BROMSGROVE and Barnt Green train stations could benefit from an ambitious £1.5bn Midlands wide rail scheme.

Midlands Rail Hub is an ambitious £1.5bn rail scheme set to improve rail travel across the whole of the Midlands.

Under the scheme, Bromsgrove would see an additional train per hour to Birmingham Moor Street and Hereford, as well as the capacity for an additional Cross City service to Birmingham New Street and beyond.

Barnt Green would also benefit from an additional Cross City service to and from Redditch, which the Midlands Rail Hub provides capacity for.

These enhancements would be achieved through a package of improvements between Kings Norton and Barnt Green that includes the extension and upgrade of the current freight loop lines, infill electrification and an improved junction at Barnt Green.

In addition, major new infrastructure is required in and around Birmingham City Centre.

When Bromsgrove MP, Sajid Javid was Chancellor he granted £20m to Midlands Connect to fund the Outline Business Case.

He said: “I was delighted to meet with representatives from Midlands Connect to discuss their Midlands Rail Hub project.

“As Chancellor in 2019, I committed the Conservative Party to support this scheme and I look forward to seeing the fantastic benefits that it will bring to Bromsgrove district upon completion”.

Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect, said: “The full delivery of Midlands Rail Hub will provide the region with more than 14 million more seats on the rail network each year and provide faster, more frequent or new rail links to key locations including Bromsgrove and Barnt Green, so it is fantastic that we have the support of the local MP.”

Last year Midlands Connect submitted an Outline Business Case for the Midlands Rail Hub to the government, asking for funding to develop a Full Business Case and get building works started by 2025.