London Midland

London Midland

Class 350 Desiro at Watford Junction in 2011
Overview
Franchise(s)	West Midlands 11 November 2007 – 10 December 2017
Main region(s)	West Midlands, London
Other region(s)	North West, East Midlands
Stations called at	178
Stations operated	146
Parent company	Govia
Reporting mark	LM
Predecessor	Central Trains Silverlink
Successor	West Midlands Trains
Technical
Length	539.0 mi (867.4 km)[citation needed]
Other
Website	www.londonmidland.com
Route map

London Midland^[1] was a train operating company in England which operated the West Midlands franchise between 11 November 2007 and 10 December 2017. It was owned by the British transport group Govia.

London Midland was created as a result of Govia being awarded the West Midlands franchise on 22 June 2007. This franchise had emerged out of a reorganisation conducted by the Department for Transport, which had combined elements of the Silverlink and Central Trains operations together. London Midland had various commitments to fulfil during the franchise period, including the procurement of at least 37 new multiple units, the introduction of a semi-fast service between London and Crewe, and to invest at least £11.5m into stations. Early rolling stock orders totalled 66 new trains, including two Class 139 Parry People Movers, 12 two-car and 15 three-car Class 172 Turbostars and 37 four-car Class 350/2 Desiros. Further orders and reorganisations of rolling stock would occur during the franchise period, although one effort, a planned year-long trial of the prototype Vivarail Class 230 DMU on the Coventry–Nuneaton line, had to be cancelled after the prototype suffered fire damage.

London Midland operated local services in the West Midlands and surrounding areas through its City sub-brand. It also provided long-distance and commuter services on the West Coast Main Line through the Express sub-brand from London Euston to and from the West Midlands, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire. Additionally, services on the Stourbridge Town branch line operated by Pre Metro Operations were branded as the London Midland Stourbridge Shuttle. The franchise was originally scheduled to expire in September 2015; this was extended to March 2016, and once again to October 2017 in return for London Midland's agreement to put on extra trains and enact other service improvements in this additional time.^[2][3] During July 2017, London Midland's franchise was further extended until 10 December 2017,^[4] after which point the new franchisee, West Midlands Trains, took over operations.