If the current opening date is met of autumn 2025 we could be just seven months away from seeing the first trams running on phase one of the Black Country line on the West Midlands Metro between Wednesbury and Dudley. As the countdown continues Andy Walters goes back out to see some of the recent progress with both general infrastructure and trackwork being seen in this review.
Horseley Road will be the second new stop on the line from Wednesbury. This is part of the old South Staffordshire railway line and as such the tramway will be running below street level and so access is needed to the stop. This will include lifts and in this view we see recent progress on the lift shafts where the exterior is now having bricks added.
Further along the line towards Dudley and you come to the stop at Birmingham New Road, another which is below street level. Here the platforms have been constructed and work continues on the left hand side in installing the shelter. But the most interesting aspect of this image is beyond the platforms where a crossover is being installed.
Track has been down in Dudley for some time and in this view we look towards the bus station where the penultimate stop at Dudley Interchange will be provided. (All Photographs by Andy Walters)
The stop shown as Birmingham New Road is, in fact, Tipton Road, looking towards Birmingham New Road. Birmingham New Road stop is high up on an embankment next to the Hanson Bridge over Birmingham New Road.