As per the original terms of the franchise, West Midlands Trains is expected to continue to operate until March 2026.

In April 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the shortlist of bidders for the West Midlands franchise, comprising the incumbent operator Govia, MTR Corporation, and West Midlands Trains: a consortium of Abellio (70%), JR East (15%) and Mitsui & Co (15%).

[17][18][19] However, until the franchise is re-let, the DfT must still approve any changes that the West Midlands Rail Executive may wish to make.

[citation needed] By mid-2020, West Midlands Trains had considerably curtailed its services in response to the significant decline of passenger travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

[27] West Midlands Trains has only been capable of operating a very minimal timetable on any of the planned dates for the strikes due to the number of staff involved.

[28][29] Abellio's stake in West Midlands Trains was included in the sale of its United Kingdom business to Transport UK Group in February 2023.

[30][31] As of 2024[update], West Midlands Trains operates a penalty fare policy requiring passengers to purchase a ticket before boarding.

This name was chosen in tribute to the former London & North Western Railway (LNWR), the company that operated services on the route between 1846 and 1922.

[35] WMT's services along the West Coast Main Line rail corridor are operated under the London Northwestern Railway brand.

[40][41] The concept of using the lightweight railcar dates from 2006 when a year-long pilot scheme began on the Stourbridge Town branch line on Sundays, using a Parry People Movers PPM50 unit constructed in 2002 and numbered as 999900 under TOPS.

Following the award of the franchise to London Midland, it placed an order for two PPM60 units with Parry People Movers, through Porterbrook.

Despite the difficulties in the commissioning of the two Class 139 units, London Midland consistently outlined its faith that they would be ready to enter service.

At the point of introduction, they displaced a single Class 153 DMU that was previously allocated to the branch line.

West Midlands Trains operate a total of 39 two-car and three-car Class 172 units, 27 of which had been ordered by predecessor London Midland, who originally planned for them to enter service by the end of 2010 on services to and from Birmingham Snow Hill, replacing Class 150s.

From 1 September 2011, the Class 172s started operating on the Snow Hill Lines with some weekend work from Birmingham – Hereford.

The company announced its plans to procure three two-car D-Train units for use on the Marston Vale line during October 2017.