A £70 million Metro expansion in Birmingham could breathe new life into plans for a link between Wednesbury and Brierley Hill, Dudley’s regeneration boss says.

Councillor Les Jones, deputy council leader, said the recent approval of a Metro link between Birmingham’s Snow Hill and New Street stations could help generate revenue for the Brierley Hill expansion.

And the £288 million metro link between Wednesbury and Brierley Hill could be transporting passengers by 2016, according to council plans.

“Our current estimate is that the route will be finished by 2016 although the construction will be a lengthy process,” said Councillor Jones.

“A large proportion of the route will run on disused railway tracks but some buildings will have to be demolished and Compulsory Purchase Orders may have to be used.”