AN alliance of four companies has been identified to design and develop plans to support the build phase of the £1.75bn Midlands Rail Hub project in central England.

The project aims to deliver infrastructure and station improvements that will boost network capacity in and around Birmingham, allowing an additional 300 trains per day to operate, improving connections to regional towns and cities.

The preferred alliance of VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke, AtkinsRéalis, Siemens Mobility and infrastructure manager Network Rail will plan timescales for the development of Midlands Rail Hub with early passenger benefits expected to be realised by the early 2030s.

The selection of the alliance is considered a key step forward and follows the allocation of £123m in funding by the government in February, which is supporting detailed design of infrastructure improvements, and finalisation of the operating plans for the improved services.

The Midlands Rail Hub

At the centre of the project is the construction of two new chords at Bordesley, east of Birmingham city centre, that will connect the Chiltern Main Line, which terminates at Birmingham Snow Hill, with the Camp Hill lines, which run towards the southwest and East Midlands.

  • the West Chord willconsist of improvements between Bordesley and Moor Street, allowing access to Birmingham Moor Street from South West and Wales, allowing additional trains towards Worcester, Hereford, Bristol and Cardiff, and
  • the East Chord willcreate an access to Birmingham Moor Street from the East Midlands, allowing direct access for trains from cities such as Leicester, Derby and Nottingham.

The project will also include station improvements, notably the redevelopment of Kings Norton, the reopening of platform 4 at Birmingham Snow Hill, along with track upgrades, additional passing loops, and signalling improvements.

“The Midlands Rail Hub will be transformational for economic growth, jobs and homes in the region, and it’s great to see this new alliance ready to deliver vital improvements that will deliver for passengers and freight,” says rail minister, Lord Peter Hendy.

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