Calls grow for airport-to-town centre link as West Midlands Sprint project moves forward

Calls for a direct public transport link between Birmingham Airport and Solihull town centre have intensified as the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) approved a major milestone in its Sprint bus scheme.

The WMCA board has signed off the full business case to purchase 24 tram-style electric buses, marking a key step forward for the long-delayed Sprint project.

Sprint project gathers pace

The Sprint scheme is designed to provide a fast, high-frequency bus service linking Walsall, Birmingham and Solihull via dedicated bus priority routes along the A34 and A45 corridors.

A total of £26m will be invested in the new zero-emission fleet and charging infrastructure, with a further £5.5m allocated for ticketing systems.

The project has faced repeated delays since it was first announced in 2018, when it was originally scheduled to be operational in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Setbacks have included the Covid-19 pandemic and rising costs.

Concerns over missing Solihull link

Despite progress, local leaders have raised concerns about gaps in connectivity—particularly between Birmingham Airport/NEC and Solihull town centre.

Solihull Council leader Karen Grinsell said the current plans fall short of meeting local transport needs.

“Whilst it does go out to the airport/NEC area, it really needs to connect to the town centre,” she said.

“There’s no train line that connects it and there’s no fast bus service. That’s one for the future we need to highlight.”

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) confirmed that work is ongoing to explore options for such a connection.

Infrastructure already underway

Initial phases of the Sprint scheme have already delivered infrastructure upgrades, including:

• New and improved bus stops

• Extended bus priority lanes

• Traffic signal improvements to prioritise buses

The introduction of the new electric fleet is seen as the final component needed to deliver the full vision of the service.

Backing for cleaner, connected transport

Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for transport, Majid Mahmood, welcomed the investment, describing buses as central to the region’s transport network.

“Buses are the backbone of Birmingham’s transport system. They connect people to jobs, education and opportunities,” he said.

“We want a cleaner and better connected Birmingham and investment in modern public transport is not an option, it’s essential.”

Next steps

With funding now approved, attention will turn to deploying the new fleet and completing remaining infrastructure works.

However, pressure is likely to continue from local leaders to ensure the Sprint network evolves to include stronger links to key destinations such as Solihull town centre, particularly as demand grows for seamless, low-carbon transport options across the region.