The 750-yard extension of the West Midlands Metro line into Wolverhampton station will not carry its first passengers until at least next spring, having originally intended to be open in 2020, and then for the Commonwealth Games in July.
The latest delay in the opening, which was most recently expected to take place well before the busy Christmas period, has been blamed on “unforeseen supply chain constraints” that have been described by city council deputy leader Stephen Simkins as “a catastrophe”.
There is also annoyance that the cost of was seemed to be a straightforward project is likely to be £35 million.
Firstly, the major reconstruction of the station overran, and now there are problems with the non-arrival of the automatic signalling equipment controlling the road junction of Bilston Street and Pipers Row, although there no cost inflation because the components were ordered and paid for some time ago.
The other outstanding issues are the testing and commissioning of the new track from the current St George’s terminus, and driver training.
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Güntürk Üstün - 05/11/2022 21:25
The West Midlands Metro is a passenger light rail line in the West Midlands conurbation in England, which opened in 1999. Its rolling stock consists of 21 CAF Urbos 3 trams which came into service in 2014/2015, replacing the older sixteen T-69 trams which had operated the line since 1999. All built at Zaragoza - Spain, the CAF Urbos 3 trams are composed of 5 sections with 4 articulations carrying 210 passengers (54 seats, 156 standing). In October 2019, an order was signed for 21 new Urbos 100 trams, with the option of a further 29. Eight of these were delivered in 2021, with the remaining 12 to be delivered in 2023. Unfortunately cracks have been detected in the older Urbos 3 trams resulting in suspension of services, the most recent in March 2022. The newer Urbos 100 vehicles are not affected by these bodywork defects. Dr. Güntürk Üstün