New rail services could connect millions of extra people to Birmingham airport.

Midlands Connect hope to attract more passengers to the regions main airport by launching new rail connections to the Midlands and the north.

Rail bosses in the West Midlands have recently submitted a bid to the Department for
Transport for an initial £20m to develop designs, planning and final costings.

The Birmingham Airport Connectivity rail improvement scheme will cost up to £180 million and aims to boost the regions economic recovery after Covid-19.

Work is due to start in 2024.

The project, one of seven schemes that makes up the £3.5bn Midlands Engine Rail
programme – will double the number of services to Birmingham International and Coventry from Leamington Spa, Banbury, Oxford and Reading from one to two trains per hour, and introduce new direct services between Birmingham Moor Street, Solihull, Warwick Parkway and Oxford