Willenhall & Darlaston station construction updates

[The Mercian]

I’ve had a search about and we don’t seem to have a thread about these two stations. Does anyone have any insight on the latest progress? I went past on a Shrewsbury service a couple of months ago and things looked well in progress, we seem to be getting regular updates on Camp Hill but a huge silence surrounds these even from news sources.

Willenhall and Darlaston stations

Your one stop shop for travel in the West Midlands

wmre.org.uk

At Darlaston, fascias to the platform canopies have been installed to Platform 1 and speakers for train announcements have been fixed.
Tactile paving is being laid to platform surfaces, a safety requirement to operate a modern station.

The cladding to the lift shafts has been applied allowing a visualisation of the skyline. And the base layer has been applied to the station car park that will accommodate 300 cars for commuters including EV charging points.

At Willenhall, the platform planks have been topped with concrete and lighting columns are being erected.


Canopies have been installed on the staircase and lift following the recent highway closures on Bilston Street and the road has been resurfaced on the bridge.

Willenhall and Darlaston stations will each have two platforms suitable for 4-car trains. The stations will also have:

• pedestrian footbridges, stairs and lifts
• ticket machines and information systems
• passenger help points on each platform
• secure bike parking
• car parks
• a pick-up and drop-off area

The only thing I have found in doing some searching on YOutube is from the Transport Matters channel at the following link posted about a month ago….

Two new Black Country railway stations are due to open soon. They're at Darlaston and Willenhall and both are being built on the site of the old stations that closed in the 1960s. Transport Matters has been to look round the construction sites at both stations.

Looks like unless we hear more from Kier Construction or TfWM looks like probably around the same time for completion as the Camp Hill stations.

 

[djox]

Showing on Google maps now as proper stations but no service listed. NR says sometime in 2026

 

[Baxenden Bank]

No-one loves Darlaston or Willenhall!

The last thing I saw from a reputable source was 'to open February 2026', in Modern Railways September 2024 edition. Seems further delay likely.

 

[Freightmaster]

No-one loves Darlaston or Willenhall!

The last thing I saw from a reputable source was 'to open February 2026', in Modern Railways September 2024 edition. Seems further delay likely.

I know it doesn't mean much, but times are in RTT from the May t/t change:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Willenhall all day on 18/05/2026

Train information at Willenhall all day on 18/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

...but nothing before then, not even CANcelled paths for training purposes.


Quite interesting because I always assumed these two stations would open before the Camp Hill line.



MARK

 

[pokemonsuper9]

...but nothing before then, not even CANcelled paths for training purposes.

Would they need trianing paths when trains already regularly run on that line by the TOC that will stop there (just not stopping there) unlike the Camp Hill line?

 

[trundlewagon]

Timetable here

https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/media/7090/download?inline

No Sunday service. Tremendous stuff.

 

[Harpo]

No-one loves Darlaston or Willenhall!

Certainly not the Shrewsbury line users who have inflated journey times trundling the long way to Brum.

The railway media might also eventually notice that the brand new stations on a fully electrified line will be served only by DMUs.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Certainly not the Shrewsbury line users who have inflated journey times trundling the long way to Brum.

The railway media might also eventually notice that the brand new stations on a fully electrified line will be served only by DMUs.

The trains won't be any slower than they are now, the stops are already timed for (with a 3.5 min performance allowance).

From Birmingham towards Shrewsbury the xx:34 to Liverpool (leaving 8 minutes after) has a 5 minute connection at Wolverhampton to it.
Towards Birmingham can change (5 minute change) at Wolverhampton for the ex-Liverpool, getting to Birmingham 6 minutes earlier.

If those few minutes are so vital they can do the above, but I imagine most won't care about getting in 6 minutes earlier, Northbound might be good for people with bad timekeeping (or who can only make that Liverpool train after work)

 

[spp]

Timetable here

https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/media/7090/download?inline

No Sunday service. Tremendous stuff.

States valid until May 2026 which suggests these stations are to be used prior to then

 

[SCDR_WMR]

States valid until May 2026 which suggests these stations are to be used prior to then

They should be available in a few weeks time. No training paths required as drivers and guards already sign the route.

Further services will follow, including the New St to Manchester Airport in December

 

[bleeder4]

When I was on 1Z60 yesterday we did actually stop at Darlaston station for a few minutes. RTT had the stop booked for Darlaston Junction, but it was at the station itself that we stopped. Looked basically complete from what I saw.

 

[moonarrow458]

The railway media might also eventually notice that the brand new stations on a fully electrified line will be served only by DMUs.

