PLANS to redevelop Solihull Railway Station form part of a £2billion bid for government money put forward by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The authority has approved bids to central government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement fund and Bus Service Improvement Plan fund, which could secure investment of around £2bn over the next five years.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “Since I became Mayor, spending on transport has increased seven-fold, and this latest bid will provide funding to take our plans forward to provide a world-class network for the region – including major improvements right here in Solihull.
“Metro extensions in Birmingham and Wolverhampton are set to open this year and our teams are powering ahead with new routes through Sandwell into Dudley and in Birmingham linking the whole network with HS2.
“And as someone who grew up in Solihull, I’m delighted to say that we are planning to use money from this bid to redevelop Solihull Railways Station.”
Further investment would see new rapid bus services launched, lower fares, more zero-emission vehicles and the development of miles of cycling routes.
As well as plans to redevelop Solihull’s main station, there are ambitions to open a station in Castle Bromwich and bring significant improvements to bus services in and around Solihull.
“This bid for transport funding will enable our region to complete some of the huge projects we have already started, but also to crack on with other exciting developments to the network, which will create opportunities for local people, bring in investment and help us achieve our green ambitions too,” said Mr Street.
“Development of key interchanges, such as Solihull railway station will forge better links between bus, rail and cycling routes, as well as bringing real improvements to a much-loved local station.”
