Willenhall & Darlaston station construction updates

[CyrusWuff]

What's that compared to say Tame Bridge Parkway? Considering if given the option to drive to a station most would probably pick one with a more frequent service.

231 for Tame Bridge Parkway and 779 for Wolves.

 

[Bald Rick]

Out of the two I can see Willenhall being the most popular (based on location) however with only an hourly service it faces an uphill battle over the frequent buses for anybody wanting to head to Wolverhampton.

Few people will jse it to go to Wolverhampton, the bus is too easy and for many people free. It will be used for going to Birmingham, and to other places north with connections in Wolverhampton.

 

[dvboy]

Imagine the stations will be used mostly by people who would otherwise get a bus or drive to Wolverhampton or Walsall for a train to Birmingham, or Bilston or Wednesbury for the tram.

 

[The Planner]

What's that compared to say Tame Bridge Parkway? Considering if given the option to drive to a station most would probably pick one with a more frequent service.

231 at Tame Bridge.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

< 3.5 > Performance Time has magically become two station calls with the pass times for Darlaston Jn and Portobello Jn per WTT.

That's because it was never 'Performance Time's.

It was padding on the WTT for the future stops at those stations. There was padding on the old New St - Crewe service for those stops too!

 

[spp]

Few people will jse it to go to Wolverhampton, the bus is too easy and for many people free. It will be used for going to Birmingham, and to other places north with connections in Wolverhampton.

I think Darlaston might be used a bit more to Wolverhampton. Mostly by people who live the Walsall side of Darlaston (for me it’s not really Darlaston could be called Walsall South or something similar) or even Walsall (particularly the south side), but yes most traffic from both will be in/out of Birmingham I’d imagine.

May change Whens the trains running further north start.

I might use Darlaston on a trip to Telford I have planned that weekend, but thats purely to be nosey despite living 1 mile from Darlaston town centre itself it will take me almost the same time (and on a less frequent bus route) to get to the station as it would for me to get to Wolverhampton.

 

[WTT Gremlin]

That's because it was never 'Performance Time's.

It was padding on the WTT for the future stops at those stations. There was padding on the old New St - Crewe service for those stops too!

I am very well aware of why the time was in the schedule, hence my choice in describing the change as magical in explaining what had changed, and highlighting that it was planned by pointing out that the WTT timings of the mandatory timing points before/after the stations had not required any amendment.

Additionally, the time was performance time as it ensured that the timings would be able to be achieved with the intended calling pattern. None of engineering, pathing or adjustment time would have been more appropriate, and there are many reasons non-advertised calls may not have been a suitable option.

 

[Sprinter107]

Few people will jse it to go to Wolverhampton, the bus is too easy and for many people free. It will be used for going to Birmingham, and to other places north with connections in Wolverhampton.

The train is also free for many people within the West Midlands, as their pass covers train, bus, and tram.

 

[Chriso]

The train is also free for many people within the West Midlands, as their pass covers train, bus, and tram.

And lack of revenue protection outside of Birmingham city centre

 

[DavidGrain]

And lack of revenue protection outside of Birmingham city centre

Actually not true. I have had my pass checked by the guard on trains from Selly Oak into Birmingham. I always get my ticket or pass checked if I travel on Avanti coming in from Sandwell and Dudley. I don't know if they still do but Cross Country always used to check tickets out of New Street as there was always a crew change there. Recently coming from Worcester to Rowley Regis as I got off the train a Revenue Control Team stepped onto the train which was heading into Birmingham.

About a year ago on a morning Chiltern Railways train from Stourbridge Junction, the guard must have sold tickets to more than half the passengers in my carriage. I don't know why they did not have tickets as they would have to go through the barriers at Snow Hill and at Moor Street there is usually some one checking tickets in the morning on the side exit from platform 1.

I watched a video recently and Five Ways was the only station on the Cross City Line which recorded a fall in the number of tickets sold last year. This was put down to a clamp down on 'Short Faring' i.e. people just buying tickets from Five Ways in order to get through the barriers at New Street although they had travelled from further out.

 

[Chriso]

Well that is impressive . Every time I’m in the West Midlands the only place I see on train ticket checks is the TFW Wales trains between Brum and Wolves

 

[bleeder4]

Train testing under way on new Birmingham rail line

The Camp Hill line is opening to commuters from early April.

www.bbc.co.uk

Train testing under way on new Birmingham rail line

Final testing is being carried out at five new railway stations in the West Midlands before they open their ticket barriers to passengers.

