£13.8m refurbished Midland Metro tram depot is opened

A £13.8m expansion of the Midland Metro depot at Wednesbury has been formally opened.

The project saw the Potters Lane complex upgraded as part of the on-going £128m expansion of the line between Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

It was opened by Councillor Darren Cooper, the leader of Sandwell Borough Council and a member of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority.

He said: “This is a fantastic addition to the Midland Metro infrastructure and proof of our ambition to achieve an even higher standard of service.

“An awful lot of work that has gone into refurbishing the depot while keeping the Midland Metro in operation and I applaud all those who have made it happen.”

The project was commissioned in 2012 by Centro, the West Midlands’ public transport co-ordinator, and the work was carried out by contractors Morgan Sindall.

The first phase was completed in September 2013 in time to allow testing and commissioning of the new fleet of Urbos 3 trams.

This consisted of a testing and commissioning shed, additional track work and overhead line electrification providing stabling facilities for up to 24 vehicles.

The second phase consisted of a 42 metre extension to the existing maintenance shed, new office and staff space, and new storage facilities for the tram maintenance works.

It also saw upgrade works to some of the electrical substations and provision of a new substation at West Bromwich and created 15 new jobs.

The Midland Metro runs from Wolverhampton to Snow Hill station in Birmingham city centre via Bilston, Wednesbury and West Bromwich.