Midlands Connect has announced major plans to ‘future-proof’ its railways and roads, including developing a rail and motorway hub, upgrading the A46 and rolling out smart ticketing.
The sub-national transport body (STB) released a report this month announcing new transport improvements, one of which is the flagship Midlands Rail Hub.
The ambitious plan is said to support £649m of economic growth and investment annually by ‘enabling faster and more frequent journeys across the Midlands and spreading easy access to HS2 services’.
Midlands Connect said there was a 'compelling, economic case' for direct HS2 services running between Leicester and Leeds, as well as allowing 1.6m more people to reach the Midland’s biggest cities and towns in an hour ‘bringing the east and west closer together’.
Malcolm Holmes, executive director, West Midlands Rail Executive commented: ‘These Rail Hub plans are essential to releasing the extra capacity the Midlands railway network needs to support this region, its businesses and its commuters.’
In its report, Midlands Connect stated: ‘By 2040, the Rail Hub could create space for 6 million more journeys a year and shift the equivalent of 4,300 lorries a day from the roads’
Midlands Connect principal areas of focus are:
- New track and passing places (e.g. the construction of two chords at Bordesley)
- Longer and restored platforms (e.g. reinstating the fourth platform at Snow Hill station, remodelling Kings Norton and Water Orton, two more platforms and stabling facilities at Moor Street)
- Improved junctions and signalling
- Some minor electrification
Next steps:
- Develop the case for investment in 24 extra trains per hour
- Work with the West Midlands Rail Executive and other partners on best allocation of train paths
- Further development of East-West rail corridor studies
- Detailed investigation into the costs and benefits of increasing capacity between Thames Valley and East Midlands to improve connections to Birmingham Airport
- Investigating the options for crossing the West Coast Main Line (WCML) to enable direct services between Coventry and Leicester
Roads
Midlands Connect has also collaborated with Highways England on a Midlands Motorway Hub study to solve congestion and unreliable journey times on the M5, M6, M6 Toll and M42 network. The STB is also working on a ‘long-term strategy’ for upgrading the A46.
The report stated that the company is ‘working with Highways England, local enterprise partnerships and authorities to identify key pinch points for upgrading the A46 to expressway standard (up to two or three lanes with grade-separated junctions)’.
In a survey, two thirds of firms based within 10 miles of the A46 said improvements to the road would allow them to create new jobs, and 81% said it would directly benefit their business.
Midlands Connect is also pressing for:
- an upgrade to the A46 around Newark to be prioritised for completion by 2025
- the development a business case for upgrades to the the A46 from the M40 to Syston
- a strategic study for making the A46 an expressway between the M5 and M40
Its report makes 10 recommendations for the regional road network:
- Improving digital information and signage to encourage use of M6 Toll.
- Identifying opportunities for strategic Park and Ride schemes.
- Looking at how improved connectivity to the west of Birmingham could stimulate economic growth and facilitate house building.
- Widening the M42 from Junction 3A to Junction 7.
- Creating an A46 Expressway as an alternative to journeys along the M5 and M42.
- Trialing HGV platooning on the Midlands motorway network.
- Further future-proofing enhancements to M42 Junction 6.
- Targeted improvements to M6 Junctions 2, 3 and 4.
- Ramp metering (installing traffic lights) on M5 at Junction 1 and Junction 2.
- Upgrading the M6 to smart motorway between the M1 and Junction 2.
Smart ticketing
The report also looks forward to smart ticketing, stating Midlands Connect is working with the Department for Transport, local authorities and transport operators so that people in the Midlands can use a contactless travel cards, bank cards and mobile phones to travel, irrespective of the different modes of transport and operators may choose.
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