Provide your feedback on the new electric train stabling siding plans.
Our smart new electric trains will soon be joining the network, and when they do, we’ll need somewhere to keep them overnight and give them a good clean.
We’ve identified what we think is the perfect place for this; at Bescot in the West Midlands.
As we finalise our plans, we’ll be keeping this web page up to date with the latest developments, including how local people can stay informed and have their say.
The history
This proposal involves the redevelopment of the existing Bescot Freight Yard site in Sandwell.
The site is currently operated by DB Cargo and houses a diesel freight train depot. It has been an important site for the railway for well over a century.
In 2019, Network Rail proposed to build a sleeper factory on the site. This project has since been discontinued and is entirely unconnected to these proposals.
The plans
If approved, the facility would be used for light maintenance and cleaning of West Midlands Trains’ (operator of West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway ) new electric train fleet. Trains would be housed at the site overnight before beginning their day’s work.
The proposal involves the construction of a single-storey accommodation block, a carriage wash machine for external cleaning and redevelopment of the existing sidings. It is a smaller scheme than the depot which had been previously suggested for the site.
New signalling systems and overhead wiring equipment would also be installed on the railway as part of the development.
The vast majority of proposed works would take place on existing railway land, such as remodelling track layouts.
Next steps
As of July 2022, no planning application has been submitted for the proposals while we continue to speak to the local community.
We’ll be holding a number of public information events where you can ask questions and stay up to date – check back to this page for the latest information.
Have your say
If you’d like to give us feedback on our proposals, simply fill in this form.