Stations at Willenhall and Darlaston in the Black Country will open on Thursday 19 March.

And three Birmingham stations - at Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road - will open on Tuesday 7 April as the Camp Hill Line is brought back to life.

It was closed in 1941 during World War Two, because of a shortage of coal, and never reopened.

On Monday, trains were travelling between Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton via the three new Birmingham stations as work is completed at the locations.

 

[DavidGrain]

Train testing under way on new Birmingham rail line

The Camp Hill line is opening to commuters from early April.

www.bbc.co.uk

Train testing under way on new Birmingham rail line

Final testing is being carried out at five new railway stations in the West Midlands before they open their ticket barriers to passengers.

Stations at Willenhall and Darlaston in the Black Country will open on Thursday 19 March.

And three Birmingham stations - at Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road - will open on Tuesday 7 April as the Camp Hill Line is brought back to life.

It was closed in 1941 during World War Two, because of a shortage of coal, and never reopened.

On Monday, trains were travelling between Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton via the three new Birmingham stations as work is completed at the locations.

Nice to see that the BBC is keeping up with the local news. These training/test trains have bee running for several weeks. The only difference today is that they have a 4 car unit whereas most days they have had a 2 car unit running.

 

[JW4]

I watched a video recently and Five Ways was the only station on the Cross City Line which recorded a fall in the number of tickets sold last year. This was put down to a clamp down on 'Short Faring' i.e. people just buying tickets from Five Ways in order to get through the barriers at New Street although they had travelled from further out.

Cross city has had revenue protection teams onboard and at the barriers at new street much more often recently

 

[ABB125]

Is the car park at Darlaston expected to open on Thursday as well as the station itself? I might try it (instead of the station I normally use if driving to Birmingham for work) for fun, but that only works if the car park is open. (If not, I'll use Tame Bridge instead.)

 

[Liam L]

Nice to see that the BBC is keeping up with the local news. These training/test trains have bee running for several weeks. The only difference today is that they have a 4 car unit whereas most days they have had a 2 car unit running.

They only reported it because it was press event with the transport sec and Mayor being onboard....

Otherwise it would of gone unnoticed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Mar 2026 ==

Well that is impressive . Every time I’m in the West Midlands the only place I see on train ticket checks is the TFW Wales trains between Brum and Wolves

Ticket checks is incredibly rare on WMR in my experience.

TFW guards are usually quite good but in experience of when I had a swift pass, they don't have knowledge of them and had it on a few occasions where they tried to tell me my pass was not valid or in one case 'no money on it' even though the railways don't support the Swift Go (Tap & Go) scheme yet.

 

[E B]

Ticket checks is incredibly rare on WMR in my experience.

Mine almost always get checked when i’m travelling on the Nuneaton - Leamington service, but I digress.

 

[birchesgreen]

So, anyone going to visit these new stations today? I hope to be up there tomorrow, let all the youtubers go first.

 

[ABB125]

Welcome to Darlaston

I've already been told to stand behind the yellow line (twice!) - I suspect I get the award for first person to be so told!

There's plenty of people stood around in hi viz, but interestingly the only one who seems bothered by yellow line "incursions" is the one in yellow who looks like contract security (who's probably been told that crossi6the line immediately results in death...)

 

[zwk500]

The ORR Authorisations for both stations were published to the website this morning or overnight, the decision dated yesterday. Is this a record the shortest gap between ORR approval and opening to passengers?

Darlaston: https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/defaul...ation-orr-authorisation-letter-2026-03-18.pdf

This authorisation is for the placing in service of changes at Darlaston Station, which includes:
• Two 105m platforms with canopies
• New platform canopies and furniture
• A footbridge with lifts and covered access stairs
• Lighting, signages and station information including customer information systems, public address systems.
The authorisation is defined by the following limits.
Darlaston Station PBJ 10M 010Ch

Willenhall: https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/defaul...ation-orr-authorisation-letter-2026-03-18.pdf

This authorisation is for the placing in service of changes at Willenhall Station, which includes:
• Two 105m platforms with canopies
• New platform canopies and furniture
• A footbridge with lifts and covered access stairs
• The second entrance with stair and lift between Platform 1 and Bilston Street Bridge
• Lighting, signages and station information including customer information systems, public address systems.
The authorisation is defined by the following limits.
Willenhall Station PBJ 11M 010Ch

 

[ABB125]

First departure was a minute or so late to arrive, but then sat around for 5 minutes for unknown reasons. 6 late departing



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Mar 2026 ==

A few pictures from Willlenhall:


The slight delay I mentioned previously appears to be due to a wheelchair user boarding at Darlaston and alighting at Willlenhall - giving the system a good test!

