The West Midlands Railway have announced the opening of three new railway stations in South Birmingham to passengers from 7 April, marking the return of rail services to the Camp Hill Line after more than 80 years.

Moseley Village, Kings Heath, and Pineapple Road (Stirchley) now provide direct connections to Birmingham city centre, linking with Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton.

Operated by West Midlands Railway, the line is served by Class 196 diesel trains, introduced in 2022. Services run every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday, with an hourly timetable on Sundays. The first train to serve the stations was the 6:27 am departure from Birmingham New Street to Kings Norton.

The Camp Hill Line originally closed in 1941 during the Second World War due to coal shortages. Its reopening follows a construction programme delivered by VolkerFitzpatrick, led by Transport for West Midlands in partnership with regional and national rail stakeholders, including Network Rail, Birmingham City Council and the Department for Transport.

Each station has been built on the site of its historical predecessor and includes modern facilities such as sheltered platforms, step-free access via lifts, passenger help points and secure cycle storage. Moseley Village and Pineapple Road also feature dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas.

“We are so excited to officially open these transformative new stations in South Birmingham, bringing rail services back to local communities for the first time in 80 years.

“With services as fast as ten minutes from Moseley to New Street, we know this will be a real gamechanger for local residents, whether they’re commuting, visiting family and friends, or travelling for leisure. We are delighted to welcome passengers on board from today.”

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director for WMR.

“These vibrant neighbourhoods of Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley have waited 85 years for a direct rail link to the heart of Birmingham – today, that has changed.

“Restoring passenger services to the Camp Hill line isn’t just about shorter journey times. It’s about easing congestion on our roads, cutting carbon emissions and opening up new economic opportunities across the region.”

Sandeep Shingadia, executive director of Transport for West Midlands.