Major construction work on five eagerly awaited new railway stations across the West Midlands has been officially completed, marking a significant milestone for regional transport.
Handover and Final Preparations
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has formally handed over the stations to West Midlands Railway. The batch includes three stations on Birmingham's Camp Hill line – at Kings Heath, Moseley, and Pineapple Road – and two in the Black Country at Willenhall and Darlaston in Walsall.
While the structures are now finished, further operational work is required before passengers can board. This includes essential driver training, safety testing, and signalling checks, which will take place over the coming weeks. The aim is to have all five stations ready for passenger service early in the new year.
Restoring Links After Decades
The opening of these stations will reconnect communities to the rail network after long absences. The Camp Hill line stations will see passenger services return for the first time since the early 1940s. For Willenhall and Darlaston, the wait has been even longer, with services ending in 1965 – a gap of nearly 60 years.
Mayor Parker emphasised the broader benefits, stating: "The services improve connectivity and take congestion off the roads. They will help bring increased footfall to the places around them and they will help drive economic growth."
Overcoming Delays and Future Challenges
The project has not been without its difficulties. All five stations were originally scheduled for completion and opening in 2024, but faced significant delays and soaring costs. In July 2024, a £121 million budget pressure forced Transport for West Midlands to announce a one-year delay for the Camp Hill scheme and other projects.
Mayor Parker, who inherited the overspent and delayed projects upon his election, said his priority was to "get a grip of the delivery timetable" and align all stakeholders. He has also called for a review of all current and planned transport projects in the region.
A specific issue remains for the Black Country stations. A proposal that services calling at Willenhall and Darlaston might not continue to Walsall's main town centre station has been criticised. Walsall Council's deputy leader, Adrian Andrew, previously labelled the idea as 'bonkers'.
Mayor Parker confirmed he is in active dialogue with the Department for Transport (DfT) to secure the support and funding needed to connect these services to Walsall. "I'm working closely with the minister for rail and officials at the DfT," he said, adding that technical work is assessing the business case.
The stations have been delivered through a partnership involving the Department for Transport, West Midlands Railway, Network Rail, Walsall Council, and Birmingham City Council.
Denise Wetton, Network Rail's Central Route Director, commented: "These five new stations are great additions to the West Midlands rail network, better connecting people and communities to new journeys and opportunities."
