West Midlands reopens Willenhall and Darlaston stations

The Willenhall and Darlaston stations in the Birmingham area, closed since 1965, were due to see passenger trains again in March 2026 once the rail regulator ORR gave its expected clearance. They belong to a modernisation project covering five stations that costs GBP 185 million (EUR 215 million), paid for with GBP 126 million from the Department for Transport and partial budgets from the regional government and local bodies; the three other stations, Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple, were planned for April and are to get a half-hourly service. According to Transport for West Midlands, Willenhall and Darlaston opened on 19 March 2026, with GBP 85 million spent on the two stations (LOK Report, 17 Mar 2026; Transport for West Midlands).