Its become a familiar sentence we have been writing a lot over the past few months but that’s because its true – excellent progress continues to be made on construction work in connection with the next West Midlands Metro extension, the Black Country line. We’ve seen track being laid, stops being constructed and overhead support masts going in and now in this latest update from Andy Walters we see further progress in preparation for the stringing of the overhead in the future.
After much delay and periods when seemingly nothing was happening phase one of the Black Country line is slated for opening in late 2025 (exact date or month yet to be revealed and always subject to further delay). As is well known by now this will see trams leave the current Birmingham to Wolverhampton line just before Wednesbury Great Western Street and then running as far as Flood Street in Dudley (phase two will then go further to Merry Hill).
The first major infrastructure project on the line is Tipton Junction which will allow trams to go from both the Birmingham and Wolverhampton directions onto the new line and this is where recent efforts have started to see more infrastructure being installed ahead of the wires being strung.
Where previously we’ve only really seen side support poles in place at Tipton Junction they have now been joined by more parts which will allow the wires to be strung in the future.
A close-up view as more components are installed.
Another view of the progress which has been made at the junction.
And a final shot of more of the overhead support equipment. (All Photographs by Andy Walters)
Seriously heavyweight kit!