West Midlands Metro plans long-term extension to Birmingham Airport

The "unknown date, 2027" entry in Wikipedia's "2027 in rail transport" list, "West Midlands Metro extends to Birmingham Airport from Birmingham New Street", refers to the long-term goal of the "East Birmingham to Solihull" extension, which branches off the already under-construction Eastside line (Digbeth/Curzon Street HS2 station) and is planned to run via Bordesley Green, Heartlands Hospital and Chelmsley Wood to Solihull, Birmingham Airport and the NEC. According to the operator's own website (West Midlands Metro) as well as WMCA and the Midland Metro Alliance, the scheme is currently only at the planning stage; no construction start or firm opening date has been set, and the airport connection is explicitly described as a longer-term aim beyond the first phase to North Solihull. The project forms part of a roughly £2.4bn West Midlands transport investment fund (2027-2032) that initially finances preparatory work.