A MAJOR £185 million rail project will see five new train stations open in the UK over the next few weeks.
The works will improve connections across the West Midlands, with some of the services reinstated for the first time in decades.
New stations will open at Willenhall and Darlaston in Walsall next week, on Thursday, March 19.
These sites, which are located on the Black Country line, were last visited by trains in 1965.
And on Tuesday, April 7, stations will open on the Camp Hill Line at Moseley Village, Kings Heath, and Pineapple Road in south Birmingham.
This will mark the first time these services have been in place for the communities since World War II.
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These areas on the Camp Hill Line will see services run between Birmingham city centre and Kings Norton every 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, Willenhall and Darlaston stations will be added to an hourly timetable for the Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street Station service via Wolverhampton.
West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) said it was working with partners to secure further regular services to the areas, with the project described as a “rail revolution”.
Each of the five stations features sheltered platforms, accessible lifts, ticket machines and cycle racks, while there are 300 parking spaces available at Darlaston and 33 at Willenhall.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker described the previous closures of the stations as a “short-sighted mistake”, describing the latest update as “a new lifeline for local people”.
WMRE is spear-heading the scheme alongside the Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), in partnership with Network Rail, West Midlands Railway, Birmingham City Council, Walsall Council, and the Department for Transport.
Works have been partially funded by a £126 million government grant, with a further £30 million obtained for the completion of the Camp Hill line.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Thanks to government investment, fast and frequent rail services will arrive at new stations across Birmingham and the Black Country next month for the first time in decades, reducing congestion and improving local transport connections.”
TfWM said final authorisation for the openings is expected in the coming days from the Office of Rail and Road.