Transport chiefs have revealed plans to upgrade Witton station in Birmingham in time for the 2028 European Football Championship.
West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) has unveiled new designs for a revamped station which is already used on match days by supporters travelling to Villa Park as well music fans attending huge concerts there.
The proposed improvements include new passenger ramps to increase queuing capacity, a new pedestrian and cyclist subway under the line at Station Road, wider and deeper platforms to allow more people to queue for longer trains and replacing platform shelters with open canopies.
Sign up for your free West Midlands newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn
Email newsletters
BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire.
Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates.
We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away.
For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here.
The designs have come from a feasibility study commissioned by WMRE which has confirmed that a revamp of Witton station is advised as the home of Aston Villa will be one of the stadiums used for Euro 2028 fixtures.
Rail bosses will now press ahead with compiling the business case which had also considered starting a shuttle bus service from central Birmingham but this option was dismissed.
Previously, despite the station's poor state and continual complaints from Aston Villa fans, a case for redevelopment has never been viable, according to the WMRE.
Now, with more supporters travelling to Villa Park by rail than ever before and the looming 2028 tournament, the WMRE said a more compelling case for investment could be made.
It would also future proof the station as Aston Villa plan their own expansion of Villa Park, work on which is expected to start next summer.
A station was first opened at Witton in 1876 and was later rebuilt. WMRE says it has narrow platforms and described it as "poorly lit, unwelcoming and frequently overcrowded" with fans queuing outside onto Witton Road following matches.
An estimated 7,700 fans travel to matches by train using both Witton and Aston stations on match days.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street 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 we're able to confirm that, following the feasibility study, we are now a significant step closer to redeveloping Witton station."
The next step is for WMRE and Transport for West Midlands to work with Aston Villa, Birmingham City Council, Network Rail, UEFA and West Midlands Trains to build a strong business case.
