Under Midlands Rail Hub plans, Worcester could receive 140 extra trains per week for residents, businesses and commuters, providing around 4 million extra seats per year, writes Lydia Gee.
MP, Tom Collins, joined Midland Connect and rail chiefs to hear how these plans could ‘deliver a massive transport boost for the city’. As part of the Worcester Rail Hub, the area would see two extra trains every hour in each direction – one from Worcester Foregate Street to Birmingham and the other from Worcestershire Parkway to Birmingham.
Last year, the previous Government committed to a ‘full’ delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub.
Mr Collins said: “Getting Worcester’s transport working and making it easy for people to travel around the country is really important to me – and rail is absolutely central to getting this right.
“There’s still much more to do and I’m working to further develop our rail connections within the city and down to Oxford and London.”
In February of this year, £123m was allocated towards the project and construction is expected to run from 2025 to 2033.
12,750 roles are expected to result from the project creating a jobs boost.
Dr Scott Andrews, Vice President of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce said: “This represents exciting opportunities for businesses across the region looking to attract and retain talent as well as providing greater access for more than 10,000 students who travel to the City each week.”
Midlands Connect aims to research, develop and champion long-term transport projects to provide biggest possible economic, social and environmental benefits for the Midlands and the rest of the UK.
Over the last few weeks, a series of Labour MPs have all backed the improvements for the Midland’s Rail Hub and will deliver to their constituencies.
Services will also improve to Worcestershire Parkway as part of the Midlands Rail Hub project.
