172339 at Birmingham Moor Street in new West Midlands Railway colours
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Overview | |||||
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Franchise(s) | West Midlands 10 December 2017 – March 2026 |
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Main region(s) |
West Midlands Greater London |
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Other region(s) |
North West East Midlands |
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Stations called at | 178 | ||||
Stations operated | 146 | ||||
Route km operated | 867.4 | ||||
National Rail abbreviation | LM | ||||
Parent company |
Abellio (70%) JR East (15%) Mitsui (15%) |
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Website | www |
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Overview | |||||
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National Rail abbreviation | LN | ||||
Website | londonnorthwesternrailway |
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National Rail abbreviation | WM | ||||
Website | westmidlandsrailway |
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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.
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%). In July 2016, MTR Corporation withdrew from the bidding process.
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.
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.
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, Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe 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.