West Midlands Railway is named ‘Train Operator of the Year’ for 2026
West Midlands Railway (WMR) has been awarded a top prize of ‘Train Operator of the Year’ at the 2026 Rail Business Awards
The local train operator has been named as the UK’s best.
The award follows a milestone period for WMR and its sister-brand London Northwestern Railway (LNR).
The sister-brands have introduced three new fleets in recent years, increasing capacity on its services by 40% and improving journeys for more than one million passengers every week.
A key part of this programme includes WMR’s introduction of the Class 730/0 electric trains to popular routes such as the Cross City Line – the busiest commuter route outside of London.
These trains feature intelligent air conditioning, improved accessibility features and power points at every seat. Since their introduction, customer satisfaction has risen by 19%.
WMR said that the awards come as significant investment has also been made into the company’s train depots. Facilities in Birmingham, Coventry, Worcester and Shrewsbury have been modernised, including a £70million investment into Birmingham’s Tyseley depot.
What’s been said?
The enhancements, unveiled by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, provide increased capacity and future-proofed equipment to support the new fleets.
Ian McConnell, managing director at WMR, said: “We are extremely proud to win ‘Train Operator of the Year’. This award is testament to the hard work of colleagues across our business, who have successfully introduced three new train fleets and futureproofed our train depots, while continuing to keep passengers moving every day.