Witton Station set for revamp as Villa Park prepares to host Euro 2028 fixtures

Designs for the new platform at Witton station

Designs for the new platform at Witton station

Plans for a revamped Witton Railway Station to serve supporters travelling to Villa Park stadium have been published by the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE).

A feasibility study commissioned by WMRE has presented designs for a new look station ahead of Villa Park hosting Euro 2028 fixtures.

Proposed improvements include new passenger ramps to both platforms to increase queuing capacity after matches, a pedestrian and cyclist subway under the line, wider and deeper platforms to allow more people to queue for longer trains, and replacing platform shelters with open canopies.

WMRE and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) will work with Aston Villa, Birmingham City Council, Network Rail, UEFA, and West Midlands Trains to build a business case.

With more supporters travelling to Villa Park by rail than ever before and the stadium set to be a host venue for the Euro 2028 tournament, a more compelling case for investment can be made, said the WMRE.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMRE, said: “Everyone who has ever tried to travel to Villa Park via the railway on a matchday knows just how unfit for purpose Witton Station is. With its narrow platforms combined with frequent overcrowding, it really does make for a miserable experience.

“This has been the case for some time, but a business case for redevelopment has never stacked up. But now - with the Euros just a few years away - we have the catalyst we need to make this long-awaited redevelopment happen. That's why today we're able to confirm that, following the feasibility study, we are now a significant step closer to redeveloping Witton Station.”

Find out more about these and other developments at Rail Stations + Property on 5 March in London, organised by Landor LINKS, sponsored by Burges Salmon and supported by LTT.

The event will focus on: changing travel patterns, including the resurgence of leisure travel; stations as hubs, with a focus on mobility hubs; and transport-led development with a spotlight on major UK projects.