Train operator becomes newest Chamber patron

West Midlands Trains, the Birmingham-headquartered operator which carries millions of passengers on its rail services, has become a patron of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC).

Since 2017, West Midlands Trains has run services between Liverpool and Birmingham, and on the West Coast Main Line to and from London Euston under the London Northwestern Railway brand.

In addition, the operator carries passengers to destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill, under the West Midlands Railway brand.

In 2023, West Midlands Trains delivered around 60 million passenger journeys across 13.3 million miles.​

Significant progress has also been made with a £1bn investment programme in new trains, depots and stations.

The flagship electric Class 730 fleet, manufactured in the UK by Alstom, has been introduced in the West Midlands, including on the Cross City line – the largest commuter route outside London.

Around 3,000 staff are employed by West Midlands Trains across its network, with investment in skills and employment being a key focus area.

West Midlands Trains is the first operator in the UK to gain the prestigious Engineering Apprenticeship Employer Kitemark accreditation in recognition of its engineering apprenticeship programme.

The organisation currently has 89 active apprentices, a quarter of whom are aged 25 or under.

Max Taylor, commercial director at West Midlands Trains, said: “As a significant employer headquartered in Birmingham, we’re delighted to have become patrons of the Chamber.

“We recognise the important role public transport has to play in helping people access work, education and leisure and we look forward to working with the business community to support the growth of our regional economy and deliver for rail passengers.”

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of the GBCC, said: “We are delighted to welcome West Midlands Trains as a GBCC patron.

“Our patrons are our closest partners. They are cross-sector network combining many of the city-region’s largest, and most civic minded, organisations.

“We are proud to be working with West Midlands Trains, as both a leading employer and a key stakeholder in driving business productivity through transport connectivity, investment in skills and commitment to sustainability.”

Businesses across the region can take advantage of West Midlands Trains’ Just Business platform – a free-to-use resource for booking and managing business travel.

Benefits of Just Business include:

• The cheapest end to end fares, covering all train operators, are always visible on the platform with no booking fees
• Manage all business travel from one place, through an agreed payment method
• Individual logins to access a streamlined booking process, with a dedicated helpdesk team on hand if needed.
• Remove timely payment claims, ensuring staff are never out of pocket. Tickets can be downloaded or picked up from West Midlands Trains stations
• Track your business travel carbon footprint by using Just Business’s unique reporting tool

Find out more information about Just Business via the website or contact Sophie Gardner, senior sales and marketing manager, at sophie.gardner@wmtrains.co.uk