Recent news that the possibility of a train station at Willenhall has been welcomed by the towns Liberal Democrats.

They are pressing the newly formed West Midlands Combined Authority to champion the use of tram trains on the Walsall to Wolverhampton heavy rail line to make the case for the new station more viable.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Ian Shires said “A move to tram trains on the line through Willenhall would reduce costs and add more flexibility. The concept has been used successfully in Karlsruhe, Germany since 2004 allowing for a seamless transition from an inner-city tram-trip to a regional train journey.”

Trials for a tram train system are already taking place between Sheffield and Rotherham so it isn’t just a pipe dream and could be a very cost effective way of bringing the growing tram network in Birmingham and the Black Country to Willenhall, Walsall and Aldridge.

The tram train concept would improve connectivity making Willenhall an attractive place for business to invest and people to come to live whilst at the same time providing  new job opportunities for Willenhall workers.

Improving the areas infrastructure is a positive way of helping regenerate the area. Tram trains would add to the work already being done on the electrification of the heavy rail network north of Walsall which in itself has opened up the very real possibility of links to London and the North . Add this to the injection of cash to improve Junction 10 of the M6 where work is due to start by 2018 prospect for our area are looking positive.