What West Midlands Rail Executive does

West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) is a public-sector consortium of 16 West Midlands local authorities that co-manages the regional rail franchise with the UK Department for Transport. Established in September 2014 and formally incorporated in December 2015 as West Midlands Rail Ltd, it is the first body outside London and Merseyside to hold locally devolved control over rail services. Its core function is franchise co-management — most recently the West Midlands Trains franchise operated by a joint venture of Abellio, East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui & Co Ltd from December 2017 until those services returned to public ownership in January 2026 — alongside strategic rail planning, station development, and community engagement.

WMRE's principal products are the West Midlands Rail Programme (a multi-station infrastructure programme delivering new and redeveloped stations including Camp Hill Line stations, Willenhall and Darlaston, University, Perry Barr and Aldridge) and the 30-year West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy. Underlying technology is conventional rail infrastructure: new Class 196 diesel rolling stock, modern accessible stations with lifts, ticket machines, cycle parking and free Wi-Fi, and timetable/frequency standards (the so-called 6-4-2 trains-per-hour minimum). Construction is delivered through contractors such as VolkerFitzpatrick and Kier, with Network Rail as the infrastructure owner and operator.

The business model is not commercial: WMRE has no revenue line, is publicly funded through DfT grants (e.g., £126m for the five-station programme, £5m for Midlands Rail Hub development) and contributions from its 16 constituent local authorities channelled via the West Midlands Combined Authority. It delivers value through programme management, governance of the Grand Railway Collaboration and West Midlands Stations Alliance partnerships, and oversight of franchise performance metrics including peak-hour capacity (20,000 extra seats), service frequency, delay compensation (25% for delays over 15 minutes), and station facility standards. Its primary customer segment is West Midlands rail passengers — commuters, students accessing the University of Birmingham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and leisure travellers across Birmingham, the Black Country and wider region.

Name

West Midlands Rail Executive

Legal name

West Midlands Rail

Website

https://wmre.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

West Midlands Rail Executive is a public-sector consortium of 16 local authorities that co-manages the regional rail franchise with the Department for Transport and delivers the West Midlands Rail Programme of new and redeveloped stations for West Midlands rail passengers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Rail Transport Management

NAICS

Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Rail Transit Authorities & Public Transport Agencies (THAIABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rail Infrastructure Authorities (Track, Stations, Grade Crossings) (BPAIALAG)

Keywords

• Rail transport management
• Station development
• Rail infrastructure
• Public rail services
• Regional rail planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

West Midlands Rail Executive is a public sector consortium of 16 local authorities that co-manages the West Midlands railway franchise with the Department for Transport. The organization delivers strategic rail planning, station development programmes (including the £185 million five-station construction project), franchise oversight, and community rail partnerships to improve rail connectivity and services across the West Midlands region.

Product overview

West Midlands Rail Executive is a consortium of 16 local authorities that co-manages the West Midlands Railway franchise with the Department for Transport. The organization operates as a rail executive body overseeing strategic rail planning, station development projects (including the West Midlands Rail Programme with multiple new stations), community rail initiatives, and regional railway collaboration partnerships. The core offering is programme management and governance of rail services and infrastructure across the West Midlands region, delivered through strategic partnerships with Network Rail, West Midlands Railway, and local authorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• West Midlands Rail Programme A major infrastructure programme managing the construction and redevelopment of new railway stations across the West Midlands region, including Camp Hill Line stations, Willenhall and Darlaston stations, University Station, Perry Barr station, and Aldridge station for rail passengers and local communities.
• West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy A 30-year strategic plan approved in January 2019 that outlines rail service improvements, new stations, network development, and integration with HS2 for the West Midlands region, serving policymakers and local authorities.
• Willenhall and Darlaston Stations Two new railway stations on the Walsall to Wolverhampton line that reopened in March 2026, restoring passenger services to Willenhall and Darlaston communities for the first time since 1965.
• Camp Hill Line Stations (Moseley Village, Kings Heath, Pineapple Road) Three new stations on the Camp Hill Line in Birmingham that opened in April 2026, restoring passenger rail services to Moseley Village, Kings Heath, and Pineapple Road for the first time since 1941.
• University Station Birmingham Major redevelopment of University Station in Birmingham serving 3.5 million passengers annually, completed in 2024 with two new station buildings, two footbridges, lifts, and modern accessibility facilities for University of Birmingham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital users.
• Perry Barr Station and Bus Interchange Redevelopment of Perry Barr railway station as part of £500 million regeneration programme, featuring a new station building, improved accessibility lifts, CCTV, accessible toilets, covered waiting areas, and an integrated bus interchange.
• Aldridge Station A new station planned on the Walsall to Wolverhampton rail line as part of the West Midlands Rail Programme, serving the Aldridge community with passenger rail services.
• Wolverhampton Railway Station Redevelopment Phase one redevelopment of City of Wolverhampton railway station as part of a £150 million transport hub development delivering new station facilities for passengers in Wolverhampton.

