Plans to run a second line between Birmingham and Coventry are being developed as a spin-off from HS2, it has emerged.
Birmingham can expect a series of major transport and economic spins from the development of the London to Birmingham HS2 line over the next decade.
And a key one could be a new Midland Metro tram line running from Curzon Street out to the International Airport and HS2 interchange and on into Coventry.
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The proposal is part of a bid to ensure that the wider region, not just Birmingham city centre, benefits from the development of superfast rail.
Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore, a member of the HS2 Growth Taskforce looking into maximising benefits, announced the potential development of the second Midlands Metro.
He was speaking as the council’s transport and economy scrutiny committees launched an inquiry into the impact of HS2 on the city.
Coun Bore (Lab, Ladywood) said: “We are looking at how we might connect future transport routes across the city into HS2.
“What I’m referring to here is perhaps the next Midlands Metro route which we intend to take from the City Centre out to the Airport and HS2 Interchange Station and we hope onwards from there to Coventry.”
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The first Metro line from Wolverhampton to Birmingham is currently being extended to New Street Station and Centenary Square. A second line out to Birmingham Airport has so far failed to get beyond the early planning stages.
Sir Albert said that initial route was through Eastside on land which will now be the HS2 station, so a new route along Fazeley Street has been identified which will improve links between the education quarter at Eastside and the creative and digital quarters of Digbeth.
Also being lined up to feed into HS2 is the reinstatement of the Camp Hill Chord rail route, including new stations at Fort Parkway and Castle Vale.