A long-awaited reconnection between Swindon and Birmingham could soon become reality, as Swindon North MP Will Stone met with Midlands Connect and senior rail stakeholders to discuss the transformative potential of the Midlands Rail Hub.
The meeting, held at Swindon station, brought together key figures including Councillor Chris Watts, Cabinet Member for Transport; Councillor Fay Howard, Mayor of Swindon; Tom Lydon, Head of Public Affairs at Great Western Railway; and Adam King, Head of Policy and Partnerships at England’s Economic Heartland.
The Midlands Rail Hub, a £1.75 billion infrastructure programme, could enable up to 130 additional weekly services between Swindon and Birmingham, reinstating a direct link that has been absent for over two decades. The last direct service between the two towns ceased in the early 2000s, forcing passengers to change at Cheltenham, Gloucester, or Reading.
The proposed hourly service would not only simplify journeys but also deliver over 2 million extra seats annually, benefiting passengers travelling via Stroud and Stonehouse. This aligns with findings from Transport Focus, which highlight the strong public preference for direct rail services that eliminate the stress of transfers.
Swindon North MP Will Stone said:
“It’s fantastic that Swindon could be benefiting from the Midlands Rail Hub expansion.”
“We’re a town built on connection via the railways, and so it’s great to see Swindon getting an hourly service between a fellow industrial town like Birmingham. This connection will improve access for residents across the country, with two million extra seats available for passengers passing along the railway between Swindon and Birmingham each year, forging stronger links between businesses and communities. Innovative projects like the Midlands Rail Hub prove that investments in our railways, fully funded by the Chancellor, are transformative for communities, bringing new jobs and skills to areas across the country.”
The scheme is expected to generate over 12,750 jobs in its first phase, with benefits extending across the West Midlands, South Wales, and the South West. Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed funding for the initial phase in the recent spending review, and the project was also featured in the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy.
Councillor Chris Watts, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, added:
“Improving our connectivity is a key part of our efforts to grow our increasingly buoyant economy and a direct rail link to Birmingham with the potential for an extra 130 trains a week will be a big boost for our town.
Our proximity to the Midlands and position along the Thames Valley M4 corridor is why so many companies have chosen Swindon as their home, creating thousands of jobs and investing millions of pounds in the Borough, while people are drawn to live here due to our affordable house prices and the beautiful neighbouring countryside in Wiltshire and the Cotswolds.”
The project recently reached a major milestone with the announcement of preferred alliance partners, including VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke, AtkinsRéalis, Siemens Mobility, and Network Rail.
Andy Clark, Rail Programme Lead at Midlands Connect, commented:
“It was great to meet Will and brief him on the current plans and show him how our work will deliver real benefits for Swindon and his constituents. Swindon could be one of the real winners of the Midlands Rail Hub project.
This would be a real boost for passengers. The Midlands Rail Hub is the flagship scheme of Midlands Connect and it was great to see Will and see how the ripples of this national project reach out beyond the Midlands.
Residents, commuters and businesses in Swindon could see real benefits of more trains and more seats.”
Image credit: Midlands Connect
