New faster train from Shrewsbury to Birmingham starts this week - this is the schedule
Train times on a key line linking Shropshire and the Black Country change this weekend.
West Midlands Railway (WMR) is introducing a new timetable along the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton and Birmingham corridor, with its service going up to two trains per hour from Monday to Saturday.
Until now it has run an hourly service, stopping at all stations between Shropshire's county town and Wolverhampton, with Transport for Wales (TfW) offering a faster train.
However, from Monday, WMR is introducing a second 'semi-fast' service that stops at fewer stations - only Wellington, Telford Central and Shifnal - compared to its current train, while the other service is detoured via Tame Bridge Parkway on its way between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street.
WMR says the diversion is ahead of new stations at Willenhall and Darlaston being opened in late 2025.
The train operator admits that journey times between the Black Country and Oakengates, Cosford, Albrighton, Codsall and Bilbrook will be longer, as that train is diverted along the new, less direct route between Wolverhampton and Birmingham. These stations will also lose their direct regular connection with Smethwick Galton Bridge.
