Delays to services on the West Midlands Metro have been the order of the day on Thursday 19th February 2026 after the overrunning of engineering works. These works – which had only due to take place for just over two days – were mainly concerned with the connection of the current Birmingham-Wolverhampton line connected with the new Black Country Line to Dudley (initially) but also saw further work take place at West Bromwich Central and Winson Green.
The works were originally due to take place between late evening on Monday 16th February and the end of service on Wednesday 18th February, with a normal service resuming from the start of the following day.
However, it was announced early on Thursday 19th February that the works had overrun and that a normal service would not resume after all.
Initially in the morning trams were only able to run from Wolverhampton Station to Wednesbury Great Western Street (as they had been for the previous couple of days), but by mid-morning this had changed with the whole route being served, albeit requiring a change of trams.
The problem of overrunning works was at Winson Green where they replaced both lines through the stop but this wasn’t possible to be completed in time. This meant that when through services were able to resume only the Wolverhampton bound platform was available leading to single-line working through the area.
This led to the following service running:
- Wolverhampton Station to Handsworth Booth Street
- Handsworth Booth Street to Edgbaston Village
Ticket acceptance also remained in place on local bus services (79, 74 and all services from Colmore Row to Five Ways) as well as West Midlands Railway services (Wolverhampton-Birmingham New Street, Smethwick Galton Bridge-Birmingham Snow Hill).
Tipton Junction (the name of where old and new meet at Wednesbury) showing its newly installed connected tracks.
Work has also been continuing at Wolverhampton St George’s on the pointwork and signalling.
A tamper was hired following the track relaying work at West Bromwich Central. We see it here running along the tramway having just come under the Guns Lane bridge.
Work continuing on the track relaying at Winson Green, the reason for the overrun in engineering works.
Is it Handsworth Booth Street or Pilrig?! Passengers have to change between trams at Handsworth Booth Street, although on this occasion its nothing to do with neighbouring authorities running different modes of trams. Anyone wanting to continue their journey on the Metro was having to change trams here – in this case between 43 and 17.
47 (in its itv advert) uses the crossover at Handsworth Booth Street as it works a service to Wolverhampton Station. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, February 2026)