A proposed passenger service using a Very Light Rail Vehicle between Stourbridge and Brierley Hill – known as the “Stourbridge Dasher” – has received the backing from local politicians and the public in a recent survey. Pre Metro – operator of the current Stourbridge Shuttle service between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge – have made the proposal and say it is both perfectly feasible and would make the lives of locals easier.
Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb, Dudley South MP Mike Wood and Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street have all previously given their backing to the proposal and now a survey which was conducted between November 2019 and May 2020 has also given general support to the plan.
It would see a Very Light Rail Vehicle running on the railway route to Brierley Hill with the costs being 50% cheaper than traditional heavy rail operations. It is said that it would help to kickstart a railway revolution in Dudley.
In the survey mentioned above 1438 people responded and one in ten said they would use the service on a daily basis and half would use it between one and four times a week. 87% of those surveyed were in favour of the service and would use it at some point.
There were some concerns around the flexibility of the service, the cost of travel and the comfort of the vehicle but it is hoped that recent refurbishment of the vehicles used for the Stourbridge Shuttle would help to allay these fears.
Steve Jasper, Pre Metro Operations Director, said that the service would: “significantly increase Dudley’s connectivity using existing rail infrastructure to improve the travel network within the local area and get traffic off of busy local roads, like the A461. [And] bring Brierley Hill back onto the railway map; regenerate the local economy; and make it easier for families to visit each other through frequent, clean, and cost-effective light rail”.
As the plans progress Pre-Metro are now asking for further feedback and this can be done by emailing them at info@premetro.org.