20-year rail plan to ease congestion on Birmingham's roads
Feb 27 2009 by Patrice John, Birmingham Post
A 20-year vision to move more than one million car drivers from road to rail has been unveiled by the region’s passenger transport authority.
The plans would see Moor Street station rival New Street as a commuter hub, new railway stations at Fort Parkway and Castle Bromwich and direct services from Moseley to Birmingham city centre.
The Centro project is to tackle congestion in Birmingham and see the region enter a new age of passenger transport.
Coun Tim Huxtable (Con, Bournville) who is part of Centro’s board and is leading the project, said it would deliver a “world-class public transport service” to the West Midlands.
Plans include new stations at Moseley, Kings Heath, and Hazelwell, increased frequency on the cross-city line from Birmingham to Redditch and greater access to and from Snow Hill station.
Coun Huxtable said: “We need to seek long-term ways of getting people out of cars to ease congestion and rail is a good way to do this.
“Rail traffic has increased by 43 per cent in the last ten years – and we have not even built a new station. Imagine what could happen if we could do the things we’re proposing? We are committed to delivering a world-class public transport service for the West Midlands.”
The plans detailed in the West Midlands Region Rail Development Plan will be finalised in mid-April.
A draft document outlines key work needed to boost the rail network, including city centre upgrades transforming Moor Street station into a major commuter station.
Coun Huxtable added: “We could see services from Moseley and Kings Heath which would ease congestion on major routes like the Pershore Road. These plans will take journeys from road to rail.”
Once finalised, the strategy will be presented to Network Rail who could provide the largest chunk of funding. Funding will also be sought from Advantage West Midlands and other agencies.
Peter Hughes, of passenger campaigning group Rail Future, said the plans were comprehensive but a regional park and ride strategy was also needed to ease congestion in towns and cities.
