Plans for £15bn tube-style transport system unveiled

Plans for a £15bn expansion of the region’s metro and rail services have been unveiled to create a London Underground style transport network.

The plans have been put forward by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street as part of his re-election campaign.

The 150-mile network would cost £15bn and take 20 years to complete and would include 380 new stops, eight new metro lines and 21 new rail stations.

Street claims the costs would be met by more funding from central Government, contributions from housing and commercial developers and borrowing against the future income from ticket sales on the Metro.

The 21 new stations would include re-opening the Sutton Park Line, starting with Aldridge station, re-opening Pelsall and Brownhills stations, and building a new station at Tettenhall.

New Birmingham stations would also be created in Balsall Heath and Dudley Road.

New technology such as driverless pods would be used in Coventry to connect sites such as the University of Warwick, Jaguar Land Rover, Ansty and the city centre.

Four new stations would also be added in Coventry at Coundon Road, Foleshill, Coventry South and Binley/Willenhall.

Plans to re-open the Camp Hill line and the Walsall to Wolverhampton line are at planning stage already.

Street said: “For too long we have been left behind by London and Manchester, and other cities around the world.

“We are a world-class city region and we deserve a world-class Metro and rail network.

“In recent years we have made great progress completing the Metro extension to Centenary Square on time and on budget, and bringing the plans for the new rail stations to life in South Birmingham and the Black Country.

“But now is time for the next stage of ambition. This plan will connect communities which haven’t had Metro or rail lines for decades, and restore pride in the West Midlands.”