Plans are today unveiled for the new passenger rail stations on the Walsall to Wolverhampton rail line. These are the latest images of the proposed Darlaston and Willenhall Stations currently being developed by regional rail chiefs.
Trains on the Cross City line are currently undergoing a major overhaul, to improve the experience for passengers on the line. The trains are having a fully accessible toilet fitted, along with upgraded passenger information screens, new seat covers and a deep clean of the interior.
A busy railway station on the Shakespeare line is getting an upgrade. Project partners Network Rail, West Midlands Railway and Warwickshire County Council are working to give Stratford-upon-Avon station a range of upgrades. These include new waiting and seating areas, improved retail facilities, accessible toilets, and bicycle racks.
Passengers at Worcester Foregate Street are invited to share their views on plans for the redevelopment of the station. West Midlands Railway is investing over £1m into upgrading the concourse area and improving customer facilities.
Local Scout groups, animal charities and social groups tackling loneliness in their communities are among those already nominated as the region’s Cross City Heroes. The campaign has also seen entries highlighting a local charity which supports neonatal units and a group working with their local library.
London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway have committed to making rail travel more accessible for those with dementia. Through a year long partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, the train operators will be taking steps to make stations and trains more dementia friendly. The charity will also be educating frontline staff around best practice in helping those with the condition.
48 penalty fares have been issued to ticketless travellers at Wolverhampton station this afternoon (5 Feb). Revenue protection and security managers from West Midlands Railway were checking tickets as passengers made their way in and out of the station, whilst supporting a knife arch exercise taking place at the same time.
A new compact community library has opened for passengers at Berkswell station. The initiative has been launched by station adopters from The Berkswell Society, who hope to engage with travellers and create a warm welcome for commuters.
A special display at Wellington station will be sharing a message of love with rail passengers this Valentine’s day. The local Women’s Institute (WI) are working with The Climate Coalition for their annual 'Show the Love' project. This year’s initiative will be based on the platforms at Wellington station from Monday (11 Feb) onwards.
As part of a six-month residency in Chelmsley Wood, artist Chris Alton is co-producing a contemporary take on a ‘Mystery Play’ to be performed in Spring 2019. Alton will work with local residents to explore story telling through a series of creative writing, performance, set and costume making workshops from January-April 2019.
Railway station volunteers from across the country will be recognised at a special awards ceremony in Shropshire, later this year. The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) ‘Community Rail Awards’ dinner will be hosted at The International Centre in Telford, on 3 October 2019. West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway will be headline sponsors at this year's event.
Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, has been praising the work of railway station volunteers across the region. He recently met with a group of local station adopters at Stechford, to learn about their work and encourage more groups to get involved in their local area.