Quantifiable outcome

• Five new stations reconnecting communities after decades of no rail service
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• West Midlands Grand Railway CollaborationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched in 2019, the GRC is a partnership between all organisations involved in rail in the West Midlands including train operators (Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, GWR, West Midlands Trains), Network Rail, Transport Focus, Transport for Wales, and WMRE. Chaired by Alex Warner, it provides governance structure for the regional rail network and focuses on improving passenger experience, timetable integration, and post-pandemic recovery.
• West Midlands Stations AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership working to improve stations in the region through collaboration with Network Rail, West Midlands Railway, and community groups. Focuses on the 'Stations as Places' approach to make stations welcoming community hubs, including station prospectuses, refurbishment schemes (e.g., Cannock station), and community station partnerships.
• Transport for West Midlands (TfWM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTfWM, part of West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is the lead delivery partner for rail projects including the £185m five-station construction programme. WMRE works closely with TfWM on all major rail initiatives and the West Midlands Rail Programme.
• Network RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfrastructure owner and manager working with WMRE on station developments, track and signalling upgrades, and network enhancement projects including electrification and the Midlands Rail Hub.
• West Midlands RailwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrain operator for West Midlands local services, operating Class 196 diesel trains on routes including the Shrewsbury Line and Camp Hill Line. Joint venture between Abellio, East Japan Railway Company, and Mitsui & Co Ltd.
• Department for TransportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department that co-manages the West Midlands rail franchise with WMRE. Provides funding for station projects (£126m for five new stations), the New Stations Fund, and Midlands Rail Hub development (£5m).
• West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined authority of 14 local authorities that WMRE is partnered with. WMCA is the data controller for personal data for West Midlands Rail. Provides strategic direction and funding through HS2 Connectivity Fund.
• Chiltern RailwaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership renewed in 2018 focusing on 117 delivery targets over three years including Swift smartcard rollout, ticket vending machines, station design improvements, and cross-regional connectivity between Birmingham Snow Hill and London Marylebone.
• Virgin TrainsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement signed for sustainable transport initiatives including cycle hubs at key stations, match-day passenger support with football clubs and British Transport Police, and improved signage and passenger information.
• Worcestershire Community Rail PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRP covering 18 stations in Worcestershire including Great Malvern, Worcester stations, Droitwich Spa, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove and Pershore. Focuses on community engagement, station gardens, and promoting rail travel.
• Heart of England Community Rail PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity rail partnership that WMRE is a member of, working to promote community rail and engage local communities with their local railway stations.
• Birmingham City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Birmingham station projects including Camp Hill Line stations and University Station redevelopment. Provides planning permissions and local strategic alignment.
• Walsall CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Willenhall and Darlaston stations in the Black Country. Supports regeneration of the Walsall to Wolverhampton corridor.
• City of Wolverhampton CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Wolverhampton Railway Station interchange redevelopment and Willenhall station project. Part of Wolverhampton Interchange Partnership.
• VolkerFitzpatrickminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor that built Camp Hill Line stations (Moseley Village, Kings Heath, Pineapple Road) and University Station redevelopment.
• KierminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor that built Willenhall and Darlaston stations as part of the £185m five-station project.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Transport for West Midlands (TfWM): Sister public-sector body within the West Midlands Combined Authority, responsible for overall local transport policy and delivery including integration with rail. Directly comparable as the lead delivery partner for WMRE's station programme and the broader West Midlands transport authority.
• Transport Scotland: Scottish Government directorate responsible for transport policy, including oversight of ScotRail. Comparable as a devolved-administration transport body that manages rail franchise/specification outcomes at sub-national level — analogous to WMRE's role within the West Midlands.
• Transport for Greater Manchester: Combined-authority transport body that owns and operates Metrolink tram services and oversees rail devolution in Greater Manchester. Structurally analogous to WMRE: a sub-national public body responsible for local transport strategy and rail franchise influence within a metropolitan region.
• Transport for the North: Sub-national transport body covering northern England that produces strategic transport plans and represents local authorities on rail investment. Comparable to WMRE as another UK region pursuing strategic rail planning and devolved investment influence.
• Merseyrail: Locally managed Merseyside rail network jointly overseen by Merseytravel and Serco/Abellio — cited alongside WMRE as one of only two regions outside London with locally managed rail. Closest structural analogue in the UK to WMRE's devolved rail governance model.

Emerging players

• Midlands Connect: Sub-national transport partnership covering the East and West Midlands, focused on strategic road and rail investment priorities including the Midlands Rail Hub. Comparable as a peer Midlands transport-planning body with overlapping scope on regional rail schemes.

Broad incumbents

• Network Rail: Owner and operator of Great Britain's rail infrastructure. WMRE is a strategic partner of Network Rail on every station and infrastructure project; comparable as a UK rail body but at national rather than regional scale and with operational (not just planning) responsibility.
• Transport for London: The largest UK integrated transport authority, operating London Overground, Elizabeth Line, Underground and buses. Comparable as the leading example of sub-national rail devolution in the UK — WMRE's franchise model is explicitly benchmarked against TfL.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/westmidsrail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-midlands-rail

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about West Midlands Rail Executive