Major £500,000 upgrade to town railway stations Better lighting, information and car parks for Sutton Coldfield
COMMUTERS using Sutton Coldfield railway stations will get new lights, better information and car parks under a £500,000 investment scheme, it has been announced.
Network Rail, London Midland and Transport for West Midlands have outlined plans to upgrade Butlers Lane, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield and Wylde Green stations – all key transport hubs on the Cross City line. The investment has been welcomed by Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell who said: “It is good to learn that the West Midlands rail industry partners are taking their responsibility towards stations in my constituency seriously.”
London Midland has introduced a new early Sunday morning service on the line to Birmingham from December 11 and will also be spending £14,000 at Butlers Lane, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield and Wylde Green stations. This is to upgrade help information points, as well install new signs.
Meanwhile, at Sutton Coldfield and Wylde Green stations, Transport for West Midlands will be installing new LED lighting, and resurfacing the park and ride facilities. Collectively, this work will make these stations more welcoming for travelling passengers.
Rob Hornsey, head of Cross City Services at London Midland said: “Our aim is to make travel as simple and easy as we can for all our passengers. The new earlier Sunday morning services have been planned based on what local people have said is important to them and reflects the Picture: Jason Hood changing ways people are using rail travel.”
Cllr Roger Horton, speaking for Transport for West Midlands, said: “The free park and ride spaces we provide at these stations and others have been hugely successful in attracting thousands of motorists to make the bulk of their daily commute by train.
“They make rail travel more convenient while helping to combat road congestion and pollution which is why we have been busy expanding and improving our Park and Ride facilities across the region.”