DfT names West Midlands Trains as franchise winner

Joint venture between Abellio, East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui & Co will operate services until 2026

The Department for Transport has announced that the West Midlands rail franchise will be operated by West Midlands Trains, a joint venture between Abellio, East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui & Co.

The West Midlands Trains franchise will cover services across the West Midlands, as well as trains from London Euston to Crewe and from Liverpool to Birmingham. The new contract will start in December and last until March 2026.

The government says the deal with West Midlands Trains will see over £1bn invested in longer trains and service improvements.

Some 400 new carriages will be rolled out by 2021, providing space for an extra 85,000 passengers on rush hour services in Birmingham and London.

Smart ticketing and live passenger information will be rolled out under the deal, as part of a package of changes that will see free Wi-Fi on all main line services by the end of 2019.

There will also be improved access for those requiring extra assistance, including disabled people. West Midlands Trains will also offer compensation if services are delayed by more than 15 minutes.

The DfT says the new franchise will also see more than £70m invested in new and existing depots to improve train reliability. More than £60m will be invested on station improvements that will provide: over 1,000 new car park spaces; over 2,500 cycle parking spaces; a cycle hire scheme; new and refurbished waiting rooms and more seats at stations.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “This is great news for passengers using West Midlands services, with new trains, more space, more regular services and easier access for disabled people. We are improving the whole travelling experience with live train crowding information, compensation for people delayed by 15 minutes or more, smart ticketing and better value tickets for part-time workers.

Dominic Booth, managing director of Abellio UK, said: “We are delighted to have been announced as preferred bidder for the West Midlands franchise, driving growth in one of the most exciting regions in the country. We will be investing nearly £1bn into the network, delivering new trains, better stations and a whole host of other benefits for passengers.”

The trains running only in the West Midlands area will be jointly managed by the DfT and West Midlands Rail (WMR), a consortium of 16 local councils.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “We want to see a new golden era for our local trains and today’s announcement is an important step towards that. Having the ability to use our local knowledge and understanding to shape what West Midlands Trains will deliver for passengers under this franchise has also been a game changer.

“I believe the deal secured today will help create a railway that can not only improve people’s journeys but keep our economy growing and we look forward to working with West Midlands Trains in making that happen.”