HS2 will 'open door to more rail investment' throughout region, says Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the Government's HS2 line could open the door to major rail investment across the Black Country and Staffordshire.

Mr McLoughlin, who was in the West Midlands to monitor progress on the new £600 million Birmingham New Street station, said once HS2 had been complete, the next stage would be to look at how to ensure rapid access to places such as Dudley, Stourbridge, Wolverhampton and Cannock.

The Transport Secretary would not be drawn on whether that would mean the reopening of the Walsall-Dudley-Stourbridge rail line, but said it would be a priority to ensure that these towns would quickly be able to access the new line.

"The important thing will be to look at at how areas like Dudley, Stourbridge and Wolverhampton can get the most out of HS2 once it has been built," he said.

"Whether that is best done through a direct link to HS2, or through a new link to a station nearby in Birmingham, that is something we will have to look at.

"Once HS2 is up and running, the next thing to look at will be how we can improve connectivity, and that would involve asking people locally."

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The Walsall-Dudley-Stourbridge line closed to passenger rail in the 1960s, although part of it remained in freight use until 1993. Since then there has been a concerted campaign from the Stourbridge Line User Group to get the line reopened, restoring the direct rail link between Dudley and Birmingham.

The visit of Mr McLoughlin's, who himself grew up in Staffordshire, coincided with a fresh rebellion from county Tory MPs Michael Fabricant, Bill Cash and Jeremy Lefroy over the line, which will cut through swathes of the Staffordshire countryside.

Lichfield MP Mr Fabricant will table an amendment to stop the scheme when it goes before MPs on Monday.

Mr Fabricant claimed his outspoken opposition to HS2 contributed to his recent sacking as Tory Party vice-chairman, also has the backing of Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy and Stone MP Bill Cash.