Its one of three tram extensions that should/could/might open in 2023, the West Midlands Metro extension to Wolverhampton Railway Station. Much delayed (it should have opened in 2020) in the run-up to Christmas more work took place and now there seems to be just a few pieces of infrastructure to be completed. However, what’s not know is whether the issues with the signals (and the delay in receiving the relevant equipment) have yet been solved as this is not immediately apparent to the untrained eye.
When it finally opens the Wolverhampton Railway Station extension will leave the current line just before St George’s terminus and travel by way of Piper’s Row and Railway Drive. A stop will be provided by Wolverhampton Bus Station as well as the terminus at the Railway Station. Trams from Birmingham will travel to either St George’s or the Railway Station – it was said that there would be a six minute frequency to the station at peak times with two to four trams going to St George’s. However, with the current Metro frequency being lower than every six minutes this is likely to be different when it is up and running.
The approach to the railway station – the black and gold structure is the station building which contributed to one of the delays to the project – with track and concrete laid.
The single platform terminus is just beyond the station entrance. It has now been almost completed and includes a shelter for passengers.
Beyond the platform and this will be the very end of the line. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, 6th January 2023)
Glacial progress, if progress it can be called. The West Midlands Metro system seems to be trapped in a ‘no hurry’ time zone. The cost in lost revenue of not completing and opening a tramline promptly really ought to be calculated by someone. Let’s hope we don’t have a re-run of the Charleroi built-but-never-opened fiasco.