Trams will run from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, providing faster
and more reliable transport connections to centre of Birmingham
and wider West Midlands.
- Transport Secretary, in the West Midlands to
begin work on the £295 million project
- the extension will better connect the Black Country with the
centre of Birmingham, improving access to jobs and opportunities
- government investment to transform infrastructure and grow
the economy as it delivers the Plan for Change
The Transport Secretary, is in the West Midlands
today (6 February 2025) to put spades in the ground on the
extension of the West Midlands Metro tram network in the Black
Country.
Funded through the government's £1.05 billion City Region
Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for the West Midlands,
the project will see drastically improved connections for
currently underserved communities.
For the first time, this investment will mean trams will run from
Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, providing faster and more reliable
transport connections between Dudley and Brierley Hill to the
city centre and wider West Midlands and so to jobs and
opportunities.
Providing first time light rail connection for many local
residents, passengers will benefit from journey time savings of
up to 30% compared to taking the bus and with greater reliability
at peak times.
The first phase of the extension, running from Wednesbury to
Dudley town centre, is already well underway and due to open to
passengers in autumn of this year.
Poor local transport stifles local productivity, particularly in
smaller towns and rural areas where so many rely on local buses,
trains and trams. That's why boosting local transport
infrastructure is central to the government's Growth Mission, as
is empowering local leaders to deliver better transport for their
communities through the Devolution White
Paper. This is helping support jobs, boost local business and
deliver growth in all 4 corners of the UK as part of the
government's Plan for Change.
Transport Secretary, , said:
Residents in and around the Black Country have been chronically
underserved by public transport, limiting access to jobs and
opportunities and stunting economic growth.
We're turning the tide on poor transport connections in the West
Midlands and delivering a transport system that people can rely
on, raising living standards across the region.
The extension of the West Midlands Metro will be transformational
and I am delighted to officially mark the start of work today as
this government gets on with supporting local jobs and business
while empowering local leaders to deliver our Plan for Change.
Once complete, the extension will provide a major boost to local
businesses as the extension is set to pass through Cinder Bank,
Pedmore Road and the Waterfront business park.
The Transport Secretary is meeting with West Midlands Mayor
and being given a tour of
Parkhead Viaduct in Dudley – an iconic 19 century Brunel
structure which will come back into use as part of the Metro
route.
, the Mayor of the West
Midlands, said:
Good transport links are essential – helping people get to
school, work, local shops and to enjoy a day out. Extending the
metro further into the Black Country opens up routes for job
opportunities, skills and growth, ensuring fast, reliable
journeys for everyone across the West Midlands.
Now that I have secured the funding from government and we've got
the approvals needed, the work can start to make this
long-awaited project a reality. The restoration of this viaduct
shows how we can protect our region's industrial heritage while
developing modern infrastructure.
With the first phase nearly complete, the Metro is already
creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and attracting
investment to the area, and soon it will take those same
opportunities into Dudley and Merry Hill.
