WMT Application To ORR (X-City 6tph)

[AJDesiro]

Mods please delete if I've posted this in the wrong section...
It appears that WMT have applied to the ORR proposing a return to 6pth on the Northern end of the Cross City Line. The additional services would operate as a shuttle from Birmingham to Four Oaks / Lichfield Trent Valley twice an hour, self contained from the remainder of the Cross City Line.

The application can be found here: https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-02/west-midlands-trains-limited-30th-sa-form-p.pdf

The 30th Supplemental Agreement seeks to amend West Midlands Trains’ Schedule 5 Tables in their Track Access Contract to include an additional quantum of 72 access rights.

West Midlands Trains are looking to reverse changes made to the North section of Cross City Timetable during the covid - 19 pandemic, as West Midlands Trains concludes the successful introduction of the Class 730 Electric Multiple Unit to the Bromsgrove/ Redditch to Lichfield Trent Valley route it now looks to make best use of the fleet.

With this in mind and the gradual increase in passenger numbers West Midlands Trains has carefully evaluated its options.

Whilst an increase in services across the whole Cross City route to 6 trains per hour (Split across destinations) is deemed as the desired option, West Midlands Trains believes the best approach at this time is an increase to 6 Trains per hour along the Northern section between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley.

Currently West Midlands Trains run 4 Trains per hour with the following hourly structure from Birmingham New Street.

*Highlighted in red are the aspirational slots we wish to see the additonal services take at New Street and Lichfield Trent valley / Four Oaks respectively so the full picture can be seen.

Northbound
• xx:06 Birmingham New Street – Lichfield Trent Valley xx:47
• xx:16 Birmingham New Street – Four Oaks xx:40
• xx:26 Birmingham New Street – Lichfield Trent Valley xx:13
• xx:36 Birmingham New Street – Lichfield Trent Valley xx:17
• xx:46 Birmingham New Street – Four Oaks xx:10
• xx:56 Birmingham New Street – Four Oaks xx:20

• Southbound
• xx:46 Four Oaks – Birmingham New Street xx:10
• xx:39 Lichfield Trent Valley – Birmingham New Street xx:20
• xx:49 Lichfield Trent Valley – Birmingham New Street xx:30
• xx:16 Four Oaks – Birmingham New Street xx:40
• xx:09 Lichfield Trent Valley – Birmingham New Street xx:50
• xx:36 Four Oaks – Birmingham New Street xx:00

Please note all proposed services will be formed of 2 x 3 – car class 730’s (6 car in total)

The additonal services will be isolated from the rest of the Cross City route and diagrams will work on a shuttle basis between Birmingham New Street and Four Oaks / Lichfield Trent Valley, this approach allows for the separation of risk between the core 4 Train per hour service and the 2 Train per hour uplift until such a time that the entire route is brought back to pre-covid quantum.

The isolation of the diagrams also allows for flexibility in regard to platforming at New Street given the changes in service patterns across all operators since the pandemic including the introduction of services along the Camp Hill Route.

Finally with the exception of Birmingham New Street to Proof House Junction the geography subject to the proposed uplift is seldom shared with other operators and thus it is natural that West Midlands Trains wishes it’s return to a metro style operation to make best use of the route capacity and the capacity of it’s new train fleet.

 

[matt]

I've been told that this application has been withdrawn.

 

[Liam L]

Self contained diagrams, the maths aren't adding up here.....

XX:06 New St - Lichfield (from Bromsgrove) - XX:47

which then forms one of the shuttles at XX:49 or am I being stupid?

 

[Halish Railway]

Self contained diagrams, the maths aren't adding up here.....

XX:06 New St - Lichfield (from Bromsgrove) - XX:47

which then forms one of the shuttles at XX:49 or am I being stupid?

Not at all, I and a few friends have tried to rack our heads around it but to no avail.

Having self contained diagrams seems like a very inefficient use of resources, especially as it looked like an ECS move would have to take place at Lichfield to move one of the extras out of the way of an inbound service from Redditch and then arrive back into Trent Valley after the regular train has departed for Bromsgrove.

Not surprising to see that the application was withdrawn then.

If it was my choice I’d bite the bullet and integrate all the diagrams, with an even 3tph to Lichfield Trent Valley and Four Oaks, alternating between terminating/originating from Bromsgrove, Redditch and Birmingham New Street.

 

[Liam L]

Not at all, I and a few friends have tried to rack our heads around it but to no avail.

Having self contained diagrams seems like a very inefficient use of resources, especially as it looked like an ECS move would have to take place at Lichfield to move one of the extras out of the way of an inbound service from Redditch and then arrive back into Trent Valley after the regular train has departed for Bromsgrove.

Not surprising to see that the application was withdrawn then.

If it was my choice I’d bite the bullet and integrate all the diagrams, with an even 3tph to Lichfield Trent Valley and Four Oaks, alternating between terminating/originating from Bromsgrove, Redditch and Birmingham New Street.

I'm surprised there wasn't a plan to turn atleast one service at Lichfield city like pre - COVID.

Having 10 minutes between two services at Lichfield Trent valley seems very overkill in my opinion.

Especially considering it will be 10/20/30 gap between services.