Birmingham Airport says that it may develop a new terminal inside the proposed HS2 interchange station, in a move that could see passengers step off the train and walk directly into the airport.

This would mean that passengers heading from London could be inside the airport in around 40min. An airport spokesman said: “HS2 will give our region an enormous opportunity to develop a truly integrated transport network that supports the continued growth of our region’s connectivity and aids travellers.

“It’s therefore vital that we maximise the benefits of its arrival in 2026, at which time Birmingham Airport will become the UK’s first high-speed connected airport, and its catchment area will be dramatically enlarged into central London, giving it an increasingly national role.”