West Midlands Railway (WMR) and Spencer Rail Engineering have been recognised for the £70m redevelopment of a depot in Southeast Birmingham at the 2026 Spotlight Rail Awards.

The two firms jointly won the ‘Delivering for the Customer’ award for the completion of significant upgrades at Tyseley Depot. WMR said these upgrades had improved train service reliability across the West Midlands.

It carried out the works as part of its £1bn investment in new trains and infrastructure, with Tyseley specifically updated to support the new Class 196 fleet, which entered service in 2022. The fleet runs on lines from Birmingham Snow Hill and will soon serve the five new stations in the West Midlands – Willenhall, Darlaston and the Camp Hill Line in South Birmingham.

To accommodate the 96-metre-long Class 196s, Tyseley Depot’s main shed was extended, increasing indoor capacity from 29 to 38 vehicles, with improved inspection facilities and new train lifting equipment. A solar farm of 302 panels was installed on the shed roof, estimated to generate 124,000 kWh and save 58 tonnes of carbon per year.

The completion of the three-year upgrade project, carried out by Spencer Rail Engineering, was officially announced by Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, during a celebratory event in October.

John Doughty, WMR engineering director, said: “Delivering for the customer is always our priority, so it’s fantastic to have our efforts recognised by this award. Tyseley Depot is key to our operations across the West Midlands, so these new facilities mean we can deliver the best possible service for customers by efficiently maintaining our fleets and improving our reliability as a result. I want to thank our colleagues at WMR and Spencer Rail Engineering for their dedication to completing these upgrades to the highest standard, both on time and within budget.”

Mike Halliday, managing director at Spencer Rail Engineering, said: “This recognition reflects the strength of collaboration, trust, and shared commitment that has driven the project forward from the outset.

“The project has been a fantastic example of what can be achieved through Early Contractor Involvement (ECI). By engaging early and working closely with our partners, we were able to shape the delivery approach together, unlock efficiencies, and ensure the best possible outcomes for West Midlands Railway and the wider rail network. Thank you to everyone involved who contributed to making the Tyseley Depot project such a success.”

During the ceremony, WMR was also highly commended for its internal ‘Keeping it Simple to be Safe’ campaign in the ‘Commitment to Safety’ category.

This award also follows WMR’s win of ‘Train Operator of the Year’ at the Rail Business Awards in February.

The Spotlight Rail Awards is held in London and run by Peloton Events.