There will actually be 1 service operated by EMUs - the 22:27 Brum New Street to Wolverhampton service on weekdays. That is formed from the 21:53 Birmingham International - New Street service, booked a cl.730

But yes other than that all other services will be DMUs

 

[SCDR_WMR]

There will actually be 1 service operated by EMUs - the 22:27 Brum New Street to Wolverhampton service on weekdays. That is formed from the 21:53 Birmingham International - New Street service, booked a cl.730

But yes other than that all other services will be DMUs

And 350s hourly from May

 

[zwk500]

States valid until May 2026 which suggests these stations are to be used prior to then

Or that the base timetable change in May 2026 might require these times to be changed slightly.

 

[training808]

Does anybody know how busy the Shrewsbury services - that go to New St & use the Willenhall/Darlaston already - actually are?

 

[CharlieSpotted]

I would say the ones I have used are the quietest trains available between Wolves and New Street, much quieter than the ones around them that go via Smethwick.

 

[training808]

I would say the ones I have used are the quietest trains available between Wolves and New Street, much quieter than the ones around them that go via Smethwick.

Thanks mate. The train I get to Birmingham New Street from Walsall now (07:50) is rammed, every morning. This Darlaston train is a life saver

 

[cle]

Good to see it. Funny that both services are somewhat regional and the very local stops are a bit out of place. But necessary. Perhaps in time, something else more stopper will come along.

Is there also a Wolverhampton - Walsall (direct route) - planned?

 

[The Mercian]

Good to see it. Funny that both services are somewhat regional and the very local stops are a bit out of place. But necessary. Perhaps in time, something else more stopper will come along.

Is there also a Wolverhampton - Walsall (direct route) - planned?

I’d imagine that’ll be when they get around to thinking about opening up the Sutton Park line. First step get to Aldridge, then think about the other stops towards Minworth/Castle Vale.

 

[The Planner]

I’d imagine that’ll be when they get around to thinking about opening up the Sutton Park line. First step get to Aldridge, then think about the other stops towards Minworth/Castle Vale.

Aldridge will be a diesel shuttle from Walsall.

 

[chris_in_salop]

Does anybody know how busy the Shrewsbury services - that go to New St & use the Willenhall/Darlaston already - actually are?

The two trains leave Shrewsbury and Telford very close together.

Typically the via Smethwick train leaves Shrewsbury at xx.57, then the via Tame Bridge train leaves Shrewsbury at xx.05. For travel to Wolverhampton or Birmingham the via Smethwick train is more attractive, as it only stops at Shifnal and Codsall, while the Tame Bridge train stops everywhere.

In my experience the via Smethwick train is much busier.

 

[Bald Rick]

Is there also a Wolverhampton - Walsall (direct route) - planned?

Yes, next year.

 

[trawscymru27]

They should be available in a few weeks time. No training paths required as drivers and guards already sign the route.

Further services will follow, including the New St to Manchester Airport in December

Do you know any more about the New St to Man Apt service you mention? I haven’t heard of it before

 

[The Planner]

Do you know any more about the New St to Man Apt service you mention? I haven’t heard of it before

Destination Manchester

Read our exciting proposal for our trains to begin serving Manchester for the first time.

www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Sounds like the LNR service would take the path of the existing Airport-Crewe service (else why call at Styal), then run via Stoke and Bescot to Birmingham.
ie combining two existing paths so no new capacity needed. And inevitably very slow.

 

[Harpo]

Sounds like the LNR service would take the path of the existing Airport-Crewe service (else why call at Styal), then run via Stoke and Bescot to Birmingham.
ie combining two existing paths so no new capacity needed. And inevitably very slow.

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[The Planner]

Sounds like the LNR service would take the path of the existing Airport-Crewe service (else why call at Styal), then run via Stoke and Bescot to Birmingham.
ie combining two existing paths so no new capacity needed. And inevitably very slow.

Thats exactly what will happen.

 

[Bald Rick]

Sounds like the LNR service would take the path of the existing Airport-Crewe service (else why call at Styal), then run via Stoke and Bescot to Birmingham.
ie combining two existing paths so no new capacity needed. And inevitably very slow.

do the paths line up at Crewe?

 

[alex17595]

do the paths line up at Crewe?

The one from Stafford arrives at xx25 and to the Airport departs xx16. So its not great and something will have to change.

Southbound the Airport train arrives at xx38 and the Stafford leaves at xx33

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Why? It's clearly not intended to be an end-to-end service.

Direct train from Stafford and Stoke to Manchester Airport will likely be very fruitful.

Stoke to Birmingham was previously well used even when it went via Bescot. Now there is only the single XC per hour, I can't see it not being used.