Transport bosses today welcomed the findings of a study looking into the possibility of building new stations and introducing local passenger rail services between Birmingham and Tamworth and on the Sutton Park Line between Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Walsall.

Centro, Birmingham City Council, Warwickshire County Council, Walsall Council and Staffordshire County Council asked consultants Halcrow to look at whether there would be enough demand to justify reopening stations for people living, working and visiting in the areas along the two routes.

The study found that reopening the Tamworth line to passenger services, with trains stopping at new stations at Fort Parkway, Castle Bromwich and Kingsbury, as well the existing stations at Water Orton, Coleshill Parkway and Wilnecote would bring significant benefits and the passenger demand needed to achieve a good business case.

The Sutton Park Line between Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Walsall would also attract reasonable passenger numbers, but not as many as the Tamworth Line as people living along much of the route already have good access to rail services on the Cross City Line between Lichfield and Birmingham New Street.

The study has highlighted the need to create more rail capacity in central Birmingham to accommodate these services. This will require the construction of a new route into the currently unused platforms at Moor Street station, including new link lines in the Bordesley area known as the Camp Hill Chords. These new lines are also necessary if new local services on the Camp Hill Line through Kings Heath are to be introduced.

This route was subject to a previous study in 2007 which estimated that approximately one million car journeys per year could be removed from Birmingham’s roads by the Camp Hill Line services, and similar benefits are predicted for the Tamworth and Sutton Park Lines.

There appears to be a strong overall business case for a package of schemes including constructing the chord lines, diverting services into Moor Street from New Street, and introducing local services on the Tamworth, Sutton Park and Camp Hill lines. However, the case for the Sutton Park line is not as strong as other elements of the package.

The study’s findings are welcomed by Birmingham City Council and Centro, which are working with neighbouring Authorities to look at all the options for taking forward the schemes. The next focus will be undertaking more detailed work on the Camp Hill chords, and also a further study into providing new services to Aldridge.

Councillor Len Gregory, Cabinet Member for Transportation and Street Services at Birmingham City Council, said:

“It is pleasing that this study has shown there is considerable demand for local passenger rail services on the Tamworth and Sutton Park Lines.  We look forward to working with partners in exploring changes in rail capacity into Birmingham City Centre.”

Councillor Timothy Huxtable, Lead Member for Rail and Metro Operations at Centro, said:

“The conclusions of the study are welcomed, and the projects need to be taken forward as a major component of the West Midlands Region Rail Development Plan, as a regional transport priority.”