Will Stone, Labour MP for Swindon North, has been discussing plans to restore direct train services between the town and Birmingham for the first time in two decades.

Stone held a meeting at Swindon station, at which he discussed the plans with representatives of Midlands Rail Hub and Midlands Connect. They discussed the potential provision of up to 130 extra trains per week from Swindon to Birmingham.

Also attending the meeting were Councillor Chris Watts, Cabinet Member for Transport; Councillor Fay Howard, Mayor of Swindon; Tom Lydon, Head of Public Affairs at Great Western Railway; and Adam King, Head of Policy and Partnerships from England’s Economic Heartland.

The scheme includes providing more than two million extra seats per year for passengers between Swindon and Birmingham via Stroud and Stonehouse. To make this possible, Midlands Rail Hub would need to provide capacity for a new hourly service from Swindon to Birmingham to operate.

The last time that direct services ran between Swindon and Birmingham was in the early 2000s. Since then, passengers have had to change trains at Cheltenham, Gloucester or Reading.

Midlands Connect describes the possible reinstatement of a direct service between Swindon and Birmingham as a “gamechanger” for rail passengers. It points out that evidence from Transport Focus shows that people like direct rail services, as they reduce worries about having to make a connection.

It also points out that the project will boost jobs in the area. It expects that more than 12,750 roles will result from the Midlands Rail Hub’s first phase, which will primarily benefit passengers in the West Midlands, South Wales and the Southwest.

Midlands Rail Hub’s stated aim is to create a blueprint for faster, better and more frequent connections across the Midlands region. It is being funded to the tune of £1.75bn.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review included an announcement of funding for the first phase of the upgrade. The government’s recent ten-year infrastructure strategy also mentioned the scheme.

In late August, the project announced its preferred alliance partners, a move which it sees as “a major step forward to delivery”. The organisations named included VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke, AtkinsRéalis, Siemens Mobility and Network Rail.

“It’s fantastic that Swindon could be benefiting from the Midlands Rail hub expansion. We’re a town built on connection via the railways, and so it’s great to see Swindon getting an hourly service between a fellow industrial town like Birmingham. This connection will improve access for residents across the country, with two million extra seats available for passengers passing along the railway between Swindon and Birmingham each year, forging stronger links between businesses and communities. Innovative projects like the Midlands Rail hub prove that investments in our railways, fully funded by the Chancellor, are transformative for communities, bringing new jobs and skills to areas across the country.”

Will Stone, Member of Parliament for Swindon North