New railway stations and Midland Metro link tabled in transport proposals
New railway stations could be opened and a Midland Metro connection added in proposals being commented on in a public consultation ending next month.
The six-week public consultation on the Draft 2026 Delivery Plan for Transport ends on June 9.
It is part of a plan for growth by the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The authority predicts there will be 1.2 million extra journeys every day by 2035 – and bosses want to not only ease congestion but also ensure air quality.
Rail travel across the region continues to increase, going up 70 per cent over the past 10 years. And as part of the delivery plan, new stations are being proposed, including two at Willenhall and Darlaston.
The rail station at Darlaston, previously known as Darlaston James Bridge railway station, was part of the line but closed in 1965 along with the line.
Willenhall shut in 1965 when the line between Wolverhampton and Walsall was closed to passengers.
Darlaston South Councillor Paul Bott remembers using the railway station in Darlaston for factory trips to Blackpool.
He said: “I support the opening of the new line and stations 100 per cent.
“There is a desperate need for to take the traffic off the roads and also clean up the environment.”
He added: “I think if there was that commitment for the scheme, the money would be found for it to happen.
“I think it will happen, and I look forward to the benefits.
“It would be well used, for people not just going to Wolverhampton or Walsall, but also joining the main line.”
The consultation also features Metro routes. It states the extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill is already ‘committed’ with work expected to start next year.
But it also signals schemes to be investigated over the next ten years, including a line from Wednesbury to Walsall, and Brierley Hill to Stourbridge.
In addition, the consultation is also looking at increasing the speed of buses in the region by introducing more Sprint routes.
Two routes already operate – Quinton to Birmingham, and Birmingham to Airport and Solihull – and they benefit from dedicated priority at key junctions.
One of the routes proposed is for the Hagley Road, from Dudley to Birmingham.
Once the consultation is compete, the combined authority will consider the responses before producing a revised delivery plan later this year.
