London Northwestern brand to replace London Midland’s West Coast services

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West Midlands Trains' livery. Photo: Abellio.
West Midlands Trains' livery. Photo: Abellio.
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Abellio, East Japan Railway (JRE) and Mitsui have announced that the London Northwestern brand is to replace London Midland’s West Coast services – a nod to the London and Northwestern Railway.

All the remaining London Midland services, which operate in and around Birmingham, will be rebranded to West Midlands Railway, a West Midlands Combined Authority brand which was announced last year.

The introduction of two new, separate, railway brands is to enable potential devolution of West Midlands Rail to the West Midlands Combined Authority.


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A photo of a London Northwestern train. Credit: Abellio.
A photo of a London Northwestern train. Credit: Abellio.

London Northwestern would remain under the remit of the Department for Transport for future retender.

Abellio UK managing director Dominic Booth said: “We are delighted to bring the London Northwestern brand to a whole new generation of passengers, and it seems apt during a time of record investment into the railways.

“This is all part of the £1bn of improvements we are delivering to the network over the coming years.”

London and Northwestern Railway used to be one of Britain’s largest railways and was the predecessor to the current West Coast Main Line.

The next West Midlands franchise starts on December 10.


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