UK government funds Brierley Hill Midlands Metro extension

On 6 February UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander visited the West Midlands to be shown the latest extension of the Midlands Metro tramway from Wednesbury to Dudley. She used the occasion to pledge government support for stage 2, that will take the tramway from Dudley to Brierley Hill. This will provide faster and more reliable transport connections, with passengers benefitting from a 30% reduction in journey times compared with current bus routes. Phase 1 to Dudley should open later this year with the £295M extension to Brierley Hill following a couple of years later. Funding will come from the Government’s £1.05bn City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement for the West Midlands. 

 

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said: “Residents in and around the Black Country have been chronically underserved by public transport, limiting access to jobs and opportunities and stunting economic growth. We’re turning the tide on poor transport connections in the West Midlands and delivering a transport system that people can rely on, raising living standards across the region. The extension of the West Midlands Metro will be transformational and I am delighted to officially mark the start of work today as this Government gets on with supporting local jobs and business while empowering local leaders to deliver our Plan for Change.”