West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says the new railway station being built in Willenhall will be a ‘game changer’ for the area’s future – as contractors ensure that its past doesn’t get in the way.
The new station is being built on a site off Bilston Street as part of a £54 million project which will also see another station at James Bridge, in Darlaston.
Bosses behind the project are currently working to stabilise the ground before constructing the station, a common practice for major buildings in the region, due its coal mining heritage.
Mr Street said: “This new railway station is going to be a game changer for the people of Willenhall, linking the area to new opportunities, helping to bring in investment and providing an alternative to the car which will help us reach our climate goals across the region.
“Like so much that’s going on in transport, it’s a real investment in the future – but in the Black Country you’re never too far from a reminder of the area’s proud industrial heritage too.”
The original stations shut more than 50 years ago as part of the Beeching Cuts. Once open, passengers will be able to travel to either Walsall or Wolverhampton in eight minutes and Birmingham New Street in less than 30 minutes.
To help prepare, passenger trains will soon run on tracks which currently only serve freight trains, Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes said.
The stations will see two trains per hour made up of an hourly service from Birmingham New Street to Crewe, calling at Wolverhampton, and an hourly shuttle between Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Mr Street added: "It has been a long time coming, but it really is fantastic news that the diggers are on site in Willenhall and our plans to bring the station back to life are becoming a reality."