London Northwestern Railway & West Midlands Railway

Rail network

Press release

London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services return to public ownership

From 1 February 2026, passengers who travel with London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway will benefit from reliable and better-connected services.

From:

Department for Transport, DfT Operator Limited and The Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP

Published

30 January 2026

services to return to public ownership this Sunday (1 February 2026), bringing the country one step closer to a simpler, unified rail system under Great British Railways

more than 8,500 publicly owned rail services are now running daily, helping over 660 million passengers get where they need to go each year

these services are powering Britain’s economy, linking people to jobs and education while strengthening local economies across the Midlands and from Liverpool to London

Half of all rail journeys that Great British Railways (GBR) will ultimately be responsible for will be on services run by publicly owned operators from Sunday (1 February 2026), as London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services join the fast-growing family of operators owned by the public for the public.

The milestone marks a further step towards creating an integrated rail network that passengers can rely on and be proud of under Great British Railways, which will deliver reliable, safe and more affordable journeys.

This brings the 2 sides of the West Midlands Trains (WMT) business under public ownership: London Northwestern Railway, which operates services between Liverpool and Birmingham and along the West Coast Main Line to and from London Euston and West Midlands Railway, which serves destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.

These services power the Midlands’ economy and beyond – connecting people to work, education and op

Notes for Saturday +++++++ 16:30 to 04:30 Thorpe Station 🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉+🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉 five hours overtime

 [13:07, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755418 platform 2 for 1P01 05:00  Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 06:20

[13:08, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745002 platform 1 for 1P03 05:32  Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 06:46

[13:09, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745007 platform 2 for 1P05 06:00 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 07:17

[13:09, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745005 platform 2 for 1P07 06:32 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 07:46

[13:10, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745103 platform 1 for 1P13 07:00 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 08:17

[13:11, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745108 platform 2 for 1P15 07:32 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 08:46

[13:12, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745009 platform 1 for 1P19 08:00 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 09:17

[13:12, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: ============

[13:12, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉

[13:15, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745007 platform 2 - 1P34 14:30 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (15:45) for 1P53 16:32 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 17:46

[13:16, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745005 platform 1 - 1P36 15:00 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (16:18) for 1P55 17:00 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 18:17 -

[13:16, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745103 platform 2 - 1P38 15:30 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (16:44) for 1P57 17:30 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 18:46 -

[13:17, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745108 platform 1 - 1P40 16:00 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (17:20) for 1P59 18:00 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 19:17 -

[13:18, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745009 platform 2 - 1P42 16:30 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (17:48) for 1P61 18:32 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 19:46 -

[13:19, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745010 platform 1 - 1P44 17:00 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (18:19) for 1P Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform

[13:19, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745002 platform 2 - 1P46 17:30 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (18:47) for 1P63 19:00 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 20:17 -

[13:20, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745007 platform 2 - 1P50 19:00  Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (19:19) for 1P Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform

[13:20, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745005 platform 1 - 1P54 18:30 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (19:44) for 1P67 20:00 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 21:17 -

[13:21, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745103 platform 3 - 1P56 19:00 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (20:20) for 1P71 21:00 Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 21:20 -

[13:21, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745108 platform 2 - 1P58 19:30  Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (20:44) for 1P Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform

[13:22, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745009 platform 2 - 1P60 20:00 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:18) for 1P73 22:00  Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform 2 23:20 -

[13:23, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745002 platform 1 - 1P62 20:30  Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:44) for 1P Norwich Thorpe to Beaulieu Park platform

[13:24, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745007 platform 1 - 1P64 21:00 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (22:18) for 1&75 Norwich Thorpe to Ipswich platform 4 23:45 -

[13:24, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745005 platform 1 - 1P68 22:00 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (23:18)

[13:25, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745103 platform 1 - 1P70 23:00 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:19)--

[13:25, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 745009 platform 3 - 1P72 23:57 Beaulieu Park to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (01:19) -

[13:25, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: ++++++++++++

[13:27, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755419 platform 5 2S35 00:07 Sheringham to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:56)

[13:27, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755409 platform 5B - 2J99 23:30 Lowestoft Central to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:24)

[13:29, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755415 platform 3A - 1K96 22:14 Stansted Airport  to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:11) -

[13:30, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755417 platform 3B - 2C45 23:34 Great Yarmouth Vauxhall to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:06) -

[13:30, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: ------------

[13:30, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755417 platform 4 -2P43 22:17 Great Yarmouth Vauxhall to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (22:49) - 2P44 23:00 Norwich Thorpe to Great Yarmouth Vauxhall 23:30 platform 2 - cleaning

