Three new railway stations proposed for West Midlands, including Castle Bromwich

West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) has shortlisted three locations to get new train stations following a feasibility study.

The research concluded that a new station could provide much needed improvement to public transport for the three communities - thereby supporting its aims of creating a better connected, greener, fairer and more prosperous West Midlands.

The three locations are Castle Bromwich, Coventry East and near Tettenhall. Each of the potential new stations, which would be located on existing railway lines.

They are also in areas with an absence of rapid public transport links and with some high levels of deprivation in their catchment areas. The station names for all three locations could be decided in collaboration with local communities, WMRE added.

Another three railway stations, previously approved, are due to open later this year at Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road in Stirchley. The public voted for each of these names in a poll.

What are the railway station plans at Castle Bromwich?

Castle Bromwich is on the line between Birmingham and Leicester/Nottingham and would restore a station which was closed in 1968. 

Are there more details about the plans at Coventry and Tettenhall?

Coventry East is on the line linking Coventry and Rugby and would provide a brand new station in the Binley/Willenhall area. Another new station in Wolverhampton between Tettenhall, Claregate and Pendeford would be located on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line. 

Who is funding the three new railway stations in the West Midlands and what about stations that are not going ahead?

The proposed station development funding is from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) awarded to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) by the Department for Transport.

WMRE said that further proposed stations which have not made the shortlist could be reconsidered once the Midlands Rail Hub, which will increase regional rail capacity between the East and West Midlands as well as into Birmingham city centre via Moor Street Station, is under construction.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street reacts to the three new railway station proposals

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMRE Chair, said: “With five new railway stations under construction and a sixth on the way, we’re getting on with delivering the transport infrastructure local people want to see right across our region. 

“We’ve now whittled down our list of stations to a priority list of these three at Castle Bromwich, Coventry East and Tettenhall – as these are the ones most likely to deliver the biggest benefit to the communities they serve. For those locations which did not make the shortlist, we’re still looking at ways to bring forward delivery.

“The £1.7 billion Midland Rail Hub scheme - now fully funded by Government - may provide an avenue and will certainly be a game changer enabling us to connect even more towns and communities to the rail network.

“New rail infrastructure can be transformative for an area - offering residents sustainable and convenient access to rapid and reliable public transport. That’s why it’s good news that local people will benefit from these stations very soon.”