Site for new £30M train station in West Midlands being secured and cleared

The future site for the new £30M Aldridge train station in the West Midlands is being secured and cleared by Network Rail engineers, paving way for construction to begin.The £30M project will see a single platform station built with a 40 space car park and road access from Westfield Drive in Aldridge, Walsall. The above image shows how the station will look.Planned to open during 2027, Aldridge Station will initially offer a half-hourly service to Walsall town centre on the Walsall to Wolverhampton line.Passengers at Aldridge will be offered an easy interchange with services to Birmingham as well as the opportunity to connect to wider regional and national services.The new Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway Company (WSMR) has recently announced plans to run services from north Wales and Shropshire to London Euston via the Sutton Park Line and opportunities for the service to stop at Aldridge are being explored.Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) is working with Network Rail to get the station built and open, restoring passenger rail services to the town for the first time in 60 years. The original Aldridge station was opened in 1879 and then closed in 1965, although freight still uses the track that passes through the station.The £30M funding has been allocated from the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) awarded to TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) by the Department for Transport.Longer term plans could see both the line electrified offering direct services to Birmingham and beyond, and the station upgraded as part of the wider reopening of the Sutton Park Line to passenger services.There are currently another two stations are under construction on the Walsall to Wolverhampton line serving Darlaston and Willenhall. Unfortunately, these stations have been beset with issues that have seen the cost balloon and openeing pushed back to late 2025 .Funding for the £1.7bn Midlands Rail Hub, the scheme to improve rail capacity and links across the East and West Midlands, has recently been confirmed by government. By providing increased capacity for train services into Birmingham city centre it will offer the opportunity to reopen the Sutton Park Line in full.Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA Andy Street said: “It’s astonishing to think that despite being on an active railway line no passenger trains have stopped at Aldridge since 1965.“That’s why we are making this investment and working with Network Rail to get this station open for the people of Aldridge – starting with a shuttle service to Walsall from Spring 2027. This will finally start to give Aldridge the railway services it so badly needs – offering residents a convenient alternative to the car.“But we are not resting there, we are actively seeking further opportunities to improve and increase services at Aldridge. This includes working with the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midland Railway Company on plans to give Aldridge a direct train service to London.“We will continue to work with partners in the months and years ahead to realise this and our longer term ambition to reopen the Sutton Park Line in full, something which is now a step nearer thanks to the funding we have secured for the Midlands Rail Hub.”Network Rail North West and Central region managing director Rob McIntosh said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with the WMCA to build a better connected, more prosperous, fairer and greener region.“Aldridge station is one of a number of new stations being funded by TfWM and WMRE across the West Midlands. These exciting transport hubs will not only support economic growth by improving connectivity for passengers, but also provide multiple benefits for local communities.”WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Walsall Council Mike Bird said: “This is an exciting time for rail in the region with work now underway on delivering six new stations, including at Willenhall and Darlaston, and plans for more in the pipeline.“New stations offering convenient rail links not only open up new work and leisure opportunities for residents and the communities they serve, but by making it easier for visitors and works can act as a catalyst for future investment in our towns.”Earlier this month, the West Midlands Rail Executive confirmed £1M funding to start looking into the feasibility of three more new stations at Castle Bromwich, Coventry East and near Tattenhall.Like what you’ve read?