Midlands Engine APPG meeting leads to renewed backing for Midlands Rail Hub in parliament

Yesterday (8^th February) the Midlands Engine All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) met to discuss the Midlands Rail Hub.

Chaired by Midlands Engine APPG Co-Chairs Jane Hunt MP and Lord Ravensdale, the session led to a renewed call of support for the hub from the MPs and Lords present.

The meeting also offered further insight for parliamentarians across both houses and parties on the £2bn proposals.

Midlands Engine’s transport arm, Midlands Connect, presented on the proposals for the hub and set out the massive economic and levelling up benefits that increased rail capacity, speed and improved east-west connectivity could bring to our region.

The rail hub plans currently look to build 15 pieces of new and improved infrastructure to enable 24 extra passenger trains every hour on the regional network, reduce journey times, make space to shift 4,320 lorries’ worth of freight from the road to the railway every day and level up the region’s economy by bringing the East and West Midlands closer together.

An investment decision from the Government on the first phase of the plans is expected in Spring of this year, with the project ready to commence in stages from then.