The Redditch Tour Series Cycle Race returns to Worcestershire on May 9 for the eighth year and West Midlands Railway has been announced as official Travel Partner for the second year. Around 15,000 people are expected to turn out for the event which brings hundreds of elite cyclists to the town.
Work will start later this month to install new lifts, ramps and a footbridge at Stechford station to ensure step-free access across all three platforms for the first time. The £3.9m upgrade to make the station accessible for everyone will be complete for West Midlands Railway passengers by the end of 2019.
Passengers are being reminded of important changes to the ticket office at Longbridge station in Birmingham as the second phase of its £1.7 million refurbishment begins next week. The old booking office will be replaced by Spring, with a new fully accessible ticket counter making the station more user-friendly for everyone.
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.