The long-awaited West Midlands Metro extension to Wolverhampton railway station has opened to passengers.
The new route was originally planned to open in 2020, and then again ahead of last summer’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The first passenger tram finally ran on the route on Sunday September 17.
The £50 million extension, which is less than half a mile long, has trams start at Wolverhampton station, then run along the station approach road and stop at the city’s modern bus interchange in Pipers Row, before joining the tram network close to the current terminus at Wolverhampton St Georges.
“Extending the Metro to the very front door of our new railway station is part of ensuring our award-winning Interchange project delivers the very best gateway to our city for all modes of transport,” said City of
Wolverhampton Council Director of Services, John Roseblade.
“It is all part of how we are reimagining our city centre and better connecting passengers to events and venues such as the newly opened The Halls Wolverhampton, Grand Theatre and art gallery.”
There has been much frustration about the delays in opening the new tram route.
Tracks in Pipers Row were laid in 2018, with the route expected to open a couple of years later. But the revamp of the city’s railway station prevented any further tracklaying. Additional delays were then caused by COVID and supply chain issues.
Read this article in full in RAIL issue 993 here
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