After significant delays and budget pressures, construction work on five eagerly awaited new railway stations across the West Midlands has finally been completed. The milestone was marked by Mayor Richard Parker, who officially handed over the sites to West Midlands Railway.
A Historic Return for Passenger Services
The completion paves the way for passenger trains to return to the Camp Hill line in Birmingham for the first time since the early 1940s. The three new stations on this route are at Kings Heath, Moseley, and Pineapple Road. Simultaneously, the reopening of Willenhall and Darlaston stations in Walsall ends a 60-year wait, with services having ceased there in 1965.
All five stations were originally scheduled to open in 2024 but faced substantial delays and soaring costs. In July 2024, Transport for West Midlands confirmed a one-year delay to the Camp Hill scheme due to £121 million in budget pressures. This was the second major postponement, as the project was initially slated for completion in 2023.
Final Preparations and Ongoing Challenges
With construction now finished, the focus shifts to final preparations. Mayor Parker confirmed that work including driver training, testing, and signalling will take place over the coming weeks. The aim is to ensure the stations are ready and safe for passenger services, which are expected to commence early in the new year.
However, a key issue remains unresolved for the Walsall stations. A proposal that services calling at Willenhall and Darlaston might not continue to Walsall's main town centre station has been controversial. Walsall Council's deputy leader, Adrian Andrew, previously described the idea as 'bonkers'.
Mayor Parker stated he is in active dialogue with the Department for Transport (DfT) on the matter. "I'm working closely with the minister for rail and officials at the DfT to get the support and funding we need to connect the trains running through Willenhall and Darlaston to Walsall," he said.
Leadership and Future Impact
The Mayor acknowledged inheriting projects that were "massively overspent and delayed" when he was elected. He emphasised the effort to streamline delivery, stating, "We've had to get a grip of the delivery timetable, get all the stakeholders working to the same project plan."
He highlighted the expected benefits of the new stations:
- Improving connectivity and reducing road congestion.
- Increasing footfall for surrounding local businesses.
- Driving regional economic growth.
Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s central route director, welcomed the additions: "These five new stations are great additions to the West Midlands rail network, better connecting people and communities to new journeys and opportunities."
The project is a partnership between the Department for Transport, West Midlands Railway, Network Rail, and Birmingham and Walsall City Councils. The news of the delays earlier in the year prompted Mayor Parker to call for a review of all current and planned transport projects in the region.
