End of the line for West Midlands tram conductors - final date revealed and how to buy tickets

The days of buying a tram ticket from a conductor in the West Midlands are coming to an end – with a final date now confirmed for the major change.

Conductors will be withdrawn from West Midlands Metro services from Sunday, September 13, as the network switches fully to a new "Buy Before You Board" system.

It means passengers travelling between Wolverhampton and Birmingham will need to make sure they have a valid ticket or pass before stepping onto a tram.

Customers who board without one could face a £100 penalty fare under the new arrangements.

The change marks the end of the familiar system which has allowed passengers to simply board a tram and purchase their ticket from a conductor during their journey.

Instead, passengers will be able to buy tickets from machines installed at tram stops or through the MyMetro smartphone app.

There are now at least two ticket machines at every stop across the network, with passengers able to purchase single and day tickets as well as weekly, monthly and multi-modal passes.

Depending on the machine, payments can be made using cash, debit or credit cards, contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Passengers can also use the machines to top up Swift cards, while some machines allow customers to purchase a new Swift card.

People can also travel using a valid concessionary or Swift pass, while monthly Direct Debit tickets remain available.

West Midlands Metro staff will be stationed across the network in the run-up to the change to offer advice and help passengers get used to buying their tickets before travelling.

Revenue Officers will also be introduced to carry out ticket and pass inspections both on trams and at stops.

Anyone found travelling without a valid ticket or pass covering the correct time and zones for their journey could be handed a £100 penalty fare.

Michael Reading-Skilton, West Midlands Metro's Head of Commercial and Customer Experience, said: "First and foremost, our teams will aim to help customers get used to the new Buy Before You Board system. When it comes into effect next month, it will no longer be possible to buy a ticket on the tram and customers without a valid ticket or pass could be liable for a Penalty Fare.

"We know the vast majority of customers expect everyone to pay their way, so penalty fares will start to be issued to anyone travelling without a valid ticket or pass.

"As we count down to the launch of the new arrangements, I would encourage customers to start getting into the habit of buying before boarding now, rather than risking getting caught out later."

The Metro runs through Wolverhampton, Bilston, Wednesbury, West Bromwich and Birmingham, with the network currently extending between Wolverhampton St George's and Wolverhampton railway station in the west and Edgbaston Village and Millennium Point in Birmingham.

Passengers are being encouraged to start buying before they board now to avoid being caught out when the new system becomes compulsory.