West Midlands Trains (2017–2026)

West Midlands Trains
Top/left: Class 172 in WMR livery at Birmingham Moor Street
Bottom/right: Class 350 in LNR livery near Crewe
Overview
FranchisesWest Midlands
10 December 2017 – 1 February 2026
Main regions
Other regions
FleetWest Midlands Railway

London Northwestern Railway

Stations called at178
Stations operated146
Parent companyTransport UK Group (85%)
Mitsui & Co (15%)
HeadquartersBirmingham
Reporting markLM
PredecessorLondon Midland
SuccessorWest Midlands Trains
Technical
Length539 mi (867 km)
Other
Websitewestmidlandsrailway.co.uk
londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk
Route map

  West Midlands Railway
  London Northwestern Railway

West Midlands Trains Limited (WMT) was a British train operating company. It operated passenger trains on the West Midlands franchise between London and the English Midlands under two trading names: within the West Midlands region as West Midlands Railway (WMR) and outside the region as London Northwestern Railway (LNR).

West Midlands Trains was created as a consortium of three companies, Abellio, JR East, and Mitsui & Co, which joined to bid for the West Midlands franchise; they were amongst the three bids to be shortlisted in April 2016, and were awarded the franchise during August 2017. JR East sold its 15% interest to Abellio in September 2021. In 2023 Abellio sold its stake to Transport UK Group.

In addition to the DfT, it was also accountable to the West Midlands Rail Executive for services that operate wholly within the West Midlands region. On 10 December 2017, West Midlands Trains took over operations from the prior operator, London Midland. Passenger services were transferred to public ownership under DfT Operator's West Midlands Trains on 1 February 2026.