London Midland facts for kids
London Midland was a company that ran trains in the United Kingdom. It operated on over 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) of railway tracks. The company served 146 different train stations. During its time, it carried many millions of passengers each year.
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About London Midland
London Midland was a train operating company in the UK. It started running trains in November 2007. The company was owned by two groups: Go-Ahead Group and Keolis. They worked together to provide train services.
Where London Midland Operated
London Midland mainly ran trains in the West Midlands area of England. They also had routes connecting to London and the North West England. This meant they helped people travel for work, school, and fun across a large part of central England.
Key Routes and Services
London Midland operated several important train lines. These included local services around cities like Birmingham and Coventry. They also ran longer-distance trains, such as those from London Euston to Birmingham New Street. These services were important for daily commuters and people traveling between major cities.
The End of London Midland
London Midland stopped running trains in December 2017. After this, a new company called West Midlands Trains took over the services. This is common in the UK railway system, where different companies win contracts to operate train lines for a certain number of years.
Trains Used by London Midland
London Midland used different types of trains to carry passengers. These trains were chosen to suit the various routes they operated, from busy city lines to longer journeys.
Types of Trains
The company used modern trains to make sure passengers had a comfortable journey. For example, they used Class 170 trains for some routes. These trains are known for being reliable and efficient. They also used Class 139 railcars for shorter, local lines like the one to Stourbridge Town. Newer Class 172 trains were also brought in to improve services.
Images for kids
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A Class 170 train at Gloucester railway station.
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This chart shows how many passengers traveled on the West Midlands franchise from 2010 to 2019.
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Two London Midland trains at Stourbridge Junction. On the left is a Class 139, and on the right is a Class 172.
