually happens are we more likely get an additional BHM each hour but only run as far as Great Malvern not Hereford?

 

[The Planner]

There's possibly not the space between Malvern and Ledbury? So with some shorter sections, when the Worcester area resignalling eventually happens are we more likely get an additional BHM each hour but only run as far as Great Malvern not Hereford?

Eventually being the key word.

 

[Fidelis]

Eventually being the key word.

There's possibly not the space between Malvern and Ledbury? So with some shorter sections, when the Worcester area resignalling eventually happens are we more likely get an additional BHM each hour but only run as far as Great Malvern not Hereford?

To provide the capacity for two trains per hour to Hereford the MRH proposes some double tracking between Ledbury and Shelwick Junction. The other concern is that the current 1tph via University may be move to the Camphill Line breaking the direct travel to the QE Regional Hospital from Worcester, Droitwich etc for staff and patients.

 

[Pokelet]

To provide the capacity for two trains per hour to Hereford the MRH proposes some double tracking between Ledbury and Shelwick Junction. The other concern is that the current 1tph via University may be move to the Camphill Line breaking the direct travel to the QE Regional Hospital from Worcester, Droitwich etc for staff and patients.

There's already some scope for 2TPH to Hereford with the 4 Paddington services that arrive daily.

2TPH on the Worcester to Birmingham could be 1 via university and one via Camp Hill, retaining the direct train to UNI or a change at Bromsgrove or possibly Kings Norton (if that service then becomes a stopper along Camp Hill).

 

[Fidelis]

There's already some scope for 2TPH to Hereford with the 4 Paddington services that arrive daily.

2TPH on the Worcester to Birmingham could be 1 via university and one via Camp Hill, retaining the direct train to UNI or a change at Bromsgrove or possibly Kings Norton (if that service then becomes a stopper along Camp Hill).

Re the GWR services there is only a single line from West Malvern to Shelwick Junction just before Hereford. The current passing point is at Ledbury station, which has two platforms. So a late running GWR train to Hereford is usually terminated at Great Malvern or Worcester Shrub Hill. The addition of a passing loop will provide a second passing point, giving flexibility.

I and other regular users of this service are lobbying for 1tph via University and second via Camphill.

The proposal to run both BHM to HFD trains via the Camphill Line was made by the new CEO of WMRE in an interview with Modern Railways in March 2024. What a backward step, you are suggesting to change trains mid-journey and wait in a wheelchair or a child's buggy on an uncovered platform at Bromsgrove. So much for enhancing the passenger experience.

 

[Bald Rick]

I and other regular users of this service are lobbying for 1tph via University and second via Camphill.
The proposal to run both BHM to HFD trains via the Camphill Line was made by the new CEO of WMRE in an interview with Modern Railways in March 2024. What a backward step you are suggesting to change trains mid-journey and wait in a wheel chair or a child's buggy on an uncovered platform at Bromsgrove. So much for enhancing the passenger experience.

If it’s a straight choice of two via Camp Hill or one via University, which would you choose?

 

[Fidelis]

If it’s a straight choice of two via Camp Hill or one via University, which would you choose?

Currently the 1 tph takes 27 minutes from Droitwich Spa to University. The proposed Camphill route requires a journey of 10 minutes to Bromsgrove then a wait of of 20 minutes for a 24 minute journey on the Cross City Line to University.
Total time for the journey 54 minutes almost twice as long. Which journey would you prefer?

 

[Sonik]

Currently the 1 tph takes 27 minutes from Droitwich Spa to University. The proposed Camphill route requires a journey of 10 minutes to Bromsgrove then a wait of of 20 minutes for a 24 minute journey on the Cross City Line to University.
Total time for the journey 54 minutes almost twice as long. Which journey would you prefer?

IIRC the intention is to put platforms to allow change at Kings Norton, and as the station will be refurbished, it will no doubt include proper facilities (i.e. full accessibility and covered waiting areas)

The new trains are also very quick of the mark, which may allow for better (i.e. faster) timetabling when it's all changed.

So it may end up being a slightly longer journey, but certainly not double, as it's only a couple of extra stops.

 

[Bald Rick]

Currently the 1 tph takes 27 minutes from Droitwich Spa to University. The proposed Camphill route requires a journey of 10 minutes to Bromsgrove then a wait of of 20 minutes for a 24 minute journey on the Cross City Line to University.
Total time for the journey 54 minutes almost twice as long. Which journey would you prefer?

That doesn‘t answer the question.

My answer is 2 x via Camp Hill.Although though I totslly understand if your preference is just one train, and that is via University

 

[Snow1964]

The Government funding Press Release issued 8th July appears to include funding for Midlands Rail Hub

The Midlands is also set to see a huge improvement to its rail services. The new Midlands Rail Hub will be the region’s biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme to date. Significant government funding will mean huge numbers of additional trains and extra seats can be added to the rail network in and out of Birmingham every single day. This will support new homes and create greener growth across the Midlands while providing faster, more frequent and brand new rail links for more than 50 locations and creating almost 13,000 construction jobs.

Not yet clear where huge numbers of additional trains come from, is a train order pending ?

Green light for over 50 road and rail upgrades supporting over 39,000 new homes and 42,000 jobs

Commuters and businesses to benefit from quicker journeys as more than 50 road and rail upgrades are agreed.

www.gov.uk

 

[ainsworth74]

For more general discussion about today's announcement of funding various project please see the general thread here. As a reminder this thread is specifically about the Midlands Rail Hub.

 

[giblets]

Think they need to restore platform 4 at Snow hill and at least #5 at Moor St sooner rather than later, will help with current resilience and help when they are making changes with the Bordesley chords later. Bit of a quick win.

 

[Russel]

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

Not really been following the project but I do recall it being spoken about a few years ago.

 

[D365]

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

Not really been following the project but I do recall it being spoken about a few years ago.

Yes, if the Bordersley east chord is constructed.

 

[duffield]

This seems to come under the umbrella of the Midlands Rail hub:

The BBC's East Midlands Today mentioned in passing in relation to today's rail project announcement something about enhanced services between Birmingham and Nottingham.

Can anyone point to any details (as in, new details from today, not anything that's previously been discussed)? Or is it just that the development of the scheme will go ahead but we don't know anything more specific?

 

[Russel]

Yes, if the Bordersley east chord is constructed.

Probably not then, once the project inevitably gets scaled back or cancelled.

 

[SynthD]

Probably not then, once the project inevitably gets scaled back or cancelled.

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?

 

[trundlewagon]

Probably not then, once the project inevitably gets scaled back or cancelled.

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...