The West Midlands Rail Executive has announced that they have partnered with new tour operator, Vintage Trains, to recognise the importance of heritage railways to the region.
This partnership will focus on the integration of franchise, community and heritage activities and develop and establish the Shakespeare Line and its stations, from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Moreover, the public can own a share in this development by subscribing tor shares in the Vintage Trains Community Benefit Society's offer which is available until 30th April.
WMRE has committed to support VT's express steam trains as a charitably controlled and publicly owned Train Operating Company.
VT will also be involved in the emerging plans for the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 where mainline steam will provide a wider sense of occasion around the time of the games.
VT and the WMRE recognise the value that mainline steam brings to the region and will collaborate in the following areas:
- Promotion of the region's rail network
- Attracting local, national and international tourists to the West Midlands
- Regenerating stations and keeping alive a unique historical experience for future generations
- Creation of apprenticeships and community volunteering opportunities for West Midlands businesses, Universities, Colleges and Young Rail professionals
- Preserving of skills in the maintenance of steam locomotion that would otherwise be lost
- Together with the West Midlands Trains depot (alongside VT's historic GWR steam depot), seek more local employment at Tyseley
What did the officials say?
Malcolm Holmes, Executive Director of WMRE said:
‘West Midlands Railways is creating a single network vision to deliver efficiency and growth in rail services across the region. Steam trains offer an exciting opportunity to add value to our network and play a crucial role in promoting our brand by expanding the role our railway plays in the community to encompass leisure and tourist activities.'
Michael Whitehouse, Chairman of Vintage Trains Charitable Trust and the Community Benefit Society said:
‘We are extremely proud to be working together with WMRE to help stimulate the West Midlands economy through the power of steam.
“We are world pioneers of mainline express steam trains. This partnership will secure the future for main line steam and, with the establishment of the Shakespeare Line as Britain's premier mainline heritage railway, together we place the region firmly on the global railway map.
“Join us as a shareholder in this unique venture'.
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Not a bad idea. A new open access operator in the West Midlands to run a heritage service from Birmingham Snow Hill or Moor Street to Stratford-upon-Avon.