Preparations begin for new £30m railway station

The future location for Aldridge railway station is currently being secured and cleared in preparation for the start of a £30m project.

A single-platform station will be constructed along with a 40-space car park and road access from Westfield Drive and is now underway.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) are collaborating with Network Rail to oversee the construction and opening of the station.

Scheduled to commence operations in 2027, Aldridge Station will initially provide a half-hourly service to Walsall town centre, where passengers will have interchange options for services to Birmingham and connections to broader regional and national services.

In the longer term, plans may involve electrifying the line to enable direct services to Birmingham and beyond, along with upgrades to the station as part of the broader reopening of the Sutton Park Line to passenger services.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, 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.”