Two separate brands are being brought to the region's railway network as part of the new franchise which starts next month.

'London Northwestern' will replace West Coast services currently operated by London Midland when its incumbent franchise contract ends in December.

The name is a reverential nod to the London and North Western Railway company which was once the largest railway in Britain and the predecessor of the current West Coast Main Line.

All remaining London Midland services, operating in and around Birmingham, will be rebranded to West Midlands Railway which was announced last year after being created by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

How the new London Northwestern trains look
How the new London Northwestern trains look

The West Midlands franchise, currently operated by London Midland, will be taken over on December 10 by a joint venture between Dutch firm Abellio, East Japan Railway Company and Japanese conglomerate Mitsui & Co.

The venture is called West Midlands Trains and it was awarded a nine-year tenure in August.

West Midlands Trains said the introduction of two separate railway brands would enable potential devolution of the West Midlands network to the West Midlands Combined Authority.

London Northwestern would remain under the remit of the Department for Transport for future retender.

London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway will have a shared management board while being closely aligned to their specific regional and route requirements.

How the new West Midlands Railway trains look
How the new West Midlands Railway trains look

The current changes are a part of the near £1 billion investment into the network over the lifetime of the tender which includes £680 million on new trains, to be built by Bombardier in Derby and Spanish firm CAF, along with £70 million on new depots.

Abellio UK's managing director Dominic Booth said: "We are delighted to bring the London Northwestern brand to a whole new generation of passengers and it seems apt during a time of record investment into the railways."

The West Midlands franchise covers routes such as the Cross City line between Redditch and Lichfield via New Street station and services between London and the West Midlands and Birmingham and the North West.