Plan for railway station

A new railway station could be built in Willenhall - more than 40 years after the last passenger service passed through the town - in a huge expansion plan for the next decade.

Plans are currently at the early stages but it is understood the station could be based at its previous home at the junction of Rose Hill and Bilston Road. The news comes nearly eight years after the last attempt to relaunch the station.

A £1.35 million scheme was put forward by Centro and Walsall Council for a station with two platforms, access ramps, a booking office and parking for up to 30 cars while consultants were appointed to assess passenger demand.

Willenhall would have been a central stopping point on the Walsall to Wolverhampton line but the plans failed to get off the ground and were put on the back burner. It is hoped the new rail station would also be able to connect directly with Birmingham.

Ward Councillor Ian Shires said today: “A train station is essential in Willenhall. If the planned regeneration of the area is to be successful we need to also make sure we are improving facilities, the town centre and public transport to encourage people to come here.”

There are two main options for the development of Willenhall which could either see the redevelopment of employment sites or a more large scale scheme which could see new jobs created and up to 2,500 houses built, half of them by 2016. A report by Walsall Council says: “The new population may require major improvements in public transport services, most notably the reintroduction of the rail station off Rose Hill.”