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Obstacles to growth of the West Midlands Metro

The West Midlands Metro has been slow to expand. COVID and inflationary pressures have meant funding issues and delays.

In this article:

  • The Midland Metro launched in 1999 with only Line One, linking Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
  • Network expansion has been slow, with delays on Lines Two and Three due to costs and challenges.
  • Despite delays, plans for extensions continue, focusing on funding and infrastructure improvements.

WMM’s Wolverhampton city centre extension opened in 2023. CAF tram 57 calls at the bus station stop at Piper’s Row with a service to the terminus adjacent to Wolverhampton station. PETER PLISNER.

Launched on May 30 1999, the Midland Metro had been talked about for many years. A network of routes was planned by the then West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, but getting the new lines funded proved more difficult than anyone had thought.

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