ORR Approves 3 New Birmingham Stations on Camp Hill Line Opening April 7

The Office of Rail and Road has authorized Transport for West Midlands to open 3 new stations on Birmingham's Camp Hill Line, scheduled to commence passenger service on April 7, 2026.

The authorization marks the restoration of scheduled passenger services to the Camp Hill corridor for the first time in over 80 years. This reopening demonstrates the UK's broader infrastructure investment strategy targeting underutilized rail corridors in metropolitan areas. The project represents a model for reactivating dormant rail infrastructure to address urban mobility challenges and reduce road congestion in major UK cities.

The 3 stations—Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road—have been constructed from new builds rather than refurbishments of existing structures. Station names were selected through public consultation with local communities. Transport for West Midlands has acquired an original wooden station nameboard from the historic Kings Heath station for display at the new facility. The regulatory approval follows completion of safety assessments and infrastructure certification by ORR.

The Camp Hill Line reopening aligns with the UK government's focus on expanding urban rail connectivity and leveraging existing rail corridors. Similar projects across England have targeted freight-only or disused lines for passenger service restoration, including the Okehampton line in Devon and proposed services on the Northumberland Line. The Birmingham project demonstrates how metropolitan transport authorities can activate dormant rail assets to expand network capacity without constructing entirely new infrastructure.