More people say they would use trains if plans get go-ahead

MIDLANDERS have given a resounding thumbs up for quicker trains and more platforms across the West Midlands part of the hub plan.

Transport body Midlands Connect conducted a survey of nearly 10,000 residents in the West Midlands, Worcester, Hereford, and Leicester.

Nearly three quarters of Birmingham residents (73%) believed a more frequent Cross

City Line service from Redditch to Lichfield would encourage them to travel by rail.

Midlands Rail Hub is most likely to encourage people to take the train for leisure, a concert, or meet friends for lunch in Birmingham (76%), Leicester (77%), Hereford (82%) and Worcester (84%).

And over a third of residents believe that quicker journeys is the biggest benefit to them from the Midlands Rail Hub.

Commenting on the research, Maria Machancoses, chief executive of Midlands Connect said: “This mega-research shows massive and overwhelming support for the Midlands Rail Hub.

“It is at the heart of changing the region’s transport network.

“Some of our infrastructure is creaking and we need to build for the next generation.

“Everyone knows what it’s like to sit outside Birmingham New Street waiting for your train to pull in.

“That is because the station is gridlocked. Our plans will allow us to fix that.

“The Midlands Rail Hub will allow us to extend the full benefits from HS2 wider across the region and beyond, but also make sure our transport network is fit for purpose.

“Our region and passengers will benefit from this project for the next hundred years.

“All-in-all it will deliver better, quicker east-west connections and it will make a massive difference.

“This project will also create and safeguard 1,600 jobs, it is a nationally significant scheme.”

If approved by ministers, work would start in 2025.

The plans, as part of a transformative £1.5 billion package of improvements, will rejuvenate east-west connections throughout the Midlands.