Mayor confirms Camp Hill line stations are on track following Kings Heath site visit

Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, today (Thursday April 3) visited the construction site of the new Kings Heath Railway Station which is set to see the return of passenger services for the first time in more than 80 years.

Construction work is also ongoing at the new Moseley Village and Pineapple Road stations on the Camp Hill line which was closed to passenger trains during the Second World War.

At Kings Heath two platforms and lift shafts are in place ready for the arrival of a passenger footbridge later in the Spring. A pedestrian crossing is also being installed on the road outside.

Construction work is also underway on platforms and infrastructure at Moseley Village and Pineapple Road with completion expected by the end of this year, ready for passenger services.

The project is led by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE), in partnership with Birmingham City Council, the Department of Transport, Network Rail and West Midlands Trains.

The Mayor, who was joined on the visit by Matt Powell of Kings Heath Business Improvement District, met representatives of the rail partners and contractor VolkerFitzpatrick to discuss progress and confirm construction is on track.

Last summer the Mayor and the WMCA Board confirmed additional funding for the project to make sure the line would open.

The Mayor said: “I know how much the community want to see these stations reopened and I am reassured by our partners and contractors that we are making good progress towards completing construction.

“This will make a huge difference to the people living here, giving them access to fast and reliable journeys that avoid traffic congestion on the Alcester Road – making it easier to get to work, college or enjoy a day out.

“They will also bring people into the area and that will support local businesses, creating jobs and helping local high streets to thrive and grow. Investment in public transport is a key part of my plan to make the West Midlands the best place to live, work and do business.”

The new station will provide a reliable and affordable alternative to the car for residents on the route contributing to a reduction in traffic and pollution.

Matt Powell, manager of the Kings Heath Business Improvement District, said: “Kings Heath has got so much going for it. It's a great place to live, to work in or run a business, and to visit, and our busy, vibrant high street is right at the centre of that.

“This is why we are so excited that the railway station is opening again after 80 years. Not only will it mean more people on the high street walking to and from it, but it'll make it easier for people to get here, opening up even more opportunities for our businesses and residents.”

Passenger services ran on the Camp Hill line for more than a century and it was one of the oldest lines in the West Midlands having opened as part of the Birmingham and Gloucester railway in 1840. But the stations closed during 1941 and since then, the line has been used only by freight and non-stop through-services.

Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “These three stations will improve access to the railway, and all its benefits, to many new communities in south Birmingham. Direct trains to the city centre will make a huge difference to local people, providing a regular and reliable green travel option and reducing congestion on local roads. We will continue to support all our partners to open them as soon as possible.”

Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “The new stations on the Camp Hill line will make a real difference to communities in south Birmingham and we are looking forward to running the service. The line is set to transform public transport in the city, offering a fast, regular and direct service connecting Stirchley, Kings Heath and Moseley with Birmingham city centre.”

The construction project has had to overcome several challenges since work started including a protected badgers sett at Moseley Village, which had to be sensitively relocated, a Victorian well at Kings Heath and a historic wall which needed re-building and restoring next to Pineapple Road in Stirchley. They have also worked alongside an active railway line with through trains running all day.