Press release -
Proposed state-of-the art train depot to bring over 100 new jobs to West Midlands
West Midlands Trains has released plans to build a clean, modern, state-of-the-art train depot.
The proposed development is an essential part of the company's £1 billion investment programme and will provide more trains for passengers in the West Midlands and across the network. The depot will also create more than 100 brand new jobs in the Sandwell area.
The investment will deliver a 25% increase in train capacity by 2021 and will help make travel easier and better across the West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway regions. This will mean more trains that will be and longer with better facilities onboard.
The current Bescot freight yard and maintenance depot in Wednesbury has been identified as the future home for West Midlands Trains’ new electric trains, which are now under construction in Derby.
The development is in no way connected with the Network Rail sleeper facility proposal, which has caused public concern and anxiety. West Midlands Trains will address community concerns regarding our development through local public engagement.
West Midlands Trains project director Jane Fisher said:
“Our new trains will bring a step change in local rail services and this state-of-the-art depot will bring over 100 new jobs to the local area.
“We know some local people may have concerns about the proposed developments at the Bescot site in Wednesbury, and we want them to come and share their views with us.
"We have already met with some members of the local community and we are committed to working with residents in Wednesbury to address any concerns they may have as we develop our plans and to have them as part of shaping the future of our local transport services.”
No decisions have been made, and West Midlands Trains is in the very early stages of preparing a planning application. All planning is subject to approval from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.
WMT is holding its first public meeting about the project on Wednesday 5 February 2020 at the Savoy and Mayfair Rooms, Walsall Football Club from 6.30–8:30pm. There is no need to book, just turn up. People are encouraged to come and share their views on this new development, which will help improve transport services.
Further information on the proposal can be found at www.wmr.uk/newtraindepot or www.lnr.uk/newtraindepot, you can get in touch by email to newdepot@wmtrains.co.uk or through social media via Facebook or Twitter.
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About West Midlands Trains
For further information on this release, call our press office on 03300 955150 or email press.office@wmtrains.co.uk
West Midlands Trains operates both West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services.
- London Northwestern Railway services operate between Liverpool and Birmingham, and on the West Coast mainline to and from London Euston.
- West Midlands Railway services operate to destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street.
For more information on these services visit westmidlandsrailway.co.uk or londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk
The West Midlands Trains franchise started on 10 December 2017 and will run until 2025/26.
West Midlands Trains operates 1,300 services a day, manages 150 stations and provides over 70 million passenger journeys a year. Over the course of the franchise, West Midlands Trains will be investing £1 billion into the rail network to deliver new trains, improved routes and station upgrades. This will include 400 new train carriages across the network and space for an extra 85,000 passengers into Birmingham and London at peak times.
The franchise is a joint venture between Abellio (70.1% share) and East Japan Railway Company / Mitsui & Co., Ltd (29.9% share in a 50:50 split). Abellio is the international passenger transport subsidiary of the Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen. In the UK, Abelllio operates ScotRail and Greater Anglia train services, Merseyrail services in a joint venture with Serco and buses through Abellio London. For more information visit www.abellio.com
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