RAILWAY HISTORY has been made this morning with the launch of Cross City services now operating at Bromsgrove, writes Neil Gordon.
The first-ever electric service departed at 9.07am from platform 11a of Birmingham New Street station, with electric train, number 323202, heading to Bromsgrove.
Around 40 passengers travelled on this inaugural service.
Around 70 people were present at Bromsgrove station as the train arrived with the 9.03am service from Birmingham.
Most of those present took pictures of this historic rail event.
Upon arrival at Bromsgrove the service terminates before departing at 9.42am with the inaugural service to New Street.
Anyone visiting Bromsgrove Station today, to either see the service in operation, or to travel, is reminded use caution due to slippery conditions and to remember that other trains will be passing through the station at high speed.
From tomorrow commuters to Birmingham will have four trains-an-hour – the three electric services and the hourly diesel service.
Other stories
Here Neil Gordon looks back at some of the diesels which have served the town since the 1960s – https://bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/news/as-bromsgrove-gets-its-electric-rail-service-we-look-at-the-trains-which-have-served-the-town-over-the-years/
Bromsgrove Rail User Group (BRUG) also recently urged residents to take part in the Department for Transport’s consultation in a bid to get CrossCountry trains to stop at the town to make it easier for passengers to travel south without going via Birmingham New Street – https://bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/news/rallying-call-to-bromsgrove-rail-users-to-have-their-say-on-getting-a-better-southbound-service/