Expansion plans for Walsall's train stations would bring faster rail links to city
Two train stations in Walsall will be expanded and improved, under plans unveiled today.
Walsall Railway Station will see an increase in its capacity to cope with new services and provide faster links to and from Wolverhampton.
Meanwhile, transport authority Centro has revealed a £75,000 scheme to make improvements at Bescot Railway Station.
Under the plans, CCTV would be upgraded, lighting improved and improvements to the car park and footpaths made.
Plans drawn up by Walsall Council state that the expansion of the town centre train station would help services to grow and improve in the future.
It comes as work on the Chase Line electrification is under way with the aim of providing a cleaner, greener and more regular service.
The action plan which has been drawn up states: "It will also bring potential for services to destinations further afield to be introduced.
"Along with improvements to rail services, Walsall train station would also require its capacity to be increased to facilitate new services, as well as accommodate a potential rapid transit service between Walsall and Wolverhampton.
"Direct travel between Walsall town centre and Wolverhampton city centre is limited by public transport to bus travel.
"This journey of 35 minutes could be reduced to 15.minutes by introducing a rapid transit service between the two strategic centres.
"As developments within the town centre are delivered the need to maintain and expand an efficient public transport network is imperative."
Speaking about the potential for a rapid service, council leader Mike Bird added: "It is pretty obvious we are not going to get a Metro line so we are looking at other ways to take cars off the roads."
A decision on whether to push forward with improvements at Bescot train station is due to be made by transport bosses next month. If the scheme goes ahead, CCTV will be upgraded to digital and two extra cameras will be provided to cover the footpath from the car park to the station.
Lighting will be improved and the transport authority said it was working with London Midland with a view to install real time information as well as train timetables on the car park.
