The number of hourly trains between Lichfield and Birmingham could double to pre-pandemic levels under plans for an upgrade to railways in the Midlands, which could see an additional five million seats on a major inter-city line.
As part of the Midlands Rail Hub – which will be delivered in phases from 2028 onwards – six trains per hour could run through the core of the Cross City Line, with four per hour starting at Lichfield Trent Valley and two per hour starting at Four Oaks.
Rail services between Lichfield and Birmingham have halved since before the pandemic, with just two per hour currently running.
New analysis from Midlands Connect suggests that an upgraded Cross City Line – which runs from Lichfield to Redditch and Bromsgrove via Birmingham New Street – will deliver five million extra seats every year.
Last year, the previous Government committed to ‘full’ delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub, and in February this year Daily Focus reported that an additional £123 million had been allocated towards the project, to progress the detailed engineering designs. The £1.75 billion programme is expected to create more than 12,750 roles.
Lichfield MP Dave Robertson backed the boost to services for his constituency when he met with representatives from Midlands Connect to discuss the project.
He said: “I support the Midlands Rail Hub and will be working with Richard Parker, mayor of the West Midlands, and West Midlands Trains to deliver more services between Lichfield and Birmingham.
“From speaking to constituents, I know the Cross City Line is incredibly busy. This line had a four trains per hour service before the pandemic, but now there are just two per hour.
“This makes it more difficult for people in Lichfield, Burntwood and the villages to travel to Birmingham and means trains can be overcrowded and uncomfortable at peak times.
“In order to get more people on the network we need to provide a better service for them and that’s what I’m pushing for.”
Paul Butters, Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications at Midlands Connect added: “It was great to meet with Dave and speak to him about our work and our flagship project the Midlands Rail Hub. We outlined to Dave how the scheme could benefit Lichfield and improve local services for residents and commuters.
“We are delighted that he is supporting the Midlands Rail Hub and hearing how five million extra seats on the Cross City Line could deliver better and more frequent services.”
