The UK Government has allocated approximately £59m to projects that will help in the opening of five new West Midlands rail stations.
The new stations will be built in Kings Heath, Moseley and Stirchley in Birmingham; and Darlaston and Willenhall on the reopened Walsall-Wolverhampton line under £116m schemes, reported BBC.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) said that the new stations are expected to commence services from 2023.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street stated that the final sign-off will take place at the board on 19 March.
Used by freight and through trains since 1941, the Camp Hill line will see the construction of the Birmingham stations.
The project will cost around £61m, including £21m provided by WMCA and Birmingham City Council and £20m from the Department for Transport.
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By GlobalDataThe combined authority spokesman said that the rest of the funds will be approved by the board next month while all five stations have received planning permission.
The Walsall-Wolverhampton scheme will require between £55m and £39m from the government department, as well as £16m from the WMCA.
Andy Street was quoted by BBC as saying: “Yesterday (Thursday) was the meeting of the Department (for) Transport to allocate the funding for this. We’ve agreed on the timetable with West Midlands Trains and we’ve got permission from Network Rail to run the service.”
He added following the board’s involvement this month, there would be a public confirmation ‘with diggers going in the ground’ in Birmingham this year.
WMCA said that work under the plans for the Walsall to Wolverhampton line is expected to commence in the upcoming two months.