Express & Star

Midland Metro chiefs reject 'overcrowding' claims

Midland Metro chiefs have denied overcrowding trams despite complaints from passengers.

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One passenger tweeted this image after one of the new trams broke down at The Hawthorns stop at around 8.30am yesterday morning.

Pat Archer, a passenger on the service which broke down at The Hawthorns stop tweeted: "New tram stuck at Hawthorns. Rammed to point of unsafe. One emergency stop too. Get your act together please!"

In a separate post she described the service as 'abysmal' and claimed the doors would not close.

Jack Kelly, spokesperson for National Express which runs the service, said it had been a mechanical issue with one of the doors which cause a delay of around four minutes.

He added it may have been a teething issue with one of the new trams.

He said the service would never be run to breaking point and capacity was always intentionally undercut for health and safety reasons.

There were also delays on the service on Monday evening.

Services were suspended for around 40 minutes from 9.30pm between the Hawthorns and Birmingham due to a trespasser on the line.

At the start of the year tram fares increased by around five per cent.

An adult single has gone up by 10p with returns going up 20p or 30p, depending on how far people are travelling, meaning the most expensive return fare is £6.

Weekly and monthly passes have also gone up with a four-week Metrocard now costing £65.50, up £2.

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