While Birmingham is an important industrial and cultural centre, and the UK’s second-largest city with a population of around 1.2 million.
The proposed plans are on track to deliver up to 130 extra train services each week, which would provide around two million additional passenger seats a year.
Andy Clark, rail programme lead at Midlands Connect, said: “This would be a real boost for passengers.”
The first phase of the scheme is also expected to create nearly 13,000 jobs nationwide.
Swindon North MP Will Stone welcomed the development, saying it would boost the local economy and reconnect communities that have long relied on slower, indirect services.
Currently, there are no direct services between Swindon and Birmingham, meaning passengers must change at Cheltenham, Gloucester, or Reading stations.
The revived route would re-establish a direct connection between the two cities.
Mr Stone said: “It’s fantastic that Swindon could be benefiting from the Midlands Rail hub expansion.
“We’re a town built on connection via the railways, and so it’s great to see Swindon getting an hourly service between a fellow industrial town like Birmingham.”
Once home to the Great Western Railway works, Swindon has a proud railway heritage that shaped the town’s identity.
The project has secured government backing following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review and forms part of the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy.
Mr Stone added: “Innovative projects like the Midlands Rail hub prove that investments in our railways, fully funded by the Chancellor, are transformative for communities, bringing new jobs and skills to areas across the country.”
Starting from the border town of Shrewsbury, a spectacular multiday circuit of north Wales is possible: take the Cambrian Coast line through Aberystwyth, Barmouth, Porthmadog, then the gorgeous Ffestiniog Railway to Blaenau, where you can link back to Llandudno on the coast, and return to Shrewsbury (change at Llandudno Junction). There’s no shortage of accommodation, allowing you to stop and explore without rigid planning. The Cambrian coast and the seaside towns are a largely unexplored jewel outside summer. Dave Thomas
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First-class trip to Romania
Final stop … Constanța on the Black Sea. Photograph: ttart/Getty Images
From Cluj we travelled through the snow-capped Carpathian mountains, stopping off to admire the historic Transylvanian cities of Sibiu and Brașov, before arriving at Bucharest’s chaotic Gara de Nord. The last leg of our journey took us eastwards to Constanța on the Black Sea. We arrived the day its stunning art nouveau casino was reopened after being rescued from dereliction. Romanian trains may not be the most luxurious or speedy, but with most of our journeys costing from £10 to £20 in first class, they are certainly value for money. Charmingly, at each station our train was greeted by a besuited stationmaster/mistress waving a flag to signal the train’s departure. Brian Dutton
A day trip adventure around Edinburgh
The Forth Bridge seen from near Dunfermline, Fife. Photograph: Richard Newton/Alamy
For a delightful day trip I recommend taking the Scotrail service from Edinburgh to Cardenden, which takes just under an hour. Enjoy the view of Murrayfield with Edinburgh Zoo on the hill to the north. Soon you’ll see the Forth Bridge girders loom at Dalmeny before you fly over the Forth. Take in the stunning view east towards the Bass Rock, and look west past bridges towards Stirling and the Grampian mountains beyond. The ancient capital of Dunfermline is next, as you enter Fife. To the north of Cardenden you will see the peaks of the Lomond Hills regional park. An alternative route is to change at Inverkeithing on return and take a train up the Fife coast to Kirkcaldy, from where it’s a 50-minute ride back to Edinburgh. An unforgettable railway foray and respite from touristy Edinburgh. Nigel Archdale
Taking it slowly from Stockport to Andalucía
‘The best sunset and sunrise’ in Cádiz, Spain. Photograph: Dmytro Kosmenko/Getty Images
We travelled from our home station of Stockport to Cádiz in southern Spain, stopping at London, Paris, Lyon, Barcelona and Seville en route. Not only was this a climate-conscious decision, but also a way to see more of Europe and to help us to relax and slow down. We took a river cruise in Paris, then the next day enjoyed lunch in Lyon where the local market place gave us a taste of the city. We next sped off to Barcelona, staying in the trendy neighbourhood of El Poblenou. From there we took in a panoramic view of the city from the castle of Montjuïc, followed by the bustling beach. Back on the train, our pace slowed again as we set out for Seville with its sweltering beauty and incredible history. Our final stop was Cádiz, where we saw the best sunset and sunrise. We wouldn’t be able to afford first class on a plane, but we could by rail. For example, Barcelona to Seville was under £60! We sipped wine as the beautiful landscape passed by, in a comfortable seat, with wifi and charging facilities, knowing there would be no wait for luggage at the other end. Rebecca
Rome to Sicily via train and ferry
Let the ferry take the strain … the train and its passengers are transported by boat to Sicily Photograph: Francesco Bloisi/Tutto Treno
Hop on the sleeper train in Rome, or perhaps Naples, and wake the next morning in Sicily. There’s no bridge (yet) so the train is loaded on to a ferry for the crossing, while you are sound asleep in one of the functional little compartments. You can go direct all the way to Palermo or – if you prefer – to beautiful Syracuse in the south-east of the island. Polly
Belgrade to Stari Bar by day and by night
