Transport officials in the West Midlands have welcomed news of additional funding for the West Midlands Metro extension, after part of the new route had to be scaled back owing to funding issues.
Transport officials in the West Midlands have welcomed news of additional funding for the West Midlands Metro extension, after part of the new route had to be scaled back owing to funding issues.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves mentioned the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill scheme as she announced a further £1.3 billion for the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement in the Budget.
Officials at Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) appeared to be taken by surprise by the announcement. It now appears the government has committed to providing funding to get trams to the Merry Hill Shopping Centre.
While construction of the first phase of the scheme to Dudley is well under way, inflationary pressures have meant the second phase, onwards to Merry Hill and Brierley Hill, needed more cash.
Until the Budget, funding arrangements only allowed the line to be built to the Waterfront Business Park. Earlier this year, the West Midlands Combined Authority said getting to Merry Hill would require an additional £36 million.
A TfWM spokesperson said: “We welcome the commitment to support the delivery of our Metro extension in the Black Country and we will be working through the detail with the Department for Transport over the coming days and weeks.
“A report will be taken to the WMCA Board on November 15, setting out the next steps for the extension.”
A DfT spokesperson said: “We recognise the vital importance of local transport, which is why we’re investing £1.3bn, including a £200m uplift, to improve connectivity in our city regions.”
Despite the announcement, funding for the final stage of the tramline from Merry Hill to Brierley Hill remains uncertain, with a funding gap reported to be as high as £60m.
In July, it was announced that the opening of the first phase from Wednesbury to Dudley town centre would be delayed. It was due to open by the end of this year, but will now not open until 2025.
Construction work is expected to start on the second phase to Merry Hill in January.
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