Interchange project suffers new setback

Plans to rebuild Wolverhampton railway station as the next phase of the city's Interchange project have hit the buffers after the Government said it could not afford the cost.

The news comes as hopes that a revamp of the station could be made a condition of the West Coast Mainline franchise when it is re-tendered were also dashed.

It follows appeals by Wolverhampton's three MPs – Labour's Pat McFadden and Emma Reynolds, and Tory Paul Uppal – for Government cash for a rebuilding of the "tired and outdated" station.

The new £22.5m bus station is part of a long-term £176m Interchange plan, that will also see the train station rebuilt if funding is secured.

The new bus station is set to open next month, but no date has yet been announced.