Work finishes on five new railway stations

Gurdip ThandiLocal Democracy Reporter
News imagePA Media A West Midlands Railways train at a station. It is yellow, orange and white, and two carriages are visible.PA Media
The five new stations in the West Midlands are due to open to passengers in 2026

Construction work has finished on five new railway stations in the West Midlands.

Kings Heath, Moseley and Pineapple Road stations on the Camp Hill line in Birmingham, along with stations at Willenhall and Darlaston in Walsall, are due to open in early 2026.

They were originally scheduled to have been finished and in operation in 2024, but were hit with delays and soaring costs.

Once opened, it will mean the return of passengers to the Camp Hill line for the first time since the early 1940s and the end of a 60-year wait for services at Willenhall and Darlaston.

Richard Parker, mayor of the West Midlands, recently handed control of the stations over to West Midlands Railway after the work was completed.

He said the services would improve connectivity and take congestion off the roads.

"They will help bring increased footfall to the places around it and they will help drive economic growth," he added.

News imageWMCA An aerial view of a railway station under construction. WMCA
The new Pineapple Road station, pictured during construction, will open next year

The Labour mayor said driver training, testing and signalling work would take place over the next few weeks to ensure the stations were ready for passengers in the new year.

The stations have been delivered in partnership with the Department for Transport, West Midlands Railway, Network Rail, Birmingham City Council and Walsall Council.

Denise Wetton, Network Rail's central route director, said: "These five new stations are great additions to the West Midlands rail network, better connecting people and communities to new journeys and opportunities."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Related internet links