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First passenger train in 80 years runs on Camp Hill Line

For the first time in 80 years, a former railway line in south Birmingham today (March 16^th) moved closer to reopening.

Trains have not run along the Camp Hill line since 1941 but plans, orchestrated by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, are in place to open the line again with new stations at Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell.

On Monday morning a train carrying the Mayor, West Midlands Railway’s customer experience director Jonny Wiseman and other representatives from across the rail industry, travelled along the line.

The train followed the route of what would be the re-opened line, stopping at the Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell sites before arriving into Kings Norton, and later returning to Birmingham New Street.

The test run of the train was to see how mew passenger services on the Camp Hill line would operate.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: ““I am delighted we are pressing ahead with plans to reopen the Camp Hill line to passengers, and it was great to be on the first passenger train to travel on the line in nearly 80 years.

“This line, which also represents another step forward in my 20-year transport plan for the West Midlands, will provide residents in South Birmingham with easier and faster connections to get to the places they need to go, whilst also offering people a real alternative to the car – helping to ease congestion and improve the air we breathe.”

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director for WMR, who will be responsible for running services on the Camp Hill line, said: “This is an exciting and visionary plan to transform local train services for our customers in the south of Birmingham. We are working closely with WMRE, Network Rail and the Mayor in order to turn this vision into reality.

“Passengers set to benefit from the quicker route along the Camp Hill line can also look forward to travelling on the brand-new train fleet we are introducing as part of our £1billion investment into the rail network.”

Image: West Midlands Railway