Direct trains from Kemble to Birmingham could restart due to the Midlands Rail Hub

Kemble’s MP Dr Roz Savage discussed the Midlands Rail Hub with Midlands Connect and rail chiefs and how it could deliver up to 130 extra trains, per week, through Kemble.

The scheme could also deliver over 2m extra seats per year for passengers between Swindon and Birmingham via Kemble. This might be made a possibility by Midlands Rail Hub providing capacity for a new hourly Swindon to Birmingham service to operate. Midlands Rail Hub is a £1.75bn blueprint for faster, better and more frequent connections across the region.

The last time a direct service ran between these locations was the early 2000s, over 20 years ago, and since that time, people have had to change trains in Cheltenham or Gloucester. Reinstating a direct service between Swindon and Birmingham could be gamechanger for people making journeys by rail. This really chimes with evidence from Transport Focus which shows that people are attracted by direct rail services, reducing any worry about needing to make a connection.

The project will also deliver a jobs boost with more than 12,750 roles resulting from the scheme’s construction, with the first phase, now funded, providing major benefits for travellers in the West Midlands, South Wales and Southwest.

At the meeting at Kemble train station, Midlands Connect and MP Roz Savage were also joined by Cllr Joe Harris the Cabinet Member for Highways at Gloucestershire County Council, Great Western Railway and James White the Technical Lead for Western Gateway sub-national transport body.

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced she is funding the first phase of the rail upgrade in the spending review, which sets government budgets for the coming years. The scheme was also mentioned in the recent government 10-year infrastructure strategy.

At the end of August it was announced that the project had taken a major step forward to delivery, with identification of the preferred alliance partners including VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke, AtkinsRéalis, Siemens Mobility, and Network Rail.

Roz Savage, the Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds said:

"It was fantastic to meet the Midlands Rail Hub team at Kemble Station to discuss the potentially huge boost coming to our local rail services, including up to 130 extra trains a week. Transport links have long been a challenge for the South Cotswolds, so this investment is genuinely welcome news for residents, businesses and our wider local economy.

"The Midlands Rail Hub could make rail travel a far more convenient option for our rural communities. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Midlands Connect to ensure the South Cotswolds fully benefits from these improvements. Better rail connections mean better opportunities for our towns and villages."

Andy Clark, Rail Programme Lead at Midlands Connect said:

“It was great to meet Roz and brief her on the current plans and show her how our work will deliver real benefits for his area and his constituents.

“This would be a real boost for passengers. The Midlands Rail Hub is the flagship scheme of Midland’s Connect and it was great to see Roz and see how the ripples of this national project reach out beyond the Midlands.

“Residents, commuters and businesses in Kemble and Gloucestershire will see real benefits of more trains and more seats.”
Cllr Joe Harris, cabinet member for highways at Gloucestershire County Council, said:

"Restoring a direct rail service from Kemble would be a real gamechanger for people in the South Cotswolds. It means faster, more convenient journeys for residents, commuters and visitors, without the need to change trains at Cheltenham or Gloucester. This investment will make rail travel a more attractive option, helping to connect our communities, support local businesses and open up new opportunities for people across the county. Better connectivity is vital for Gloucestershire’s future, and the Midlands Rail Hub is a big step towards achieving that."