A £837,000 bid has been submitted by transport bosses to keep the multi-million pound very light rail programme on track.

Dudley Council has applied for a grant to the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership to progress innovative plans for a very light rail hub.

This is part of the £29.2million project to construct an Innovation Centre and Test Track at Castle Hill, which will make Dudley the global focal point for rail innovation.

If successful the funding will be used to cover the costs to progress time critical investigations and works that will ensure the project remains on track. ​Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member responsible for planning and economic development, said:

“Growing the economy and creating jobs is a top priority for the council and the very light rail scheme will deliver on this.  This latest funding bid will make sure we continue to pave the way for this exciting scheme.”

WMG, a department of the University of Warwick is spearheading the project with support from the council to create a world class research, development and innovation centre, on the site of the old Dudley railway station.

Outline plans for the innovation centre have been approved by development control.