Major delay to opening of city’s new train line – full list of stations …

The opening of Birmingham’s Camp Hill line ^[1] has been delayed by a YEAR in an announcement made today, June 27. It means the city’s three new railway stations at Moseley,^[2] Kings Heath and Stirchley will not be opening as scheduled at the end of 2023.

The brand new railway stations coming to Moseley, Kings Heath ^[3] and Stirchley are set to restore passenger services in South Birmingham- which closed down during the Second World War. But transport bosses explained today that supply chain and cost concerns and the suspension of construction work for engineering means that although the majority of construction work will be finished early next year, they are targeting an opening date by the end of 2024.

Contractors have been working round the clock on the £61 million project and even issued a noise warning ^[4] to residents in the spring as work ramped up on construction of the stations. Much of the structural work to prepare the site for building has now been completed at Kings Heath and Pineapple Road and the platforms are taking shape, but a series of challenges on site -including an unstable wall, a historic well, and a protected species has created the year’s delay, in a blow to travellers.

What is the Camp Hill line project?

The Camp Hill line closed down during the Second World War and has been used mainly for freight transport. The £61 million project is a major development in the city that will link the three suburbs(Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley) to Birmingham city centre ^[6] and, from there, to the national rail network.

Plans to reopen the line to passengers were first announced over a decade ago, but after various delays, the scheme was eventually shelved ^[7] in 2012. But last year, work began to get the long-promised project going.

Residents living in Moseley have spoken of difficulty in accessing the city centre, either opting for the local bus service into Moor Street or using their cars. The estimated journey time from the new Moseley station to Birmingham New Street is eight minutes – saving between seven and 21 minutes for commuters who usually travel by car.

The project is being carried out in partnership with Birmingham Council, Network Rail, West Midlands Railway and Department for Transport.

Work continues on the Moseley Village train station along the Camp Hill line in South Birmingham. Pictured June 2023 (Image: Martin O’Callaghan / BirminghamLive)

Why is the Camp Hill line opening delayed?

Transport chiefs said today that contractors have met a series of challenges on site -including an unstable wall, a historic well, and a protected species. The wall borders a locally listed building at Pineapple Road meaning it needs to be rebuilt brick by brick, whilst the previously undocumented Victorian well at the Kings Heath site, linked to the historic Highbury Hall, has meant a redesign of the area.

Meanwhile, over in Moseley, the protected species discovered can only be moved at certain times of the year. We last reported that spades were well into the ground to get the line open in time for its deadline of the end of 2023. These challenges – on top of the ongoing supply chain and inflationary concerns and the suspension of construction work for critical engineering work has caused the delays.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “After more than 70 years without a train service, people in Kings Heath, Moseley, and Stirchley can see the progress that is being made – the ground has been strengthened, platforms and stations are taking shape, and we have already carried out timetable testing runs on the line.

“It is of course disappointing that it will take a little longer than we previously planned to get the line open, but with our contractors and partners we are working tirelessly to look at options to reduce that timescale and bring the benefits of the Camp Hill line as soon as possible.

“Once open people will have the option of swapping their journey along the busy Alcester Road for a convenient and quick train ride, and the city will enjoy the benefits of the Camp Hill line train services for generations to come.”

When will the Camp Hill line open to passengers?

West Midlands Combined Authority said that although the majority of construction work will be finished early next year, contractors are now targeting an opening date by the end of 2024, which is a year later than first set out. However bosses have said work is ongoing to see if that can be bettered.

Moseley Village, Kings Heath, and Pineapple Road stations will provide faster, more reliable transport, reducing congestion and pollution. Each station will have 2 platforms, lifts, ticket machines, information screens, and secure bike parking.

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References

^{^} Birmingham’s Camp Hill line (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} at Moseley, (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} Kings Heath (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} a noise warning (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} Workers discover ancient well and wall at Birmingham’s new railway station sites (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} Birmingham city centre (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} shelved (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} here (data.reachplc.com)