The next extension due to open on the West Midlands Metro is the short (0.7lm) line to Wolverhampton Railway Station. As with the last extension to Edgbaston Village the opening of this line is much delayed but in the last official update it was said that testing would be able to start “after the Commonwealth Games”. That has now been reached but there is still no sign of the start of even initial testing although since our last pictorial update there does seem to have been some progress made with the construction.
To remind you of just where this extension will run from and to, it will leave the current line to Wolverhampton St George’s shortly before the terminus and then run along Piper’s Row. Here there will be the one intermediate stop adjacent to the Bus Station and the line then runs through its second Victoria Square (with Birmingham’s version being traversed by trams on the Westside extension) and turns onto Railway Drive. The 0.7km line then terminates outside Wolverhampton Railway Station.
Once it opens the service pattern will see alternate trams travelling to St George’s and the others to the Railway Station. What will be interesting will be just how the destination displays show the destination with their limited space and the rather long terminus names!
No date has been officially given for the opening of this extension.
Piper’s Row tramstop has shelters in place and it seems someone is already using it – let us hope they’re not waiting for a tram!
This is the Birmingham bound platform outside the Bus Station. Integrated into the building there is no shelter as the roof of the Bus Station extends over the platform.
Outside the Railway Station where tracks are down and paving installed around them.
Looking the other way at the Railway Station.
An aerial view showing that there remains some work to be completed before trams can even start testing.
This section remains cordoned off as work carries on. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, 22nd August 2022)