New trains, new services and more seats from London Midland.
Rail company London Midland’s new timetable announced today will see additional benefits being introduced across its network.
ondon Midland’s new timetable will see new trains, new services and more seats being introduced across its network this month. This includes 75,000 extra seats in and out of Birmingham New Street and more direct services to the capital.
In the West Midlands the Cross City line will see one of the biggest improvements with the Redditch to Birmingham service increasing from two to three trains per hour. The most frequent service in Redditch’s history. There will also be extra seats along the line up to Lichfield.
Wolverhampton passengers will benefit from an extra 2,000 seats in the evening peak leaving Birmingham and there will be an extra 6,000 seats between New Street and Birmingham International.
London Midland is also increasing the number of services from Birmingham and Coventry to London. This means there will be an extra 18,000 seats on this route to and from the capital each week.
Rugby rail users will benefit from 20,000 extra seats to and from London with new trains and more fast services. There will also be an extra 30,000 seats to and from Birmingham.
Since 2007 the company has seen demand for its services grow by a third. New timetables will be introduced across Britain’s railways on Sunday, December 14. London Midland passengers will see major improvements across the network. £62 million worth of new trains will significantly increase capacity and help the operator introduce new and faster services.
While the train company has been adding carriages to some services early, the new timetable allows London Midland to fully utilise its new 110mph fleet, making changes right across the network. This includes providing:
– 39,000 extra seats every week across the LM network
– More direct trains between Birmingham New St/International/Coventry/Rugby/Northampton/London at peak times
– Improved frequency between Redditch/Alvechurch/Barnt Green/Birmingham
The new trains have been made possible following £62 million of government investment. Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “We are absolutely committed to building a world-class rail network that provides more seats, more services and better journeys. I am delighted that London Midland’s passengers across the network are seeing the benefit of our investment.
“This is just one way in which we’re transforming the rail network. Over the next five years, more than £38 billion will be spent on improving and maintaining our railways, providing improved journeys for passengers across the UK.”
London Midland managing director, Patrick Verwer said “With more people travelling with us each year our passengers are telling us they want more services, quicker journeys and more seats. We have listened and taken the opportunity with our new trains to make as many improvements for as many passengers as we can. With £62 million invested in new trains, this is the biggest change to our timetable in six years.”
Cllr Roger Horton, lead member for rail and Metro on Centro, the region’s public transport co-ordinator said: “These extra services and seats, especially on the Cross City line to Redditch, will further improve the level of comfort and convenience for passengers.
“These enhancements will also help meet the ever rising demand for rail travel in the West Midlands, which has seen passenger numbers double over the last decade or so.”
For more details on local services go to www.londonmidland.com/goodnews