Amusingly, the guard on the train I'm on (0707 from Willlenhall to New Street) announced at both station "can passengers please stand away from the doors" - presumably people taking pictures of the new stations blocking the doors

 

[WestCountry]

I'm on the first southbound service through them. By coincidence it's only a minor detour from a journey I'd be making anyway.

Lots of people taking photos in evidence.

 

[dvboy]

I was planning to take the 1626 from New Street but it’s been cancelled (along with the 1326 which presumably is the same unit and crew)

 

[Broseley man]

I was planning to take the 1626 from New Street but it’s been cancelled (along with the 1326 which presumably is the same unit and crew)

Presumably there will be a rail replacement bus.

 

[bleeder4]

View attachment 200628
Welcome to Darlaston
View attachment 200629
I've already been told to stand behind the yellow line (twice!) - I suspect I get the award for first person to be so told!

There's plenty of people stood around in hi viz, but interestingly the only one who seems bothered by yellow line "incursions" is the one in yellow who looks like contract security (who's probably been told that crossi6the line immediately results in death...)

I've never understood why they put the tactile paving on the far side of the yellow line. If the objective is for people not to cross the yellow line, surely they will also want blind people not to cross it either. As it is at the moment, a blind person will already have crossed the yellow line before encountering the tactile paving. The solution to my mind is to incorporate the tactile paving into the yellow line itself.

 

[Broseley man]

Presumably there will be a rail replacement bus.

Me again. Welcome to our world on the Shrewsbury line. Train crew problem my XXXX.

 

[ABB125]

I've never understood why they put the tactile paving on the far side of the yellow line. If the objective is for people not to cross the yellow line, surely they will also want blind people not to cross it either. As it is at the moment, a blind person will already have crossed the yellow line before encountering the tactile paving. The solution to my mind is to incorporate the tactile paving into the yellow line itself.

It's probably a conflict of design standards? I'm not familiar with the standards involved, but I wouldn't be surprised if one standard says "tactile paving should be 0.5m from the platform edge" and another standard says "the yellow line must be 1m from the platform edge" (distances made up for illustrative purposes).

On a similar subject, I would like to know why the large metal chamber lids in the platform surface are positioned such that the yellow line goes over the edge of the lid. And, more importantly, why are the lids positioned slightly differently at the different stations? They're build as part of the same contract (I think) and to the same standards, so why the slightly different design? See images below - it's mainly annoying that the line has to be painted differently over the metal lids, so it just looks a bit rubbish.

 

[dracos]

I see the National Rail journey planner is giving two different ways of getting from New Street to Darlaston, though only one of those with a ticket. The hourly Shrewsbury service calling there, but if you've just missed it, it also shows going to Wolverhampton and coming back on the return service, saving you 40 minutes over waiting the hour. But that's not a valid route, as I understand it, so not sure why they're showing it in the first place.

 

[bramling]

There's plenty of people stood around in hi viz, but interestingly the only one who seems bothered by yellow line "incursions" is the one in yellow who looks like contract security (who's probably been told that crossi6the line immediately results in death...)

What is the actual point of these contract security? Seems like a complete waste of taxpayer money.

 

[Snow1964]

The ORR Authorisations for both stations were published to the website this morning or overnight, the decision dated yesterday. Is this a record the shortest gap between ORR approval and opening to passengers?

Darlaston: https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/defaul...ation-orr-authorisation-letter-2026-03-18.pdf

Willenhall: https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/defaul...ation-orr-authorisation-letter-2026-03-18.pdf

What's with them having 105m platforms ?

I know there is normally 5m contingency spare length to allow stopping variation, but a 4car 196 is 96m and class 730s are either 72m or 120m, so why strange length of 105m long platforms ?