3. Connectivity and accessibility of Birmingham
Connected Birmingham: Heart of the Rail Network – Past, Present and Future
Birmingham has always been the best connected UK regional city, at the heart of the national road, canal, rail, motorway and new high speed rail networks.
Birmingham has direct trains services to:
- all three capital cities in Great Britain including up to 8 trains per hour to London
- all Russell Group Universities (apart from Belfast) » all five Network Rail Regions
Looking at Birmingham rail links to the UK’s 20 largest cities, it is clear that Birmingham provides unrivalled direct rail connectivity, and no other city has so many direct rail services to other UK cities. Pre-covid, Birmingham New Street was the 5th busiest passenger station in the UK and the only station in the top 10 outside of London. The advent of HS2 will only further cement Birmingham’s credentials as the best-connected city in the UK.
A diverse, inclusive and accessible location for GBR HQ
All three of the sites put forward have been constructed or fully refurbished within the last 10 years and are therefore fully compliant with the Equalities Act (2010), as mandated by Building Regulations in force at the time of their respective constructions/refurbishments.
All three benefit from:
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Step-free access routes from Birmingham’s three City Centre rail stations
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West Midlands Metro step-free door-to-door connectivity between Birmingham New Street and 5 Centenary Square
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Located within, or in extremely close proximity (500m) to Birmingham’s primary rail and bus transport interchanges
- 2 in 5 Birmingham residents were non-white (2011 census), the highest in the UK’s top 10 cities.
- 23.4% of existing civil service employment
- in the West Midlands is ethnic minority comfortably the highest of any region outside the capital.
The WMCA and partners have a long track record of successful partnership working, following our robust governance and decision-making processes. These have been developed and strengthened following the agreement of our two devolution deals, and during delivery of our £8 billion 30-year Investment Programme and Transforming Cities Fund – including expansion of the West Midlands Metro extensions, our first Sprint Bus Rapid Transit route, and new rail stations at Perry Barr and University. These interventions are investing in growth opportunities for our economy, improving access to jobs and training and improving productivity for the region.
The WMCA and Birmingham City Council are already trusted partners of national government in the delivery of major international events and associated economic development legacy programmes. To coincide with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, WMCA has been appointed as the accountable body by DCMS, to deliver the Birmingham 2022 Business & Tourism Programme, the official national economic legacy programme of the games.