What's the fastest way from Wolverhampton to Birmingham? Our reporters find out

A new report naming the Black Country and Birmingham among the worst in the world for congested roads now gives us even greater pause for thought – as if evidence was needed.

For many, the daily angst of getting from A to B every weekday morning is topped only by the nightmare to come, getting from B to A at the end of the day.

It's a question we put to the test using the notorious Black Country to Brum routes that made it on to the list of top 100 most traffic-choked journeys on the planet.

Express & Star trainee reporters Tom Oakley, Jamie Brassington and Doug Wootton left from the same point at the same time, all three travelling in the same direction but by different methods – one using A roads, another the M6 motorway and the third taking the Metro. But who arrived first at the finishing point in Birmingham city centre?

One factor taken out of the equation was the weather, as our boys headed out on a gloriously sunny morning. When the elements are against you, when it's wet, windy or even mildly cool, it's so much easier to dive into the car, turn up the heater to blast-furnace level and slip in a CD.

But that feeling of smugness as you pass the sodden queue at the bus stop lasts only as long as you hit the first queue of the morning – and the bus passes you on the inside.

• MORE: Black Country and Birmingham roads among the most congested in the WORLD

• MORE: Midland Metro trams will be first to run solely on batteries

Tom, who was tasked with tackling the A41 Black Country Route to Birmingham, set off with a song in his heart but soon changed his tune when faced with the carnage that is West Bromwich High Street in the rush hour.

I'd clearly drawn the short straw, but with the schools off for the Easter break maybe, just maybe, I could make it down the A41 Black Country Route in my trusty Ford Fiesta without too many hold-ups.

Up against the might of the M6 and the Midland Metro service, it was never going to be an easy challenge.

Setting off from the Express & Star HQ at 8.30am, the race – within the parameters of the speed limits naturally – was well and truly on. According to Google Maps' journey planner, I should have arrived in the centre of Birmingham, parked up and walked to Victoria Square in 45 minutes – 37 without traffic. But there was traffic. Quite a bit of traffic. Let's just say Google Maps is clearly not acquainted with the A41 in the rush-hour.

Getting to Bilston was fine, and soon I was sailing through Wednesbury. But, predictably, the closer I got to the second city, the further away drifted my chances of finishing a winner. West Bromwich was chocka, and Smethwick high street even worse. Trust me, you don't want to be driving through Baggies country at a snail's pace when you've got a Wolves sticker in your back windscreen.

But my fears were unfounded and as I emerged unscathed, with Birmingham's 'red cage' car park in my sights, I reckoned victory could, after all, be mine. That was until I hit the roadworks' hell that is Paradise Circus. The diversion forced me to switch direction, travelling round by the Children's Hospital, before I could park up. I crossed the finish line in a not-so impressive one hour and 25 minutes journey time.

I may have come last but, hey, I got to drive through the heart of the bostin' Black Country.

Doug, too, left the office expecting to finish in pole position after being given the M6 to negotiate. The thought of putting his foot down on the motorway, wind in his hair, was appealing until the flashing lights of the overhead gantries warned of traffic misery ahead.

Tasked with cruising along the M6 to Birmingham, I was feeling confident, in fact quite smug.

My journey began with the A454 route to the M6, always a challenge and I barely touched 30mph down the 40mph route but at least I was moving.

As I joined the long line of traffic to get on the motorway slip road my heart sank and I was faced with a 'queues likely' sign.

For five minutes I failed to get out of third gear. An accident between junctions 10 and 9 added to the usual agony around the M5.

I took advantage of that spacious stretch between junctions eight and six and arriving in town via the A38 I did not feel the pain of the Paradise Circus roadworks. I arrived in Victoria Square at 9.50am.

Overall it was a journey of two halves, the first being a Black Country crawl and the second half being a Birmingham breeze.

Yes, it's hard to break the habit of a lifetime but Jamie, who took the Metro, might just be tempted to give up his car after a stress-free journey to Birmingham's Snow Hill and a stroll to rendezvous with his colleagues – when they finally turned up.

So leaving the car behind and going by tram maybe the best way to avoid spending hours stuck in a jam.

Given a choice, I would rather have been the man in the driving seat rather than a passenger having to sit there and hope for the best.

Who knows what hold-ups might affect my Metro journey – signals failure, a breakdown, a riot breaking out on board? These were my gloomy thoughts as I stood waiting for the tram at St George's station.

And how long would I have to wait? No time at all it turned out with the tram leaving Wolverhampton dead on 8.39am. The ride was smooth and my scenic journey cost just £4 for a single ticket.

We whizzed between stops and were at Bull Street by only 9.16am. A short walk saw me arrive at Victoria Square for 9.25am – a comfortable winner.