The stunning Lake Skadar, in Montenegro. Photograph: Simon Dux/Alamy
We took the night train in a sleeper berth from Belgrade (after a few days exploring this cool, arty city) and were delighted by the old-school, velvety cabins with corridors and big open windows. We woke up to Montenegro and Albania’s stunning Lake Skadar. After a few days exploring the lake, Stari Bar and Montenegro’s beautiful coastline we headed back up to Belgrade by day – the mountainous scenery on this 11-hour journey is absolutely spectacular, and all for the round trip cost of €50. We used Man at Seat 61 to learn about the route. Jenny
‘Surely one of the most astonishing building in the world’ … The Mezquita in Córdoba, Spain. Photograph: Allan Baxter/Getty Images
In March 2025 we travelled to Morocco via train and ferry from the UK. Travelling on an Interrail ticket through Europe, we made two three-night stops on our way to the port in southern Spain, and two two-night stops on our return journey. On the outward journey we stopped in Girona and Córdoba, both of which have picturesque old towns. In Córdoba we visited eight stunning courtyard gardens as well as the Palace of Viana and the Mezquita, surely one of the most astonishing buildings in the world. On the return leg we stopped in Málaga and Montpelier, both characterful places. We would have missed out on these four wonderful destinations if we had flown directly to Marrakech. Louise
Anywhere in Belgium for €8.50
‘On our travels we discovered the Unesco-listed begijnhoven of Flanders.’ Photograph: Shotshop/Alamy
Last year, my wife and I explored Belgium by rail. We stayed in a self-catering apartment just a few hundred yards from Antwerp station, a fantastic cathedral to the railways containing several pink granite columns and panels, polished in our home town of Aberdeen. In Belgium over-65s can buy a day return to anywhere in the country for just €8.50! We visited several towns and cities, none involving lengthy journeys. On our travels we discovered the Unesco-listed begijnhoven of Flanders. These were medieval communities for widows or unmarried women, many now beautifully restored. Jim Fiddes
Beach, mountains and gastronomy in France
Historical and culinary delights in Toulouse, France. Photograph: Starcevic/Getty Images/iStockphoto
My wife and I have travelled around a lot of Europe but our best trip for simplicity is a triangle of France: Eurostar to Paris, then the TGV to Toulouse for saucisse and architectural and historical delights; next, the slow train to Bayonne, gazing at the Pyrenees as the train trundles past Lourdes and on to the French Basque coast; before taking the TGV back up to Paris. City, gastronomy, mountains and beach all in one. George
Laid-back vibes on the line to Ljubljana
En route to Bled. Photograph: Alex
Our trip began with the sway of a boat gliding into Venice. After days getting blissfully lost in quiet alleys and forgotten courtyards, we boarded the train from Santa Lucia station, speeding across the shimmering lagoon to Trieste. In a sunlit square, we savoured chocolate gelato, the Mediterranean sparkling nearby. Next, Ljubljana welcomed us with its laid-back vibes. We sipped cocktails in jars by the river, surrounded by art and colour. Finally, a graffiti-covered train carried us to Lake Bled, where we hiked and swam beneath the majestic Julian Alps, ending our journey in a cosy pod under stars and amid fireflies. Alex
Trains between Glasgow and London have been disrupted by damage to overhead electric lines caused by a fallen tree in southern Scotland.
Avanti West Coast said all lines were blocked between Lockerbie and Carstairs and services would be affected until 14:00. Some services scheduled to start in Glasgow now starting in Preston, Lancashire, and experiencing delays of several hours.
Passengers waiting overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper service from Glasgow Central were told a tree had come down on the line.
PASSENGERS could enjoy quicker journeys and fewer delays under the first shake-up of flight paths in 70 years.
Ministers have ordered an overhaul of UK airspace to create more direct routes.
The review could also let planes climb into the sky quicker to reduce the noise for communities below.
In the long-term, the government says the redesign would even create the necessary airspace for the “flying taxis” of the future to operate.
Britain’s flightpaths have not been changed since the 1950s when there were just 200,000 flights per year, compared with 2.7million in 2024.
It has resulted in flight congestion that often forces planes to circle overhead before landing, causing frustration to passengers as well as more emissions.
A new UK Airspace Design Service will be up and running by the end of the year, and will first focus on re-carving London’s flightpaths in anticipation of a third Heathrow runway.
Transport Minister Mike Kane said: “Redesigned ‘skyways’ will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry.
“Not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation, driving millions into the UK economy as part of the Plan for Change.
“Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term sustainable future.”
Tim Alderslade of Airlines UK added: “Modernising UK airspace is long overdue.
“These changes will help to speed up a programme that will provide tangible reforms, from a reduction in delays, improved resilience and lower carbon emissions.”
Travelers have only days before May 23 ‘flight switch’ rule ends – you face long delays if you don’t act immediately
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Passengers could enjoy quicker journeys and fewer delays under the first shake-up of flight paths in 70 yearsCredit: Alamy
