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West Midlands Trains
DfT Operator Limited
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West Midlands Trains
nationalised
replaced
< West Midlands Trains
to be replaced by
(Great British Railways) >
start date
1 February 2026
end date
owned by
DfT Operator Limited
legal title
WM Trains Limited
description
There are two brands. One is West Midlands Railway for local services in the West Midlands. The other is London Northwestern Railway for main line services from London Euston to Northampton and Birmingham, and also for branch lines from Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey (the Abbey Line) and from Bletchley to Bedford (the Marston Vale Line).
The former franchise was to have ended in April 2026, but there was a possible extension of up to 26 reporting periods (two years).
The National Rail Contract which followed the periods of Emergency Measures on 19 September 2021 was terminated on 1 February 2026.
West Midlands Railway is managed jointly with the West Midlands Rail Executive through a Collaboration Agreement with the Department for Transport. This was renewed on 1 February 2026.
service area
Commuter and regional services (London Northwestern Railway): London Euston-Milton Keynes Central-Northampton-Rugby-Coventry-Birmingham New Street/Crewe-Liverpool Lime Street. West Midlands local services (West Midlands Railway). Local services Bletchley-Bedford; Watford Jn-St Albans Abbey
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