New Stations for Old
It was hoped that the West Midlands region would see the reopening of the five long-closed stations originally named Willenhall, Darlaston, Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell by December 2022, and the redevelopment of two existing stations at University and Perry Barr in time for the Commonwealth Games. However, the projects have seen delays and the current status of each of these developments is as follows.
Original Station : Willenhall (Bilston Street) opened in 1837 and closed in 1965.
Location : In Bilston Street about 250 yards south of Willenhall Town Centre (Market Place).
Current Status (January 2024) : Planning Permission granted by Walsall Council in October 2020. The full business case was approved by the WMCA Board on 15 January 2021. Government funding confirmed in March 2021. Following the collapse into administration of the Buckingham Group, work was suspended on the station. It restarted in autumn 2023.
Projected Opening Date : Winter 2025/2026.
Projected Service Level : 1 tph Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street via Wolverhampton, 1 tph Wolverhampton to Walsall.
Original Station : Darlaston James Bridge opened in 1837 and closed in 1965.
Location : Accessible from Kendricks Road or Cemetery Road about a mile north east of Darlaston Town Centre.
Current Status (January 2024) : Planning Permission granted by Walsall Council in October 2020. The full business case was approved by the WMCA Board on 15 January 2021. Government funding confirmed in March 2021. Following the collapse into administration of the Buckingham Group, work was suspended on the station. It restarted in autumn 2023.
Projected Opening Date : Winter 2025/2026.
Projected Service Level : 1 tph Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street via Wolverhampton, 1 tph Wolverhampton to Walsall.
Original Station : Moseley opened in 1867 and closed on 27 January 1941.
Location : The main entrance will be in St Mary’s Row about 150 yards east of Moseley Village.
Current Status (January 2024) : Planning Permission granted by Birmingham City Council in September 2020. The full business case was approved by the WMCA Board on 15 January 2021. Government and WMCA funding confirmed in March 2021. A poll to name the station was held and, of the two choices offered, 55% of which were in favour of Moseley Village, and 45% Moseley. Construction is now taking place on site.
Projected Opening Date : December 2024.
Projected Service Level : Initially 2 tph between Birmingham New Street and King's Norton.
Original Station : Kings Heath opened in 1840 and closed on 27 January 1941.
Location : To the south west of the Alcester Road (A435) at the northern end of Kings Heath High Street.
Current Status (March 2021) : Planning Permission granted by Birmingham City Council in January 2020. The full business case was approved by the WMCA Board on 15 January 2021. Government and WMCA funding confirmed in March 2021. Construction is now taking place on site.
Projected Opening Date : December 2024.
Projected Service Level : Initially 2 tph between Birmingham New Street and King's Norton.
Original Station : Hazelwell opened on 1 January 1903 and closed on 27 January 1941.
Location : To the north of Cartland Road about ½ mile east of the A441 at Stirchley. For this reason, many local residents are asking for the station to be named Stirchley rather than Hazelwell.
Current Status (March 2021) : Planning permission granted by Birmingham City Council in January 2020. The full business case was approved by the WMCA Board on 15 January 2021. Government and WMCA funding confirmed in March 2021. A poll to name the station was held and, of the three choices offered, 48% of which were in favour of Pineapple Road, 30% Stirchley and 22% Hazelwell. Construction is now taking place on site.
Projected Opening Date : December 2024.
Projected Service Level : Initially 2 tph between Birmingham New Street and King's Norton.
Current Station : Opened on 8 May 1978 when regular stopping services were introduced on the southern half of the Cross City line.
Location : The station is between the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the north west and the University of Birmingham to the south and east.
Current Layout : The current entrance/exit is at the southern end of the platforms into Vincent Drive. The booking office and the current entrance/exit is very small and both platforms are very narrow, making the station inadequate for the number of passengers using it.
Proposed Layout : Brand new buildings will be built at the northern end of the platforms linked by a new canal bridge to the University of Birmingham and platforms will be doubled in width with canopies extended along the platform.
Current Status (January 2024) : Planning permission granted by Birmingham City Council in June 2020. Funding (£56 million) for the station was agreed by the board of the WMCA in July 2020. Construction work started on site in March 2021. The building work has been completed but the building has yet to open.
Projected Opening Date : 2024.
Current Station : Originally opened on this site in 1837 making it one of the oldest stations in Birmingham.
Location : The station is on the western side of the A34 road from Birmingham to Walsall.
Previous Layout : The previous entrance/exit was via a very small dingy entrance hall in the middle of a rundown terrace of shops. Increased train services in each direction during the Commonwealth Games, would have made the previous layout totally inadequate.
Revised Layout : The flyover on the A34 was demolished, improving access to the station. The row of shops was demolished and a brand new booking office built. Improved access between the station and the One Stop Shopping Centre was provided with improved bus/train interchange facilities.
Current Status : The station rebuild was completed on time and the station reopened on Sunday 29 May 2022.