DUDLEY is a step closer to being back on the national rail network after Tory West Midlands Mayoral candidate Andy Street revealed he wants the Black Country Railway to reopen.

Mr Street believes the line, which runs from Worcester to Derby through Stourbridge Junction, Brierley Hill, Dudley Castle Hill, Sandwell, Walsall, Brownhills and Lichfield, could solve congestion.

He said: "I want passenger trains back on this line. If up and running it would connect the east and the west of the Black Country without the need for trains to pass through Birmingham New Street station.

"The problem with the train network in the West Midlands is the congestion at New Street, it does not have the capacity to take more local trains."

He added: "We are in talks with Network Rail and West Midlands Combined Authority about the prospect of reopening this line, and is exactly the type of project that as mayor the the West Midlands I will be trying to get funding from "

Mr Street, the former head of John Lewis, revealed the ambitious plan at his Ask Andy roadshow at Halesowen's Cornbow Hall.

He was asked about the issue by rail campaigner Tim Weller, who has run a one-man-campaign for several years to get the Black Country Railway reopened.

Mr Weller said: "Reopening this line to passengers would make so much sense and enable the four Black Country boroughs to compete more effectively with the honeypot that is Birmingham.

"If we completed the 120 Km Black Country Railway between Worcester and Derby this would enable the freight and passenger trains to return over the full length straightaway and, put Dudley back on the national railway network.

"Plus, an additional main line strategic railway for Sandwell and Walsall."

He added: "But the stretch which is being used for trams could mean that it would prevent passenger and freight trains being able to use it, so that has to be stopped."

Mr Street disagreed with Mr Weller that the tramlines would prevent freight and passenger trains using that stretch of the line.

He added: "We obviously have a lot of technical work to do before this becomes a reality but if I become mayor I will start the ball rolling."

Dudley train station opened in 1860 and came under the control of British Railways in 1948 after the railways were nationalised.

However, it was closed as part of the Beeching cuts in 1964 making Dudley one the biggest town's in the UK without a train station.

The election for West Midlands Mayor is on May 4, Sion Simon MEP is Labour's candidate in the battle to be mayor, businesswoman Beverley Nielsen is standing for the Liberal Democrats, Sandwell's Pete Durrell is standing for UKIP and the Green Party has chosen James Burn.