A £1.75 billion project to upgrade the rail network in the Midlands will directly benefit Cheltenham commuters and leisure travellers, with an extra four trains set to run every hour between the town and Birmingham.
The Midlands Rail Hub project, which aims to expand rail services in the region and its surrounding areas to meet growing demand, would deliver around four million extra seats each year for passengers on the route between Cheltenham and Birmingham.
The upgrade would see an extra two trains running in each direction on the route every hour — equating to nearly 300 additional trains coming through Cheltenham every week.
The government-funded £1.75 billion project aims to create capacity for an extra 10 trains to run in and out of central Birmingham every hour, with improvements including upgraded track, faster trains and more signalling and passing places; along with extra paths to Birmingham Moor Street, connecting the region with the north and south via HS2.
The project will also deliver a jobs boost, with more than 12,750 roles expected to result from the scheme. Construction begins this year and is expected to be completed by 2033, when HS2 is also expected to be operational.
Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson met with representatives of Midlands Connect, the organisation leading the project; and West Midlands Rail Executive, the corporation that manages rail policy in the region, at Cheltenham Station to discuss what the project will mean for the town.
Midlands Connect told Max the project could deliver a 'massive' transport boost for the town with faster and more frequent trains.
Max said of the plans: 'Cheltenham’s rail connections are very important for our local economy. Improved links are vital for our town — primarily for business travellers, but also for leisure trips.
'Whether it’s to the Midlands, towards Bristol, the North or London, we’ll benefit from easier access to and from our town.
'I’m interested to hear more about the positive opportunities offered by the Midlands Rail Hub and other future improvements too.'
