Funding worth £150,000 has been secured to help open a new railway station in Aldridge.
Transport for West Midlands has been awarded the capital from the Department for Transport's ‘Restoring Our Railway' programme.
It will help cover the cost of developing a business case, including for the electrification of the line to deliver a brand new rail service between Walsall and Aldridge.
Regional bodies have been working on the plans with Walsall Council for several years and in 2021 land was purchased by the West Midlands Combined Authority for the proposed new station off Westfield Drive.
The previous Aldridge station was closed under the Beeching cuts in the 1960s.
A total of £30 million has already been set aside to cover the cost of construction and this new funding allows rail chiefs to take the next step in the development process.
The plan includes a new single platform station on the edge of Aldridge town centre, ready to open during 2027, and options for a park and ride car park are also being explored.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: "It is fantastic news we have secured this funding from the Department for Transport to progress our plans for Aldridge station, thanks to the Restoring Your Railway programme.
"This funding is one of the final pieces in the jigsaw and will allow us to get this station built, providing the people of Aldridge with a faster and greener alternative to the car for their journeys to Walsall and Birmingham."
Cllr Adrian Andrew, deputy leader of Walsall Council, added: "This funding is great news. The new stations at Aldridge and Darlaston will open up new opportunities for residents.
"Improving the rail infrastructure in Walsall is a boost for leisure and employment and makes the borough an increasingly attractive place for developers to invest."
Electrification of a three-mile section of line between Walsall and Aldridge would allow a half hourly service direct to Walsall, taking six minutes, and Birmingham, taking 38 minutes.
A diesel only shuttle service could operate in advance of electrification and would stop only at Walsall meaning passengers would need to change for Birmingham and other destinations.
