Aston Villa have received a major boost after money was allocated to upgrading two railway stations close to Villa Park.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) looks set to confirm that around £25m will be used to improve Aston and Witton stations ahead of Euro 2028.
The news will be massively well-received by Aston Villa supporters going to and from the iconic stadium.
There are long-standing complaints about access at both stations on match days which have led to calls for the improvements.
Villa Park Due for 6,000-seat Expansion
Villa Park
Premier League - Aston Villa v Crystal Palace - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 16, 2023 General view inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/David Klein
And it will help with the increase in capacity due to the re-development of the North Stand, which is expected to house another 6,000 supporters.
The work is seen as vital in allowing for the expansion of Villa Park and will help ferry fans to the venue.
The WMCA have described an ‘urgent need’ to improve the stations at the stadium.
The work will be delivered in two phases - the first of which is aimed to improve safety in queuing and also to ‘improve the passenger experience.’
The public body has also noted the ambition of UEFA, European football’s governing authority, to have 80 percent of all journeys to and from matches made by public transport.