[13:32, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755419 platform 3 - 1K92 21:20 Cambridge to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (22:35) - 2S36 223:05 Norwich Thorpe to Sheringham 00:02 -

[13:33, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755326 platform 3A - 2S31 21:09 Sheringham to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (22:09) - 755 platform 2  5K97 22:02 CPD to Norwich 20:12 for 1K97 22:40 Norwich Thorpe to Cambridge  23:56 platform 6 -

[13:33, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755409 platform 4 - 2J93 20:57 Lowestoft Central to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:32) - 2J96 22:41 Norwich Thorpe to Lowestoft Central 23:25 platform 3 -

[13:34, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: 755 platform 5B - 2P41 21:17 Great Yarmouth Vauxhall to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:49) for 2J94 22:05 Norwich Thorpe to Lowestoft Central 22:49 platform 2 -

[13:35, 31/01/2026] Michael Noël Turner: +++++++ Saturday +++++++ 16:30 to 04:30 Thorpe Station 🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉+🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉 five hours overtime

Beaulieu Park Station, officially opened on October 27, 2025, is the first new station on the Great Eastern Mainline in over 100 years, enhancing connectivity and supporting local development.

Key Features of Beaulieu Park Station

• Location: Situated in Boreham, northeast of Chelmsford, the station is conveniently located between Chelmsford and Hatfield Peverel stations, making it accessible for local residents and students. 

  2
• Transport Links: The station offers direct services to London Liverpool Street in just 40 minutes and to Colchester in 25 minutes, with up to four trains per hour during peak times. 

  2
• Facilities: Beaulieu Park Station features three platforms, over 700 parking spaces, a public transport interchange, and more than 500 cycle spaces. It also includes accessible toilets and a Changing Places toilet for those with additional needs. 

  2
• 

  

  3 Sources

Economic and Community Impact

• Development Support: The station is part of the Chelmsford Garden Community project, which will eventually include over 10,000 new homes. It is expected to unlock thousands of new houses and create over 2,000 jobs in the region. 

  2
• Funding and Investment: The construction of Beaulieu Park Station was supported by £175 million in funding from various partners, including government grants and local councils, aimed at improving infrastructure and connectivity in the area. 

  2
• 

  

  2 Sources

Conclusion

Beaulieu Park Station represents a significant investment in the region's transport infrastructure, providing improved access to rail services and supporting the economic growth of Chelmsford and its surrounding areas. Its opening marks a milestone in enhancing public transport options and reducing reliance on car travel, contributing to a more sustainable future for the community.

Beaulieu Park railway station (/ˈbjuːli/ ^ⓘ BEW-lee) is on the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) in the East of England. It serves the new Beaulieu Park housing development in Boreham, approximately 3 miles (5 km) to the north-east of Chelmsford, Essex. The station is between Chelmsford to the west and Hatfield Peverel to the east.

The station was suggested as early as the 1980s, but construction work did not start until 2023. It opened on 26 October 2025, the first new station on the GEML in 100 years. It is managed by Greater Anglia, which also operates all trains serving the station.

History

Plans for Chelmsford's second station were rumoured in the 1990s,^[1] although passengers have been waiting for it since the 1980s.^[2] The new station was part of Chelmsford's Local Plan in 2003; however, the Local Plan was withdrawn that year and the station re-entered the planning stage five years later. The planning application was then submitted in 2010.^[1]

In September 2013, it was reported that the station would cost £53 million.^[3] In March 2014, Countryside, a UK housebuilding company, agreed to fund the railway station and 3,600 new homes north-east of Chelmsford.^[4] In October 2013, the leader of Braintree Council believed that the station "could open by 2019",^[5] though this never came to fruition.^[1]

In 2015, an agreement was signed between Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council, Network Rail (which owns and maintains Great Britain's railway network) and Countryside to work on the delivery of the new station.^[1] In August 2019, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid, agreed to allocate £218 million from the Housing Infrastructure Fund for the new station and associated road improvements, with the aim of building up to 14,000 new homes.^[6] Originally planned for 2026, the station opened on 26 October 2025.^[7] It is the first new station on the Great Eastern Main Line in over 100 years.^[8]

This station was built as part of Chelmsford's housing development.^[9] It also serves Springfield and Boreham, easing pressure at Chelmsford's main station.^[10][6]

As part of Project Oval, contactless payments to and from the station was originally planned to be launched from 14 December 2025.^[11] However, this has been delayed to 2026, alongside 19 other Greater Anglia stations, due to issues found during testing.^[12]

