International station ‘should be renamed Airport and NEC’
BIRMINGHAM International train station should be renamed ‘Birmingham Airport & NEC’ to reflect its importance to the region, claim transport chiefs.
The proposal is one of several outlined in a response to the Government’s consultation on the InterCity West Coast franchise – the line which runs services from London to Scotland via Birmingham.
West Midlands Rail (WMR), which will oversee rail transport in the region from next year, also wants to see an inter-city hub for the Black Country.
WMR chairman Councillor Mark Winnington said: “Renaming the station would increase its profile as an interchange for the airport and the National Exhibition Centre which are two key assets of the regional economy.
“It is part of a package of our aspirations to improve late night and early morning services there.
“The station is of major strategic importance and needs to be mod- ernised to meet the needs of all users and to be ready for the arrival of HS2.”
He said the new authority also wanted better recognition of the importance of Sandwell & Dudley station as an inter-city hub for the Black Country.
“This requires station modernisa- tion, better facilities, and consideration of how other modes of transport can better integrate with the railway,” he added.
“Addressing these issues and enhancing the opportunity for modal interchange would see Sandwell & Dudley move towards realising its potential as a significant regional inter-city hub.”
Other responses from include:
Opposition to any reduction stopping patterns at stations;
Stations receiving inter-city services during the day should have the last train stop there at night to ensure passengers had more choices and to support the evening economy in the region;
Minimum service levels need to be specified to prevent passengers losing out to decisions taken purely WMR of on a commercial basis by the operator, such as services to Shrewsbury and Telford Central; Clearer and simpler ticketing. WMR is a consortium of 14 local authorities from across the region which will be responsible, in partnership with the Government, for overseeing local rail services once the new local franchise starts in 2017.
The consultation sought the views of groups including passengers, communities, businesses, rail groups, councils and local enterprise partnerships along the route.
The West Coast franchise is currently run by Virgin Trains, which operates long-distance high-speed services between London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
It is due to end in April 2018.