JAMES ABBOTT TAKES A TOUR AROUND THE CONURBATION IN THE COMPANY OF WEST MIDLANDS RAIL EXECUTIVE’S TOBY RACKLIFF
Birmingham is a railway success story. The mid 20th century image of the motor city, criss-crossed by new roads and where the local railways had little relevance, is outdated. In its place has come a thriving 21st century city centre, with a skyline punctuated by tower cranes erecting the office blocks that developers hope will capitalise on the connectivity posited by HS2. As employment opportunities in central Birmingham have blossomed, patronage on local rail services has soared.
‘We’re the only UK city region outside London where rail is the dominant mode for commuting to the city centre – in Birmingham, rail has more than a third of the market’ says Malcolm Holmes, Executive Director with oversight body the West Midlands Rail Executive. ‘We’ve got a prosperous city centre economy with strong population growth, traffic congestion has affected rival modes and the jobs market has shifted from local factory-based employment to office work in the city centre – which suits rail well.’
Recent rail developments have included electrification of the Chase line from Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley…