Construction

Essex County Council agreed on the next stage of the planning of Beaulieu Park station in December 2021.^[13] Plans were approved in June 2022 after Essex County Council agreed on the design and layout of the station.^[14] After J. Murphy & Sons was awarded the first contract in January 2023,^[9] construction began in March.^[2] In September 2023, Murphy was awarded the second of two construction contracts from Network Rail.^[15]

The station under construction in January 2025

It opened ahead of schedule on 26 October 2025, at a cost of £175 million.^[8] The station was originally planned to open at the end of 2025^[8] or 2026.^[14] Several bus routes were extended to serve the new station.^[16] As part of constructing the new station, Murphy has laid 5,156 m (3.2 miles) of new rail, reused 1,768 m (1.1 miles) of rail, 14 new railway signals and 36.5 km (22.7 miles) of new overhead line equipment (OLE).^[9]

On 27 October 2025, Sir James Cleverly, MP, and Lord Peter Hendy, the Minister of State for Rail, officially opened the station.^[17]

Design

The station has accessible toilets, waiting rooms and two footbridges (of which one has step-free access) connecting three 250 m (820 ft) platforms. The layout allows fast trains to use the central loop to overtake the stopping service.^[9][18] There is room for around 800 cars in two separate car parks, with 500 spaces for bicycles and a bus interchange.^[18]

The main station building has a brick-clad structure, underneath a larch glulam canopy supported on independent pillars.^[18] The National Rail logo hangs from the canopy and the station's name is in large metal lettering. The ticket hall has free-standing retail units,^[18] a ticket gate line and a row of ticket machines, but does not have a ticket office.^[19]

Services

All services at Beaulieu Park are operated by Greater Anglia, using Class 720 electric multiple units.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:^[20]

• 2 tph to London Liverpool Street
• 1 tph to Ipswich
• 1 tph to Colchester Town.

Additional services, including trains to and from Clacton-on-Sea and Braintree, call at the station during peak hours.^[20][21] The station is located 40 minutes from London.^[8]

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Chelmsford		Greater Anglia Great Eastern Main Line		Hatfield Peverel

Friday 21:30 to 04:30 Thorpe Station 🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉

[30/01, 15:32] O2 Michael Turner: =======

[30/01, 15:33] O2 Michael Turner: 🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉

[30/01, 15:34] O2 Michael Turner: 745103 platform 1 - 1P58 19:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (20:48) for 5P58 21:09 Norwich Thorpe to Crown Point |Depot 21:27

[30/01, 15:35] Michael Noël Turner: 745006 platform 1 - 1P60 19:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:19) for 1P73 22:02 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 23:57 platform 10 -

[30/01, 15:35] Michael Noël Turner: 755329 755410 755405 platform 2 - 1P62 20:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:49)

[30/01, 15:36] Michael Noël Turner: 745010 platform 2 - 1P64 20:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (22:18) for 1Y75 23:05 Norwich Thorpe to Ipswich 23:49 platform 4 -

[30/01, 15:37] Michael Noël Turner: 745110 platform 1 - 1P68 21:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (23:21)

[30/01, 15:37] Michael Noël Turner: 745007 platform 1 - 1P70 22:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:28) -

[30/01, 15:38] Michael Noël Turner: 745002 platform 1 - 1P72 23:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (0133),

[30/01, 15:38] Michael Noël Turner: +++++++

[30/01, 15:39] Michael Noël Turner: 755413 platform 6 2S35 00:07 Sheringham to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:56) -

[30/01, 15:39] Michael Noël Turner: 755334 platform 5A - 2J99 23:30 Lowestoft Central to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:16)

[30/01, 15:40] Michael Noël Turner: 755414 platform 5B - 1K96 22:14 Stansted Airport to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:12) -

[30/01, 15:40] Michael Noël Turner: 755422 platform 6 - 2C45 23:34 Great Yarmouth Vaxuhall to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (00:06)

[30/01, 15:40] Michael Noël Turner: -------

[30/01, 15:40] Michael Noël Turner: 755422 platform 6 -2P43 22:17 Great Yarmouth Vaxuhall to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (22:49) - 2P44 23:00 Norwich Thorpe to Great Yarmouth Vauxhall 23:30 platform 2 - cleaning

[30/01, 15:42] Michael Noël Turner: 755413 platform 5B - 2J95 21:48 Lowestoft Central to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (22:32) - 2S36 23:05 Norwich Thorpe to Sheringham 00:02 -

[30/01, 15:42] Michael Noël Turner: 755418 platform 3 - 1J93 20:57 Lowestoft Central to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:32) - for 1K97 22:40 Norwich Thorpe to Cambridge 23:56 platform 5 -

