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Economic Development

West Midlands Trains plans new depot as crunch deadline looms

Rail operator says Black Country site will store new electric trains currently being built as it faces deadline imposed by mayor over service improvements

(Image: West Midlands Railway)

Rail operator West Midlands Trains has unveiled plans to build a new depot for electric trains in the Black Country which could create up to 100 new jobs.

The news comes in the same week it faces a deadline imposed by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street to improve what he called the company's "woeful" service following a string of negative headlines about delays.

West Midlands Trains' proposed development is part of the company's £1 billion investment programme which it promised when it was awarded the nine-year 'West Midlands' franchise in 2017.

The proposed depot will deliver a 25 per cent increase in train capacity by 2021 and make travel easier and better across its network of routes, according to the company.

The current Bescot freight yard and maintenance depot in Wednesbury has been identified as the future home for West Midlands Trains' new electric trains which are being built in Derby now.

This new development is not connected with Network Rail's proposed sleeper facility, also in Bescot.

West Midlands Trains runs the franchise under two brands, West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway, and its routes include the key Cross City commuter line between Redditch and Lichfield via New Street station.