Bromsgrove Station is marking its tenth anniversary this month, celebrating a decade of improved rail services, better connectivity and investment in Worcestershire’s transport network.
Opened in July 2016, the station was delivered through a partnership between Worcestershire County Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority, Network Rail and the Department for Transport.
The project provided a modern, accessible station with expanded parking, longer platforms and the capacity needed to accommodate growing demand and improved rail services.
The investment transformed rail travel in Bromsgrove. What was once served by just one train per hour is now connected by regular West Midlands Railway services on the Cross-City Line to Birmingham and Lichfield and the Birmingham to Hereford route, giving passengers more travel options and better access to key destinations across the region
The station was delivered through an innovative funding arrangement developed by Worcestershire County Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority, Network Rail and the Department for Transport, with support from rail specialist advisers SLC. The approach enabled the construction of the new station alongside the electrification of the railway, allowing more train services to call at Bromsgrove and improving connections to destinations across the region.
Ian Walters, Managing Director for SLC, said: “Bromsgrove Station is a great example of what can be achieved when organisations work together to find innovative solutions to complex challenges. We were proud to support the development and delivery of a project that has transformed connectivity for Bromsgrove and continues to deliver benefits for passengers, businesses and the wider economy ten years on. Seeing the station thriving today is a testament to the vision, commitment and partnership that made the scheme possible.”
Over the past decade, the station has become a vital part of Worcestershire’s transport network, helping residents access employment, education and leisure opportunities while supporting economic growth across the county.
The station has also become an important transport hub, with the launch of the Worcestershire on Demand bus service in 2021 strengthening links between rail and local bus services, making it easier for people to complete their journeys using public transport.
Councillor Tom Wells, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “Bromsgrove Station is one of Worcestershire’s great transport success stories and its tenth anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate everything it has achieved. For the past decade, the station has provided residents with better facilities, more frequent services and stronger connections across the region. This project showed what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared ambition, and we’re proud of the lasting benefits it continues to deliver for local communities today.”
Passenger numbers have continued to grow since the station opened, with approximately 858,000 passenger journeys recorded in the last year alone. The station is now served by regular Cross-City Line services and trains between Birmingham and Hereford, providing significantly greater capacity and connectivity than was available prior to its redevelopment.
Jonny Wiseman, Customer Experience Director for West Midlands Railway, said: “We are delighted to celebrate ten years since Bromsgrove’s relaunch. A decade on, the site is still delivering better access to rail services for local residents. The spacious platforms, ticket office and café have hugely improved the customer experience at Bromsgrove, and we are pleased to see how passenger numbers for the station have grown over the years.”
Councillor Adam Kent, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Finance, Corporate Services and Business, added: “We’ve gone from a situation where we had one train per hour and poor transport links into the major towns around Bromsgrove, to celebrating what is a real success story at Bromsgrove Train Station. It’s also indicative of the wider investment we’ve seen across Worcestershire, including Worcestershire Parkway and other stations. I’m delighted to see the station thriving, with strong passenger use and a busy car park. It also brings back memories of launching the Worcestershire on-demand bus service from here, building on the improvements already made to the station. Together, these investments are part of our integrated transport approach for Worcestershire, and I’m delighted to be celebrating this success today.”
