Wednesbury to Brierley Hill: work starts next year

[BK63 YWP]

Dudley to brierley hill is being split up into three sections  the merry hill to brierley hill section has no funding yet arrival in  E&S says people will still need to use other means of transport

At least it will make merry hill! 

[Rachvince53]

Dudley to brierley hill is being split up into three sections  the merry hill to brierley hill section has no funding yet arrival in  E&S says people will still need to use other means of transport

The article suggests that reserves will be used to pay for the sections to Brierley Hill and a shuttle bus provided for onward travel. 

[Stu]

Dudley to brierley hill is being split up into three sections  the merry hill to brierley hill section has no funding yet arrival in  E&S says people will still need to use other means of transport

The article suggests that reserves will be used to pay for the sections to Brierley Hill and a shuttle bus provided for onward travel.

I don't see what the big deal is. Merry Hill has a bus interchange already, and there are several bus services that go into Brierley Hill from there.

[Ginger66]

Who knows what the future holds as we know there are projected plans to take the line to Stourbridge from Brierley Hill.  

So we could end up with various plans/phases
A: Dudley - Birmingham/Wolverhampton via Wednesbury
B: Dudley - Merry Hill
C: Merry Hill to Brierley Hill
D: Brierley Hill to Stourbridge 

[Roy]

I don't see what the big deal is. Merry Hill has a bus interchange already, and there are several bus services that go into Brierley Hill from there.

The problem is that the Merry Hill tram stop will be at the top of an embankment next to the canal and a long way from the bus station.  When the Metro was first mooted, the current bus station was only supposed to be a temporary one with a new interchange being built close to the tram stop.  This seems to have been shelved.

[karl724223]

I don't see what the big deal is. Merry Hill has a bus interchange already, and there are several bus services that go into Brierley Hill from there.

Merry hill bus station is in poor condition full of pot holes where buses park  stands A to E are illegal for disabled access very little seating for waiting passengers 
New merry hill owners don't want to invest in the bus station  but I thought you would have know all of that 

[karl724223]

When and if the metro dies go to brierley hill is there still going to be a new bus and metro interchange at merry hill ?? 

[Rachvince53]

When and if the metro dies go to brierley hill is there still going to be a new bus and metro interchange at merry hill ??

Currently the Metro will terminate at Brierley Hill with a shuttle bus provided to take passengers to Merry Hill. In my opinion, any new bus station would be included in the package for the as yet unfunded Metro extension to Merry Hill.  

[karl724223]

Currently the Metro will terminate at Brierley Hill with a shuttle bus provided to take passengers to Merry Hill. In my opinion, any new bus station would be included in the package for the as yet unfunded Metro extension to Merry Hill. 

It's been split into three Dudley to waterfront 
Waterfront to merry hill Dudley council ?
Then merry hill to brierley hill no funding 
Again no mention of a new bus metro interchange

[Ginger66]

Regarding the Wednesbury to Merry Hill extension how can cost spiral out of control.

If planning was consented before lockdown surely it would have been easier to buy everything in bulk 44km of rail (I know the route is 11km), sleepers ext once planning was approved.

But it seems items are ordered when needed you could order sleepers one week and it cost x amount next week it could be 2.5% higher in price

Surely questions have to be asked why aren't those in charge of purchasing for the routes not buying in bulk. 

[karl724223]

Oh dear reports now say tram not coming to Dudley till next year now and possibly not enough money to finish it 
Where's the money gone ????

[j789]

And to think people think these clowns in charge of transport planning will make a good go of bus franchising if they get their way. These farcical scenes show that bringing anymore infrastructure back into local authority ownership is just asking for trouble.

It's laughable how bad these people actually are and how poor they implement everything. Clearly the job description for these roles must request only total idiots with no idea of reality can apply.

[Tony]

And to think people think these clowns in charge of transport planning will make a good go of bus franchising if they get their way. These farcical scenes show that bringing anymore infrastructure back into local authority ownership is just asking for trouble.

It's laughable how bad these people actually are and how poor they implement everything. Clearly the job description for these roles must request only total idiots with no idea of reality can apply.

So it says he needs £121m, how much is he spending on franchising?

[j789]

So it says he needs £121m, how much is he spending on franchising?

Exactly, the usual 'open chequebook' mentality when spending tax payers money. 

No doubt with Labour now in charge of the country they will blow billions on it just for it to then spectacularly fail just in time for a new government to come in and have to deal with the mess. (Cough cough 2008!). 

The only positive I see if that with the never ending postponements of everything transport related in the West Midlands, the next mayoral election will have come round before franchising can happen and the current status quo will persist long term (whilst watching Greater Manchester's transport network crash and burn [a huge wad of money!!!]).

[Ronnoc]

We will never have a metro system close to London ever. Lack of money, lack of will to improve anything, no ambition, we've truly slumped. Anything good in this country gravitates towards London, everywhere else gets left to rot. 

The new labour government seem to have some good ideas, anything is better than the Conservatives at this point, but our flavour of labour in our councils and WMCA are so mediocre.