Lichfield will be getting more trains connecting the city to Birmingham it was confirmed today, as part of the Midlands Rail Hub – a huge upgrade to rail infrastructure across the region.

Currently, just two trains per hour run on the Cross City Line between Lichfield and Birmingham. That’s down from four before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dave Robertson, MP for Lichfield, Burntwood and the villages, has been campaigning to boost the number of trains on the line since he was elected last July.

Reacting to today’s news, Dave said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the Chancellor is funding Midlands Rail Hub. This is a massive upgrade that is going to mean more trains and better rail connections across the Midlands and beyond.

“This is great news for people in Lichfield, Burntwood and the villages. The Cross City Line, which links Lichfield to Birmingham, is the busiest commuter line outside of London. But since the pandemic, we’ve had just two trains an hour, down from four.

“Midlands Rail Hub is going to free up capacity and help us get more trains back on that line – commuters in my constituency know they’re sorely needed.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the news in today’s Spending Review, which sets out how public money will be spent over the next three to four years.

“[This is] the region's biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme for generations, strengthening connections from Birmingham across the West Midlands, and into Wales too.” 

Midlands Rail Hub will boost growth across the region by connecting businesses, increasing capacity for rail freight and providing employment opportunities. The scheme will create 13,000 high-quality jobs in construction, project management and engineering – including hundreds of apprenticeships.