£295m West Midlands metro extension set to kick off

Work to extend the West Midlands Metro into the Black Country is set to kick off soon, following confirmation of government funding.

The £295m second phase of the extension will stretch from Flood Street in Dudley to Merry Hill Shopping Centre, with additional stops at Cinder Bank, Pedmore Road and the Waterfront Business Park.

Funding for the project comes from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), awarded by the Department for Transport to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The project is being delivered by the Midland Metro Alliance (MMA) under the guidance of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).

One key milestone has already been completed: the restoration of the historic Parkhead Viaduct, originally designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

The viaduct has been modernised for the new tramway, with its brickwork restored and protected, cutting down the project’s carbon footprint.

Cllr Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council and WMCA board member, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome the secretary of state to Dudley today, and to showcase what’s happening in our borough as we take another step closer to completing the Black Country Metro line.

“The Parkhead Viaduct was originally designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The structure is well known and loved by people from across the region, so it has been great to see this important work undertaken to restore and preserve it.”

Andrew Lovett, chief executive of the Black Country Living Museum added: “The arrival of the Metro in Dudley will be a tremendous boost to the Black Country Living Museum. Improved sustainable transport links are not only something we welcome, but something our visitors have been asking for.

“In addition, a direct public transport link to the heart of Birmingham will be a major step forward in connecting the Museum to the wider national and international market. Our recent ‘Forging Ahead’ expansion enables us to tell more diverse Black Country stories than ever at the Museum, so, alongside improved car parking and active travel accessibility, it’s also vital that visitors have more choice in how they travel to us.”

The first phase, connecting Wednesbury to Dudley town centre, is set to open later this year.