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Economic Development

Call for West Midlands' new trains to stay in the region after nationalisation

West Midlands Trains set to return to public control in February

Pictured in 2022 with West Midlands Railway's new Class 196 train named after Charles Darwin were West Midlands Railway managing director Ian McConnell (left) with then West Midlands Mayor Andy Street

Calls have been made to ensure trains bought to specifically to serve the West Midlands are kept in the region when the service is nationalised.

Earlier this year, the Government announced West Midlands Trains would be brought back under public control from February 1 next year

But, at a West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) Transport Delivery and Overview Scrutiny Committee meeting, members were told there were concerns new trains allocated to the region could be lost.

Birmingham Conservative group leader Robert Alden raised the issue, flagging up concerns from the transport member engagement group he chairs.

He said: "With the ending of the West Midlands Trains contract, all the local trains now go to the national government company.

"There is obviously a risk, although not any indication this is going to happen at the moment, that those new trains we had in the West Midlands over the last year could actually end up being used on train lines elsewhere in the country."

He asked committee chair Tim Huxtable to raise the issue with the Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker to 'ensure that we see those brand new trains' stay here.

Councillor Huxtable said: "Those of us who are also directors of West Midlands Rail Executive can raise that at the next meeting."