As we reported before, the end of April saw rail replacement works being undertaken on the still closed West Midlands Metro network. This was at Black Lake where the track over the road crossing at Black Lake was being replaced by contractors. Now into May and this work has been completed ready for when trams may start to run once more.
There has been no official update from West Midlands Metro or Transport for West Midlands Metro for several weeks on when tram services may resume but a spokesperson was recently quoted in the Wolverhampton Express & Star as saying that they were still on target for a return at the end of May. This will require at least 12-15 trams being available after the completion of the panel replacement around the doors (and the new Urbos 100 trams) and presumably before they return to service there will be a significant period of testing.
Speaking of testing and there have been few test movements either on the existing network or the extension to Edgbaston Village in recent days and weeks. But with a full service due to resume by the end of this month (at least from Library to Wolverhampton St George’s) it should be that as May progresses we will start to see various tram movements once more.
New track, new road surface and newly applied lines all in place at Black Lake.
A wider angle view. It looks nice all it needs now are some trams to run over it!
A close-up of the new rail showing little evidence of trams using it. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, 2nd May 2022)
Have seen a couple of trams running yesterday and today. Walked down Broad Street today (Sun). looks both sad and exciting.