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 \u201cwithin a year\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In the documents posted ahead of the WMCA Board meeting due to be held on 19th<\/sup> July the ask is that the overall budget is increased by \u00a3248.5 million which would include a new funding allocation of \u00a336 million CRSTS overprogamming to allow completion of Phase 2 extension to Merry Hill. They are also asking that the \u201cfunding envelope, scope and timescale\u201d is amended. Its then noted that everything is all subject to business case approval from the Department for Transport.<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n 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 \u00a315 million. And the final section between Merry Hill would not be guaranteed to be built although they recommend that \u201cpassive provision\u201d is provided if a further viable business case can be developed.<\/p>\n It is stated that the overall costs of delivering all three phases they are planning for now are as follows:<\/p>\n Original funding approved in March 2019 was \u00a3449.5 million.<\/p>\n The last phase, phase 2c, from Merry Hill to Brierley Hill Town Centre was last estimated to cost \u00a330 million but is now not even being considered for future funding.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 … Continue reading \n