Bordesley ghost railway station with just one train a week to St Andrews for Birmingham City matches to close

Rail bosses confirmed a formal process to close Bordesley Railway Station will start in late spring and early summer, as part of the major Midlands Rail Hub project.

The station hosts one service a week on a Saturday to help football fans get to St Andrews for Birmingham City home games. Other football specials are put on when Blues are playing home games at other times.

It lies between Birmingham Moor Street and Small Heath stations and is the least used in the West Midlands county with only 9,088 passengers using it annually.

Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee were told discussions were ongoing with the club about the closure and the impact it could have.

Transport for West Midlands is looking into the feasibility of alternative services to the area such as very light rail, rapid Sprint buses or extending the Metro service from Digbeth into Bordesley and beyond – eventually linking up to the airport.

The station could be closed to make way for the Bordesley Chords, which will enable the Camp Line stations currently in construction at Kings Heath, Moseley and Pineappple to connect with Birmingham Moor Street station.

This is part of the wider near-£2 billion Midlands Rail Hub – an ambitious programme which will see a host of new services introduced to improve connectivity and ease congestion.

Peter Sargant, head of rail policy and strategy for West Midlands Rail Executive, told the scrutiny meeting: “Linked to Midlands Rail Hub is the need to shut Bordesley Station.

“The intention is there will be a formal closure process started on Bordesley Station in late spring/early summer.

“We’re currently actively engaging with Birmingham City Football Club and other stakeholders about the consultation and the impact that might potentially have.

“It’s currently used by football fans travelling to and from St Andrews is the main use of the station.

“We’re working through the issues and were awaiting confirmation from the DfT when they are happy to commence that formal statutory consultation process.”