Midlands Rail Hub: 2 Million Seats, 13,000 Jobs

Midlands Rail Hub project boosts Birmingham-Leicester rail travel, adding 2 million annual seats and 13,000 jobs.

Midlands Rail Hub: 2 Million Seats, 13,000 Jobs
September 23, 2025 11:55 am
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Introduction

Midlands Connect and Warwickshire County Council met with Network Rail, West Midlands Trains, CrossCountry, and the West Midlands Rail Executive to discuss the Midlands Rail Hub project, which will introduce two additional Birmingham to Leicester trains each hour for passengers at Coleshill Parkway, resulting in an extra 2 million seats annually.

Project Overview

The Midlands Rail Hub project will increase the number of seats on trains passing through Coleshill Parkway by 2 million each year. The project aims to make rail travel more attractive and improve access to education, employment, and leisure opportunities for Warwickshire residents.

Economic Impact

The Midlands Rail Hub program is projected to create over 13,000 jobs in the supply chain, along with more than 300 apprenticeships.

Timeline and Funding

Construction for the project is scheduled to take place from 2025 to 2033, supported by Government investment.

Stakeholder Perspectives

Paul Butters, Director of Communications at Midlands Connect, highlighted the benefits of faster and more frequent services between Coleshill, Leicester, and Birmingham. Cllr Jennifer Warren, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning at Warwickshire County Council, emphasized the importance of securing funding to fully implement the Midlands Rail Hub scheme, particularly for services connecting Birmingham, Coleshill Parkway, Nuneaton, and Leicester.

Last June 2025, we covered Renfe’s impressive new Aranjuez maintenance hub, which is boosting Cercanías efficiency with a major €69M investment. Click here to read – Future of Rail: Renfe’s Railway Technology Hub, Aranjuez: Essential Guide

Conclusion

The Midlands Rail Hub project, co-sponsored by Midlands Connect, the Department for Transport, and West Midlands Rail Executive, aims to enhance rail services in the Midlands, focusing on increased capacity and improved connectivity.

Company Summary

Midlands Connect: A transport partnership focused on improving transport infrastructure in the Midlands.

Warwickshire County Council: A local government body responsible for providing services and managing infrastructure within Warwickshire.

Network Rail: The owner and infrastructure manager of most of the railway network in Great Britain.

West Midlands Trains: A train operating company providing services in the West Midlands.

CrossCountry: A train operating company running services across the UK.

West Midlands Rail Executive: An organization involved in the development and management of rail services in the West Midlands.

Department for Transport: The UK government department responsible for transport.

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