Disused industrial buildings replaced by new West Midlands station

A new railway station is being built at Willenhall in the West Midlands county of Walsall on the site of industrial waste processing buildings which are being demolished to make way for the new railway station’s platforms.

The recycling shop was based at a site near Rose Hill in Willenhall, but was relocated to make way for the new station. It is on the opposite side of the Walsall to Wolverhampton railway line which was vacated last year.

Underneath the site are historic mine workings that need to be stabilised, but once this work is complete construction of the new station’s platforms, elevators, stairs and footbridge can begin. The station will be part of a £55m project to reopen the Willenhall and Darlaston lines to passenger services for the first time in over 50 years.

A new station is also opening at Darlaston and preparatory work is currently underway including, as at Willenhall, securing the underground mine workings.

Once the line reopens, it will operate every hour between Walsall and Wolverhampton and between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton.

Both stations are being developed in partnership with West Midlands Trains, Network Rail, Walsall Council and the Department for Transport, with development being led by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE). The project contractors are the Buckingham Group and the SLC-AECOM joint venture.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMRE Chairman, said: “It’s fantastic to finally see the whole of Willenhall site ready for construction to begin. I even had the opportunity to meet a local trainee on site – a direct example of how our investment is boosting jobs and stepping stone to a career in construction.”

“This station will have a transformative impact here in Willenhall – offering residents fast passenger service to Wolverhampton, Walsall and Birmingham when it opens next year. It will also help us reduce car usage and support our #WM2041 net zero commitment.

Cllr Adrian Andrew, Deputy Chairman of Walsall Council, said: “The new station will be a valuable asset to the town center and local businesses by making Willenhall a more attractive and convenient place to live, work and visit.

“I’m looking forward to the development in the coming months.”