Willenhall & Darlaston station construction updates

[spp]

You would go to Stafford via Wolves if you really wanted that, miles quicker.

To change again?

 

[The Planner]

To change again?

Why not? Vast majority of people just accept whatever a journey planner tells them.

 

[cle]

You would go to Stafford via Wolves if you really wanted that, miles quicker.

Rugeley / Cannock / Walsall to Shrewsbury / Wrexham / Aber lines?

Wolves to e.g. Lichfield, Tamworth, Nuneaton etc are all just as easily done via Birmingham. Lichfield is a whole e2e stopper though.

 

[spp]

While the need for connectivity to the trent valley line is debatable (would only be a bonus in my view). A local stopper service that connected Wolverhampton directly to Cannock, Rugeley, Hednesford would be way more beneficial and used than a pointless Wolves/Walsall stopper that be seems to be called for in the local press a lot (by people that won’t use it). Obviously it would call at Walsall too and the new stations so that would keep those people happy while also increasing usage to these two stations.

 

[ambi23]

While the need for connectivity to the trent valley line is debatable (would only be a bonus in my view). A local stopper service that connected Wolverhampton directly to Cannock, Rugeley, Hednesford would be way more beneficial and used than a pointless Wolves/Walsall stopper that be seems to be called for in the local press a lot (by people that won’t use it). Obviously it would call at Walsall too and the new stations so that would keep those people happy while also increasing usage to these two stations.

As someone living on the chase line north of Walsall, I couldn't see myself using a service to Wolverhampton that much. Personally I would favour the Chase Line running to Stafford once again (currently it makes more economic sense to get a taxi to Stafford), but with the cutback HS2 I can't see that happening.

 

[spp]

As someone living on the chase line north of Walsall, I couldn't see myself using a service to Wolverhampton that much. Personally I would favour the Chase Line running to Stafford once again (currently it makes more economic sense to get a taxi to Stafford), but with the cutback HS2 I can't see that happening.

A lot would though. Football games at Molineux (Wolves always had a big contingent of supporters based around Cannock/Rugeley etc), for concerts at the civic or theatre at the grand.

I was predominantly thinking the other way though (with the exception of the leisure activities I mentioned above). Cannock, the shopping area, Cannock chase (Rugeley) etc has always had a big pull for many around Wolverhampton. It would open those up to a lot more who rely on trains. Or those wanting to switch from car to trains.

I don’t disagree re Stafford though just don’t think it has to be either or.

 

[Class 170101]

It will be reintroduced in the May 2026 timetable

Realtime Trains | 2H00 0553 Wolverhampton to Rugeley Trent Valley | 30/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 2H00 0553 departure from Wolverhampton to Rugeley Trent Valley on 30/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

2H00 0553 Wolverhampton to Rugeley Trent Valley

There is a train that does run daily but at 0541. It looks like a positioning movement that has been reclassified from ECS to passenger service

But unhelpfully doesn't seem to call at the new stations Darlston and Willenhall.

 

[studavis]

Does anyone know why the trains don't stop at Willenhall or Darlaston on a Sunday. The trains run through but they don't stop, seems strange.

 

[jimjim]

Does anyone know why the trains don't stop at Willenhall or Darlaston on a Sunday. The trains run through but they don't stop, seems strange.

So on a Sunday WMT only run 1 train an hour instead of 2.
The rest of the week 1 goes via Willenhall/Darlaston and stops. The other via Smethwick.
On a Sunday only the via Smethwick one runs.

However recently the line via Smethwick has been blocked on a Sunday so they have been diverted via Willenhall so you may have seen them run through but not stopping. This might be because of the time penalty of stopping of the diversion already and then the additional time penalty of the extra stops. Maybe because it would be odd to stop them on the odd Sunday where there are diversions? I really don't know!

 

[Watershed]

They probably don't want to set the precedent that those stations can have train services on a Sunday, only to stop running them when the engineering works are done.

It's frankly bonkers that the huge cost of those new stations has been justified when they get such a pitiful service. It should be 2tph all week, but then again we are anathematic to joined-up thinking in Britain.

 

[The exile]

They probably don't want to set the precedent that those stations can have train services on a Sunday, only to stop running them when the engineering works are done.

It's frankly bonkers that the huge cost of those new stations has been justified when they get such a pitiful service. It should be 2tph all week, but then again we are anathematic to joined-up thinking in Britain.

Is it not going to be 2tph from about 6 weeks’ time?

 

[Watershed]

Is it not going to be 2tph from about 6 weeks’ time?

There's a suggestion of a Wolverhampton-Walsall service at some vague point in the future but nothing confirmed yet AFAIK.

 

[Harpo]

To me the most logical option is for the Wolves to Walsall (via Brum & Aston) to reverse at Walsall and continue to Wolves via Darlaston, & vv. Theres already a 15(!!) minute dwell at New St anti-clockwise and 7 mins clockwise to be a performance break or liberate unit capacity.

 

[OxtedL]

The last two Sundays (i.e. since opening) the route via Smethwick has been open, and it makes sense to continue sending the Shrewsbury stoppers that way because it avoids an extra c.10 minutes for existing customers.

The timetable running now - and after May - is one that WMR can run without needing any additional resource vs before opening. Improvements are planned so a little patience is all that is needed here.

 

[DavidGrain]

There are 3tph from Birmingham to Shrewsbury.
I TfW train which takes the Smethwick route. I haven't checked lately but they used to stop at different stations from WMR.
1 WMR train taking the Smethwick route see note above
1 WMR train taking the Tame Bridge route and now calling at Darlaston and Willenhall.
The irony of TfW operating local trains in the West Midlands has been commented on before on TV but they run on to Birmingham International giving passengers in Shropshire and Mid Wales a connection to an international airport. This route dates back to Arriva Trains Wales days when they hoped to get a Mid Wales to London service.

 

[Bald Rick]

Is it not going to be 2tph from about 6 weeks’ time?

No. The timetable you see in Realtime trains etc from May 17th is the timetable you will get until December.

 

[DavidGrain]

Is it not going to be 2tph from about 6 weeks’ time?

The only chance of 2tph this year is the Birmingham to Manchester Airport service and there is no announcement of a date for that. Route learning is in progress from Crewe to Manchester Airport with 6 return trips per day pathed but only 2 return trips ran today.

 

[The Planner]

There are 3tph from Birmingham to Shrewsbury.
I TfW train which takes the Smethwick route. I haven't checked lately but they used to stop at different stations from WMR.
1 WMR train taking the Smethwick route see note above
1 WMR train taking the Tame Bridge route and now calling at Darlaston and Willenhall.
The irony of TfW operating local trains in the West Midlands has been commented on before on TV but they run on to Birmingham International giving passengers in Shropshire and Mid Wales a connection to an international airport. This route dates back to Arriva Trains Wales days when they hoped to get a Mid Wales to London service.

No. International was always first. The extensions were ideas that came after.

 

[scrapy]

The only chance of 2tph this year is the Birmingham to Manchester Airport service and there is no announcement of a date for that. Route learning is in progress from Crewe to Manchester Airport with 6 return trips per day pathed but only 2 return trips ran today.

Drivers/guards also route learning on Northern services.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Drivers/guards also route learning on Northern services.

Are they?

Certainly aren't at Crewe which is the depot that will initially work these