Commuters in Birmingham and the Black Country have received a significant update on the long-delayed opening of several new railway stations, with transport bosses indicating services could begin within the 'next couple of months'.
Construction Complete, Testing Underway
Officials confirmed that construction work on all five new stations is now finished. This includes the three stations on the Camp Hill line – Moseley, Kings Heath, and Pineapple Road – as well as the new facilities in Darlaston and Willenhall.
Jo Shore, Director of Delivery for Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), told the Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee that while a firm date is not yet 'set in stone', an announcement is imminent. 'We've got test trains on site, we're training the conductors, public realm works are all done as well,' she stated.
Ending Decades of Wait for Passengers
The commencement of services will mark a historic return of passenger trains to these corridors after lengthy absences.
- The Camp Hill line stations will see passenger services return for the first time since the early 1940s.
- The reopening of Willenhall and Darlaston will conclude a 60-year wait, with services having ended in 1965.
The projects, delivered in partnership with the Department for Transport, West Midlands Railway, Network Rail, and local councils, were originally scheduled for completion in 2024 but faced severe delays and soaring costs.
Project Delays and Political Fallout
The stations have been hit by multiple setbacks. In July 2024, TfWM announced a one-year delay to the Camp Hill scheme and other major projects due to £121 million in budget pressures, itself a second delay after an initial 2023 target.
This prompted West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to call for a review of all projects, criticising the funding and delivery while accusing his predecessor, Andy Street, of making 'grand promises'. Mr Street responded by saying he was saddened by the party politics and that he had bequeathed billions in devolved transport funding.
Despite the past controversies, the focus is now firmly on the final stages before passengers can finally board trains at these eagerly anticipated new hubs.
