PLANS for new railway stations in Coventry and Solihull are being considered by transport bosses.
Coventry East (Binley), Foleshill and Castle Bromwich were chosen as part of five areas for Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) to explore the feasibility and business cases for development.
The other proposed stations include Balsall Heath, in Birmingham, and Tettenhall, in Wolverhampton, were identified as those with the strongest case for development first out of 15 areas across the region.
It follows the award of funding from the West Midlands City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) to investigate and plan the next phase of station development.
Once complete these business cases could be used to secure further Government funding to design and build the new stations.
Delivery of some of the new stations is also linked to the completion of HS2 which will free up capacity for more local services on existing rail lines, as well as completion of the Midland Rail Hub project to increase rail network capacity into central Birmingham.
TfWM and WMRE say three of the new stations need to be planned now so they can be built and ready to open alongside Midlands Rail Hub and HS2.
The authorities say Coventry East (Binley) which is on the main line between Coventry and Rugby will benefit from greater capacity for local services following completion of HS2, Foleshill is on the Coventry-Nuneaton line.
They added Castle Bromwich in the east of Birmingham would also benefit from the greater capacity into central Birmingham provided by Midlands Rail Hub.
Councillor Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Our rail station developments proposals are about both growing our local economy, better connecting people to job and leisure opportunities and assisting our move towards a net zero carbon region.
“And these stations are the ones that most match these aims and, although it may take time to deliver, we are starting the planning now so when the funding becomes available we are ready to go with a sound plan of action.”
TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and the WMRE are already overseeing the growth of the rail network in the region with construction work currently under way on five new stations – three on the Camp Hill line in south Birmingham at Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road, and two on the Walsall to Wolverhampton line serving Darlaston and Willenhall.
