Extra stations would boost connectivity

DEAR Editor, It is to be hoped that the two Andies (Burnham for Greater Manchester and Street for West Midlands) can persuade the government not to cancel HS2 but provide the areas north of London with the economic boost we need and deserve. After all, huge sums of money have already been spent in the capital on Crossrail 1 and are now planned for Crossrail 2, none of which benefits us directly.

We need to look at what is needed for the major public transport hub which should arise at the confluence of New Street, Moor Street and Curzon Street stations. Extending the tram network through the area to Birmingham Airport is obviously beneficial to all. The proposed reopening to passenger traffic of various branch lines to feed the hub also makes perfect sense.

For more than 40 years, I have supported the reopening of the Kings Norton to Camp Hill line, having been born in Moseley just before it closed. All the talk has been of reopening Hazelwell, Kings Heath and Moseley stations, but nothing has been mentioned about the rest of the line.

It would be impractical to reinstate the Brighton Road stop, but Highgate should surely be done. With the Central Mosque and all the facilities along Belgrave Middleway and Highgate Road, it should have plenty of passengers. Not least, the link with the No 8 bus would give connections with Five Ways and the Inner Circle.

Perhaps reopening Camp Hill, for Stratford Road connections might be less urgent, but Bordesley Station would provide access to St. Andrew’s and the Coventry Road.

David Spilsbury, Cannon Hill, Birmingham