Green light for £450m Midland Metro extension

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has given the final go-ahead for funding for the £450m Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro line.The 11km Wednesbury to Brierley Hill route is being planned, designed and delivered by the Midland Metro Alliance, on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the WMCA. It will link Dudley with Birmingham, Wolverhampton and the national rail network.The extension will branch off the current West Midlands Metro line just east of the Wednesbury Great Western Street Metro stop, before heading through Tipton and Dudley on its way to Brierley Hill. Cost of the scheme has escalated from £200m two years ago but work is still expected to start later this year on the scheme.The Midland Metro Alliance consists of the West Midlands Combined Authority; a consortium of design experts from Egis, Tony Gee and Pell Frischmann; and rail construction specialists Colas Rail – with Colas’ sub-alliance partners Colas Ltd, Barhale, Bouygues UK and Auctus Management Group.TfWM has started a feasibility study to investigate what mode of transport will best link Brierley Hill to Stourbridge – whether that be rail, light rail, Metro or bus – to further improve connectivity in the borough.