Sutton Park Line Reopening: Any Updates?

[Jorge Da Silva]

I know there have been plans to reopen the line which links Water Orton with Walsall via Sutton Park which has been closed since 1965. Have there been any updates since 2015 when the plans were shelved. Particularly now its TfWM and WMCA now in charge of the transport around the West Midlands. Has it been revived like Camp Hill plans were?

 

[The_Engineer]

I have not seen anything in the railway press about this for a long time, so I would say it is still in the long grass…..

 

[6Gman]

What would be the purpose of such a (passenger) reopening?

 

[The Planner]

Aldridge may eventually get a station, no date though. The whole route is unlikely to see passenger traffic again (unless diverted)

 

[MarkyT]

Aldridge may eventually get a station, no date though. The whole route is unlikely to see passenger traffic again (unless diverted)

That makes sense as a short extension of services that currently terminate at Walsall. It's just over 5km. Little point in going any further as you start to overlap coverage with the Lichfield line.

 

[SoccerHQ]

What would be the purpose of such a (passenger) reopening?

I live in Sutton Coldfield and there's a massive new housing development opening in a few years.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/first-glimpse-5500-home-sutton-14422437

5.5k new homes. Anyone who lives in this area knows the roads are massively congested around Walmley/Pype Hayes at rush hour. Apparently this new estate will have two access roads to the A38 but again that's gridlock around Asda Minworth and Spitfire Island at those times.

So just like the train line re-opening in the Moseley/Kings Heath area I'd say it would seem logical for new transport method to ease the congestion burden.

Not holding my breath of course as this has been talked about last 15 years with nothing whatsoever happening. Train or tram to serve Walmley, Asda Minworth, the Vale and Fort shopping centre sounds o.k to me. Would also give someone in Sutton an extra option to get into or away from town when the Cross City line inevitably has trespassers or signalling issues.

 

[city dweller]

I know there have been plans to reopen the line which links Water Orton with Walsall via Sutton Park which has been closed since 1965. Have there been any updates since 2015 when the plans were shelved. Particularly now its TfWM and WMCA now in charge of the transport around the West Midlands. Has it been revived like Camp Hill plans were?

I read something earlier which seemed to suggest it might be in Andy Streets next manifesto.
The next mayoral elections are May 2020 so might not be too much longer to wait.

 

[The Planner]

I read something earlier which seemed to suggest it might be in Andy Streets next manifesto.
The next mayoral elections are May 2020 so might not be too much longer to wait.

Is Andy Street going to cough up the cash? otherwise file under "nice idea"

 

[option]

I can't see it being re-used for heavy rail passenger trains, as there's no station site left in Sutton (& it wasn't in the best place to start with), & no capacity on the Castle Bromwich-New Street section.
As a Metro line, you could come up into Sutton Coldfield centre itself, & come off to go through Castle Vale. Also be able to have a stop for Sutton Park, & lots more places.