West Midlands Railway has been awarded a special recognition for supporting this year’s British Transplant Games. The train operator provided free travel for over 2500 competitors and other visitors during the event, which took place at venues across Birmingham from Thursday 2 until Sunday 5 August.
Birmingham’s famous Frankfurt Christmas market opens this week and passengers travelling by train are advised to plan ahead allow extra time for their journeys. West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway are advising customers to prepare for trains and stations to be busier than usual, by allowing plenty of time and planning their journey options before heading out.
The overhead power lines on the railway between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley are now live as work continues to introduce electric trains on the route. Network Rail is electrifying the railway as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan to provide passengers with better, more reliable journeys
West Midlands Railway and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) are partnering on an initiative to offer train and theatre tickets for under £20. The new Rush Tickets will be available for shows in Stratford-upon-Avon, with a return ticket to Birmingham Snow Hill coming in at a combined price of under £20 per person.
Rail passengers are being encouraged to look out for those around them, in the latest Samaritan’s campaign to reduce suicide on the railway. Small Talk Saves Lives is a joint partnership between Network Rail, Samaritans, the British Transport Police and the wider rail industry, including train operators.
As part of an open day being held at Kidderminster Station today (Tuesday 6 November), a new artist's impression on how the station will look as been revealed by Worcestershire County Council and partners. The new image shows the improved forecourt and Comberton Hill layouts and also shows how the new glazed, station building will look once completed.
Rail passengers at Longbridge are being advised to allow more time and plan ahead, as work begins on the £1.7 million refurbishment programme at the station. Passengers will benefit from upgraded facilities, which are being delivered by Network Rail and funded by Birmingham City Council.
An open day is being held at Kidderminster station ahead of major redevelopment works starting. Partners in the project, including Worcestershire County Council and West Midlands Railway, will be hosting the event on Tuesday 6 November.
Vivarail has informed London Northwestern Railway that there will be a delay in delivering the Class 230 units for the Marston Vale line. Due to technical issues with the first train the knock-on effect means the three will not be ready in time.
Rail users on the line between London Euston and Birmingham New Street are being advised to allow extra time for this evening’s commute. All lines were blocked for over three hours between Coventry and Northampton earlier today while emergency services dealt with an incident near the railway.
West Midlands Railway has announced it will be staffing some of its automatic station gatelines from first to last train each day from 31 October. The train operator says this is part of a drive to improve customer service, provide additional reassurance to passengers and reduce tickles travel on the rail network.
Due to overhead line problem, local stopping trains between Bromsgrove/Redditch and Birmingham are currently suspended until mid-evening today