If all goes according to the current plan (and let’s be honest we’ve been here before where we’ve expected things to open when they haven’t!) this time next year the West Midlands Metro network will have expanded with phase one of what is now known as the Black Country line carrying passengers between Wednesbury and Dudley. If that is to be the case the next few months look set to be busy with construction work and in this latest update we see some more progress.
The Black Country line will eventually run between Wednesbury – with a new junction installed from the current Birmingham-Wolverhampton line – and Merry Hill with the potential that, subject to funding, it may then eventually reach Brierley Hill. If it goes all the way it will be a three phase line with the first phase going as far as Flood Street, Dudley, then phase two Merry Hill before finally reaching Brierley Hill as part of a third phase. The line to Dudley is due to open before the end of 2025, by which time construction work on the second phase will also be underway.
Track has continued to be laid on the line with it now in place between Wednesbury and Dudley Port. This is the view at Great Bridge showing some of the track now in place – one direction only. (Photograph by Andy Walters)
Surely they are not needing to lay a concrete slab on which to lay the track or is this the site of a stop.