Driver training raises hopes that long-awaited Dudley £400m tram line could open before Christmas

Hopes are rising that Dudley’s long-awaited tram line could open before Christmas amid reports that drivers are about to begin their training.

It is understood drivers had been due to start their training today (November 9), with a view to the line opening in six weeks’ time.

However, it is believed that the training may have been delayed by a day or two, but was still thought to be imminent.

It is expected that the training will take six weeks, after which the trams will finally be ready to operate, meaning they could finally be up and running the week before Christmas.

There had been fears that the opening of the line, which runs from Wednesbury to Dudley, would be delayed until the new year after it missed its latest deadline of opening on November 1.

The £400 million line, which also passes through Tipton and stops at Dudley Port railway line, was originally due to have opened in the summer of 2022, but has been beset by delays.

The first test trams completed the route in June this year.

The service will initially terminate outside the Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre in Flood Street, although work has already begun on the second phase, which will link up with the Merry Hill shopping centre. The second phase is due to open in 2028.

The line was originally due to have run to Brierley Hill, but the final stage has been shelved due to rising costs.