[30/01, 15:43] Michael Noël Turner: 755334 platform 6 - 2S31 21:09 Sheringham to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (22:09) - 2J96 22:40 Norwich Thorpe to Lowestoft Central 23:24 platform 3 -

[30/01, 15:44] Michael Noël Turner: 755412 platform 5B - 2P41 21:17 Great Yarmouth Vauxhall to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:49) for 2J94 22:05 Norwich Thorpe to Lowestoft Central 22:51 platform 2

[30/01, 15:49] Michael Noël Turner: ++++++ Friday ++++++ 21:30 to 04:30 Thorpe Station 🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉

[30/01, 21:30] O2 Michael Turner: 745005 platform 1 - 1P60 19:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 21:30 (21:19) not for 1P73 22:02 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 23:57 platform 10 -quick clean

745103 Royal Dock arrived at 21:16.

[30/01, 21:37] O2 Michael Turner: 755418 platform 3 - 1J93 20:57 Lowestoft Central to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 21:36 (21:32) - for 1K97 22:40 Norwich Thorpe to Cambridge 23:56 platform 5 -

[30/01, 21:46] O2 Michael Turner: 745006 platform 4 arrived at 21;46 for 1P73

[30/01, 21:51] O2 Michael Turner: 755412 platform 5 for 21:05 Norwich Thorpe to Lowestoft Central

[30/01, 21:54] O2 Michael Turner: 755329 755410 755405 platform 2 - 1P62 20:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 21:54 (21:49) quick clean 🫧🪥

[30/01, 22:10] Michael Noël Turner: 755334 platform 6 arrived t22:10 for 22:40 Norwich Thorpe to Lowestoft Central

[30/01, 22:17] O2 Michael Turner: 745010 platform 4 - 1P64 20:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 22:18 (22:18) for 1Y75 23:05 Norwich Thorpe to Ipswich 23:49 platform 4 -

[30/01, 22:34] O2 Michael Turner: 755413 platform 5B - 2J95 21:48 Lowestoft Central to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 22:31 (22:32) - 2S36 23:05 Norwich Thorpe to Sheringham 00:02 -

[30/01, 22:48] O2 Michael Turner: 755422 platform 6 -2P43 22:17 Great Yarmouth Vauxhall to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 22;48 (22:49) - 2P44 23:00 Norwich Thorpe to Great Yarmouth Vauxhall 23:30 platform 2 - cleaning

755415 platform 1B cleaning 🧼

158865 &158889 platform 7, it a little raining tonight, and chaos as always.

[30/01, 23:17] O2 Michael Turner: 745110 platform 1 - 1P68 21:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 23:18 (23:21) quick clean F to A

[30/01, 23:34] Michael Noël Turner: 1L17 1751 Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich

Departing today

East Midlands Railway

UID Y12388, identity 1L17

TSC 22269000, headcode 9117

SSuX - 15/12/2025 to 15/05/2026

Express Passenger

Great Britain (Network Rail, TPS)

170203 + 170419 to Sheffield

170419 + 170203 to Ely

170203 + 170419 to Norwich

Standard class only seating

Reservations available

TRUST ID 361L17MV30

Activated 30/01/2026 16:51

Platform 3 arrived at 23:22 (23:18) , now to CPD, may be to be fueled ⛽

[30/01, 23:44] Michael Noël Turner: 745110 platform 1 left at 23:44

[31/01, 00:14] O2 Michael Turner: 755422 platform 6 - 2C45 23:34 Great Yarmouth Vaxuhall to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 00:04 (00:06)

755334 platform 5A - 2J99 23:30 Lowestoft Central to Norwich Thorpe arrived at. 00:15 (00:16)

755414 platform 5B - 1K96 22:14 Stansted Airport to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 00:110 (00:12) -

[31/01, 00:20] O2 Michael Turner: 745007 platform 1 - 1P70 22:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 00:20 (00:28) -

[31/01, 01:23] O2 Michael Turner: 745002 platform 1 - 1P72 23:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 01:25 (0133), quick clean 🫧🪥 F to A

[31/01, 02:19] O2 Michael Turner: 745002 platform 1 stable clean 🫧🪥 DEF, quick clean ABC DEF , and lol 😄 silly me

[31/01, 03:00] O2 Michael Turner: 745103 Royal Dock stable clean DEF , litter seen done

[31/01, 03:11] O2 Michael Turner: 755406 Middle Road

755417 platform 5B 

755332 platform 6

[31/01, 03:13] O2 Michael Turner: 755422 & 755326 in Jubilee, next to platform 7 two more 755 next to walkway

[31/01, 03:21] O2 Michael Turner: Platform 3

170203

170419

158865

158889