4.5 Rail

4.5.1

Plain English Version

More and more people are travelling to Birmingham by rail. We think the number of trips could have doubled by 2035.  This could mean longer trains or extra services. The redevelopment of New Street will make it much more pleasant for passengers arriving in the city.  Two tracks rather than one will improve the service to the airport whilst improvements to the Bordesley Chords will allow new services to access central Birmingham. However this may not be enough.

Original Document

The number of trips made by rail to and from Birmingham has increased notably in recent years. Growth could be heading for 100% by 2035. Additional services and longer trains will handle some of this growth and the New Street Gateway redevelopment will provide a better arrival experience. Improved rail frequencies will be provided to the Airport through double tracking and, in addition, improvements to the Bordesley Chords will allow new services to access central Birmingham. These improvements may not be able to handle all the predicted growth.

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4.5.2

Plain English Version

If there is a  chance of European High Speed Trains to Birmingham we should grab that with both hands. The Big City Plan should look much more closely at which tracks and stations would best serve this line. If this means making sure land is available in the right parts of the city we need to plan for this.

Original Document

The opportunity for European High Speed Trains to serve Birmingham should be firmly grasped. The Big City Plan should help influence the ultimate choice of route and station location for a future HST connection to the city centre, providing the opportunity for strengthened national and international rail connections in the future. Further work is required to understand what alignment the track would take, and requisite processes for safeguarding land requirements.

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