Two new railway stations could be built in Walsall as part of bigger plans to overhaul passenger services across the borough and encourage more people to use public transport.
Pleck station, which closed in 1958, could be reopened and a new station built in Leamore as part of the ambitious scheme.
Plans are currently at a very early stage but transport bosses have said a study is due to be carried out looking at the rail network around Walsall and how it can be improved.
Centro spokesman Steve Swingler said: “In the autumn we will be carrying out a railway study to look at how we can make the network in and around Walsall more effective.
“Opening train stations in these areas maybe something we look at as part of that study which will be assessing all possibilities.”
Mr Swingler added they will be looking at all the lines coming into Walsall, including the Wolverhampton to Walsall and Walsall to Birmingham services as well as passenger demand.
Pleck station, on the Wolverhampton to Walsall line, initially opened in 1881 before closing in 1917. It re-opened in 1924 before shutting again in 1958.
Since then the track has remained in place and a handful of freight services have continued to run on the line. No station is believed to have ever existed in Leamore.
Pleck Councillor Dennis Anson said he believes reopening the station in Bescot Road could help solve a lot of the area’s current congestion problems.
The plans are included in the sustainable community strategy drawn up by the four Black Country boroughs looking at how the infrastructure can be improved up to 2026.
Loading ...
5 Comments
Thats right look after Walsall yet again!!! Get the Lichfield to Walsall back open again build the stations in Brownhills, Pelsall, Rushall etc you know the forgotten towns!!!!
Contrary to the article, there was a station in Leamore. It was called ‘Birchills’ and was on the Chase Line at Bloxwich Road bridge next to the bus depot,some traces of it are still visible (I think it may have shut in the ’sixties).
Leamore is quite a large residential area and would greatly benefit from a rail station not only for residents but also for the hundreds of workers based in the district at South Staffs Water, Homeserve etc…
I agree with Lee, re-open the Lichfield to Walsall line! Leamore might need a station but at least it is close to one. It would be superb if I could get a train from Pelsall to Birmingham New Street (or even Birmingham International).
The Lichfield to Walsall line does need to be reopened, but that shouldn’t mean Leamore doesn’t get its station back. Stations at Pelsall and Rushall would need masive work as there isn’t even any track down (not at Rushall anyway). Leamore and Pleck are on an existing passenger railway and it’s (relatively) cheap to reopen stations, the same goes for Willenhall.
Hopefully, more stations would mean more people using local railways strengthening the case for the reopening of the Lichfield line. It shouldn’t have to be a case of either/or.
Fair point jonsi.