Who we are
West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) is a not-for-profit company. We are owned by local authorities in the region. This means we are democratically run and accountable to elected representatives. We act on behalf of people in the region.
We work with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and other organisations. Our role is to:
- specify and manage the West Midlands Railway train service contract
- upgrade train stations and build new ones on behalf of Transport for West Midlands and other partners
- support improvements for passenger and freight train services
- plan future network improvements in the region
We want to maximise the benefits of the rail network for local communities. The railways give people access to:
- jobs
- healthcare
- education
- retail
- leisure
- a greener alternative to the car
Our strategy
We work closely with Network Rail, the Department for Transport and Midlands Connect. Together we plan improvements to the region’s rail network. Our West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy sets out what we want the future railway to look like.
Our partnerships
We do not operate stations or run the trains.
The train operators the West Midlands region are:
- West Midlands Railway
- London Northwestern Railway
- CrossCountry Trains
- Avanti West Coast
- Chiltern Railways
- Transport for Wales
- Great Western Railway
Network Rail owns most of the stations in the region and operates Birmingham New St Station. Individual train operators manage the other West Midlands area stations.
We are part of the West Midlands Grand Railway Collaboration. This is a partnership between all organisations involved in rail in the region. We work together to make sure passengers get a consistent experience.
We also work to improve station facilities. We do this through the West Midlands Stations Alliance with:
- Network Rail
- West Midlands Railway
- local authorities and Transport for West Midlands
- community groups
We also work with local authorities, the Community Rail Network and the rail industry to promote community rail. Anyone can get involved.
Community rail projects help get local people involved with the railways. Volunteers can get involved in lots of ways. For example, they can adopt and improve local stations.
Our board of directors
We make sure our decisions are democratic. Our board of directors is chaired by the Mayor of the West Midlands. It has a voting representative from each of the partner authorities. Our partner authorities are:
- Birmingham City Council
- Coventry City Council
- Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Herefordshire Council
- Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
- Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
- Shropshire Council
- Staffordshire County Council
- Telford and Wrekin Council
- Walsall Council
- Warwickshire County Council
- West Northamptonshire Council
- City of Wolverhampton Council
- Worcestershire County Council
The non-voting (affiliate) members of our board are:
- Cheshire East Council
- Stoke-on-Trent Council