Funding that will be see a new railway station built in Aldridge looks set to be confirmed – that’s the message from West Midland Mayor Andy Street.
Mr Street, who leads the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “Aldridge MP Wendy Morton has been working with me on this exciting project for years and it looks like we are finally getting to the point where we can say ‘full steam ahead’ – and start building.
“We have already secured £400,000 to purchase the site for the new station, which is NHS-owned land next to the Anchor Meadow Health Centre.
“Now we have submitted an application to the Government which allocates specific cash to complete the project and get the station built.
“This will hopefully be rubber stamped soon, and we can get work started in Aldridge, just as it has been on the new station down the line at Willenhall.”
Work has started on the construction of the Willenhall station, with the construction team clearing a rubble strewn piece of waste ground on which a platform will be built.
Transport chiefs say the station at Aldridge would cater for 500,000 passengers a year with two trains an hour running to Birmingham New Street and Walsall.
The original Aldridge Station was opening by the Midland Railway in 1879. In 1923 it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway before passing to the London Midland Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948.
Mr Street said: “People in the Black Country have waited for decades to see these old stations return. Now we have Willenhall being built, Darlaston on the way and Aldridge on the verge of being confirmed.
“Not only will these stations provide a genuine public transport alternative to the car, but they will also help connect local people to the high quality jobs and opportunities being created across the wider region.”
Mr Street has worked with Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes on the Willenhall plans, and with Aldridge-Brownhills MP Wendy Morton on the Aldridge proposals.