West Midlands Trains

For other uses, see West Midlands Railway.
"London Northwestern Railway" redirects here. For the historical train company, see London and North Western Railway.''
West Midlands Trains (WMT) is a train operating company in the United Kingdom that operates passenger trains on the West Midlands franchise between London and stations in the English Midlands. It is owned by a consortium of three companies: Abellio, JR East and Mitsui.
West Midlands Trains took over the franchise on 10 December 2017 and operates trains under two distinct brand names, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway. It is planned that each brand will have their own unique livery applied. 
==History==
In April 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the shortlist of bidders for the West Midlands franchise, comprising the incumbent operator Govia, MTR Corporation, and West Midlands Trains; a consortium of Abellio (70%), JR East (15%) and Mitsui (15%).
The Invitation to Tender was issued in August 2016. In August 2017, the West Midlands Trains consortium was awarded the franchise. It took over from London Midland on 10 December 2017. The franchise is scheduled to run until March 2026.
==Management==
Unlike the previous London Midland franchise, which was solely accountable to the DfT, WMT will also be accountable for services that operate wholly within the West Midlands region to West Midlands Rail, a group of 16 local authorities. However the DfT will still need to approve any changes West Midlands Rail wish to make until the franchise is relet, by which time West Midlands Rail will award the future franchise for services wholly with the West Midlands region.
==Branding==
WMT services are split into two businesses which operate under two distinct sub-brands. Longer-distance train services running on the West Coast Main Line, including those running to/from London Euston, and operate under the London Northwestern brand. This name was chosen in tribute to the former London & North Western Railway (LNWR), the company that operated services on the route until 1923. Branding of trains and associated publicity use a green colour scheme with a logo composed of the letters N and W.
Services running in Birmingham and the West Midlands region — previously operated by under the London Midland City brand — are operated by WMT under the West Midlands Railway brand. These services bear an orange and grey colour scheme and are branded with a hexagonal "WM" monogram. WMT have chosen to operate these services as a distinct business unit in order to facilitate a possible future devolution of these services from the national DfT to the West Midlands Combined Authority.
==Services==
===London Northwestern Railway===
WMT's medium- and long-distance services along the West Coast main line rail corridor are operated under the London Northwestern Railway brand. These services include:
* suburban and regional services out of London Euston
* services between Birmingham and Liverpool
* services on the rural Abbey line and Marston Vale line that branch off the West Coast main line
As of December 2017, the typical off-peak weekday London Northwestern Railway services, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), include:
Mainline 	Mainline 	Mainline
Route 	tph 	Calling at
to 	2 	(1 tph), , , , , , ,
London Euston to 	1 	Watford Junction, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring, , ,
London Euston to 	3 	1 tph Watford Junction, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley, Milton Keynes Central, , , , , , , , , , , Note: In the northbound direction this service is timetabled as two separate services, terminating/originating at Northampton.
London Euston to 	3 	1 tph Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley, Milton Keynes Central, Wolverton, Northampton, Long Buckby, Rugby, Coventry, Tile Hill, Hampton-in-Arden, Birmingham International, Marston Green
London Euston to 	3 	1 tph Watford Junction, Milton Keynes Central, Northampton, Long Buckby, Rugby, Coventry, Canley, Tile Hill, Berkswell, Birmingham International, Marston Green, ,
London Euston to 	1 	Milton Keynes Central, Rugby, , , (limited service), , , , , , , ,
Birmingham New Street to	2 	1 tph , , , Stafford, Crewe, (southbound only), (southbound only), ,
Birmingham New Street to	2 	1 tph , Wolverhampton, Penkridge (southbound only), Stafford, Crewe, Winsford (northbound only), Hartford, (limited service), Runcorn, Liverpool South Parkway
Branch lines 	Branch lines	Branch lines
to 	– 	, , , , Park StreetIrregular service; approximately every 45 minutes.
to 	1 	, , , , , , , , ,
===West Midlands Railway===
In the West Midlands region, WMT's train services are operated under the West Midlands Railway brand. These services include:
* suburban services centred around Birmingham
* some regional services between Birmingham and Shrewsbury/Hereford
* the Coventry to Nuneaton branch line
Services on the short Stourbridge Town branch line are run by the independent operator Pre Metro Operations, who operate services on behalf of WMT under the West Midlands Railway brand name.
