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'No money one minute, billions the next' - Express & Star readers react to Rachel Reeves' promises £2.4 billion transport fund for Walsall and Dudley

Chancellor Rachel Revees' announcement of a generous £2.4 billion package for transport in Walsall and Dudley has been met with mixed reactions.

By Daniel Walton
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Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, pledged a mammoth £2.4 billion for transport projects in the West Midlands, with schemes in Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton all set to benefit. 

While the bulk of the money will be spent on extending the West Midlands Metro tram line from Birmingham city centre eastwards to the proposed new football stadium for Birmingham City at Bordesley Green, funds will also be made available for improving bus services and transport links in the Black Country. 

While the announcement was welcomed by Wolverhampton South East MP and cabinet member, Pat McFadden, online it was another story. 

Rachel Reeves looks out of the window of a train
Rachel Reeves announced that the £2.4 billion package will help to boost buses in the Black Country

Many people questioned the source of the funds, with some pushing for an answer into where the £2.4 billion has come from. 

Khan Rose, one Facebook user, said: "Strange that one minute you have no money, next you find billions for buses to Walsall and Dudley." 

Another Facebook user Patricia Robinson noted that while the money may pay for new bus routes, 'no-one has the money' to go out on them. 

Rachel Reeves speaks to an audience
The bulk of the money will be used on the metro tram line extension from Birmingham city centre

She said: "New buses, but no one has the money to go out on them to do any shopping or go out. 

"Then to top it off, they put the fares up." 

Some said that the Black Country should be pleased with the extra funding. 

Steven George said: "We moan when they cut bus services and we moan when they try to improve it."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves
The announcement was met with scrutiny online, with social media users asking 'where is the money coming from'

Lee Ruscoe, another Facebook user, said that the UK isn't as bad off as it seems, saying: "Seeing as we're the 6th richest country in the world, we're far from being bankrupt. 

"The City of London makes millions every day."

Mark Mickey said that 'you can't do right from wrong' adding that they 'are at least putting money into the system'. 

He said: "Can't do right from wrong. Can't please everyone.

"At least they are putting money back into the transport system, unlike the billions the Conservatives did for HS2, which is going to be costly and used by few."

Mrs Reeves said that the tram extension will bring in around £3 billion worth of wider investment, which will help to build 1,500 new homes and create more than 8,000 jobs.