A project which had already been split into two phases is now facing more delays and potential curtailment with cost overruns once again getting the blame. The West Midlands Metro Brierley Hill extension which is due to run via Dudley and Merry Hill had been originally due to open later this year before more recent literature had seen “within a year” but now according to documents due to be discussed at a forthcoming West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) meeting it will be autumn 2025 before trams can run as far as Dudley with it now looking like Merry Hill would be the limit of phase two rather than Brierley Hill.
The project has been troubled before with funding, as it always is, the issue. This led the WMCA Board agreeing a funding strategy in summer 2023 which saw the project split into two phases: Wednesbury to Dudley and then Dudley to Brierley Hill. The Dudley section would have opened by the end of 2024 with the line through to Brierley Hill due to open at an undetermined point in the future.
The funding pressures were put down to a rise in construction and energy costs along with a reduction in farebox income as a result of the Covid pandemic. And it now appears these concerns remain which is leading to a further rethink of the project.
In the documents posted ahead of the WMCA Board meeting due to be held on 19th July the ask is that the overall budget is increased by £248.5 million which would include a new funding allocation of £36 million CRSTS overprogamming to allow completion of Phase 2 extension to Merry Hill. They are also asking that the “funding envelope, scope and timescale” is amended. Its then noted that everything is all subject to business case approval from the Department for Transport.
Its also confirmed in the document that phase one to Dudley is not now due to open until 2024 (although that is just casually included by saying that it is due for completion in 2025, no real mention that is a significant delay).
If the WMCA Board decided that there is not the cash available to extend the line from Dudley to Merry Hill its also mentioned that costs for phase one would increase by £15 million. And the final section between Merry Hill would not be guaranteed to be built although they recommend that “passive provision” is provided if a further viable business case can be developed.
It is stated that the overall costs of delivering all three phases they are planning for now are as follows:
- Phase 1: Wednesbury to Dudley – £393.5 million
- Phase 2a: Dudley to Waterfront Business Park – £227.8 million
- Phase 2b: Waterfront Business Park to Merry Hill – £33.6 million
- Total – £654.9 million
Original funding approved in March 2019 was £449.5 million.
The last phase, phase 2c, from Merry Hill to Brierley Hill Town Centre was last estimated to cost £30 million but is now not even being considered for future funding.
The item on the agenda of the meeting asks that the WMCA Board agrees to the change request which would allow the line to be completed to Merry Hill under new timescales. Its rumoured it may be 2027 before trams get to Merry Hill.
It’s interesting that none mention about Bi Eastside extension, guess they’re putting Birmingham first as always ????????????????????????????
Dudley in 2026 ,anyone with a pair of shoes cancan go and see that not one tram stop has been built , not one length of track laid ( except from the BCIMO to flood St) and the bridges x2 still have to be put in to connect the Tipton junction plus the rest of the point work .
They probably assume no goes around & visits these places to see ,oh then there’s the fact that no overhead as been started no drivers trained ( which there short of for the Edgbaston / wolvs route) no idea what there going use to as trams ? as half the Urbos fleet is iffy at best .
They only show you the Litte bits done ,not the huge bits that are way off being done .
2026
So long as the “workers” spend most of their days staring into holes in the ground, these projects are always going to cost much more than originally budgeted for.
It’s amazing how unamazed we are at this news. What has also been forgotten now is that the entire line to Brierley Hill was originally meant to open in 2023. That became 2024, then late 2024, then “within the next year”, now autumn 2025. It will be 2026 at the earliest and god knows if it will ever go any further.
Just a matter of time before the Labour government cancel funding for the proposed Leeds tram system……
The Leeds system was never more than Tory rhetoric with a possible study. Labour cancelled it last time so……
That comment about staring into holes is spot on. I’ve seen incredible wasting of money too ridiculous to mention because I wouldn’t be believed. Its scandalous people are making a fortune out of us fools???