As of December 2017, the typical off-peak weekday West Midlands Railway services, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), include:
Birmingham regional 	Birmingham regional	Birmingham regional
Route 	tph 	Calling at
to 	1 	, , , , , , , , ,
Birmingham New Street to 	1 	, , , , , , ,
Cross City line 	Cross City line 	Cross City line
Route 	tph 	Calling at
to (and ) 	2 	, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 tph extended to Redditch calling at and
Lichfield City to Longbridge (and Redditch) 	2 	Blake Street, Butlers Lane, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, Chester Road, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Aston, Birmingham New Street, Five Ways, University, Selly Oak, Bournville, Kings Norton, Northfield1 tph extended to Redditch calling at Barnt Green and Alvechurch
Four Oaks to Longbridge (and Redditch) 	2 	Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, Chester Road, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Aston, , Birmingham New Street, Five Ways, University, Selly Oak, Bournville, Kings Norton, Northfield1 tph extended to Redditch calling at Barnt Green and Alvechurch
Chase line 	Chase line 	Chase line
Route 	tph 	Calling at
to via Aston 	2 	, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
to Birmingham New Street 	1 	, , , , , , Walsall, Tame Bridge Parkway
Walsall to Birmingham New Street 	1 	Tame Bridge Parkway
to Birmingham New Street 	1 	, ,
Snow Hill lines 	Snow Hill lines 	Snow Hill lines
Route 	tph 	Calling at
to via Dorridge 	1 	, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Dorridge to 	1 	Widney Manor, Solihull, Olton, Acocks Green, Birmingham Moor Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, Jewellery Quarter, The Hawthorns, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Rowley Regis, Cradley Heath, Stourbridge Junction, ,
Dorridge to or 	1 	Widney Manor, Solihull, Olton, Acocks Green, , , Birmingham Moor Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, Jewellery Quarter, The Hawthorns, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Rowley Regis, Cradley Heath, Stourbridge Junction, Kidderminster, , Most trains run to Worcester Shrub Hill, then reverse to continue to Foregate Street. Some irregular off-peak trains either terminate at Shrub Hill or run through to Foregate Street, avoiding Shrub Hill.
Stratford-upon-Avon to Stourbridge Junction via Whitlocks End 	1 	, , , , , , , , , , , , , , Birmingham Moor Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, Jewellery Quarter, The Hawthorns, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Langley Green, Rowley Regis, Old Hill, Cradley Heath, Lye
Whitlocks End to Kidderminster 	1 	Shirley, Yardley Wood, Hall Green, Spring Road, Birmingham Moor Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, Jewellery Quarter, The Hawthorns, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Rowley Regis, Cradley Heath, Stourbridge Junction, Hagley, Blakedown
Whitlocks End to Worcester Shrub Hill or Worcester Foregate Street	1 	Shirley, Yardley Wood, Hall Green, Spring Road, Tyseley, Small Heath, (limited service), Birmingham Moor Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, Jewellery Quarter, The Hawthorns, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Rowley Regis, Cradley Heath, Stourbridge Junction, Hagley, Kidderminster, Droitwich SpaMost trains run to Worcester Shrub Hill, then reverse to continue to Foregate Street. Some irregular off-peak trains either terminate at Shrub Hill or run through to Foregate Street, avoiding Shrub Hill.
Branch lines 	Branch lines 	Branch lines
Route 	tph 	Calling at
to 	6 	
to 	1 	, ,
==Future Services==
==Rolling Stock==
===Current fleet===
===Future fleet===
==See also==
==External links==
Category:East Japan Railway Company
Category:Mitsui
Category:Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Category:Railway companies established in 2017
Category:Railway operators in London
Category:Train operating companies
Category:2017 establishments in England