'I won't hold my breath': Dudley Council leader reveals new date for long-delayed tram line

Dudley’s much-delayed tram service will not open now until November, the council’s frustrated leader has revealed.

And Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said he “wouldn’t be holding [his] breath” that the latest deadline would be met either.

He said he had been told that both the £400 million tram line, and the new bus station - which has also been hit by a string of delays - would open on November 1.

Work began on the tram extension in 2020, with a seven-mile route from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill town centre originally due to have opened in 2023.

But the project has been hit by a string of delays, and was later divided into two phases amid rising costs.

The first phase, a four-mile line stretch from Wednesbury to Dudley, was then given an opening date of summer 2024, which was then postponed to autumn 2025.

Further delays then saw the opening of the first phase delayed until December, then ‘the new year’, before another opening date of August 28 this year was set. In June it was revealed that this target would also be missed, with the authority committing only to ‘autumn 2026’.

Councillor Harley told the Express & Star: “I now understand the date for opening both the tram line, and the bus station, will be November 1, they will both be opened together.

“But I won’t be holding my breath, given all the delays we have had.”

The first trams rolled into Dudley town centre on June 25 this year, as part of a test run. But bosses at the combined authority revealed that the tests had revealed issues with signalling, which meant that the August deadline would not be met.

The delay prompted Councillor Harley to call for “heads to roll” at the authority.

"I think I've been extremely patient as leader of this authority,” he said.

“Businesses in my town, in my council, are suffering.

"Transport for West Midlands and the Combined Authority need to get their act together and get this tram up and running, so Dudley's got the connectivity and businesses have the break that they desperately need.

"Businesses are closing, people are losing money, people are losing jobs, and that's just not right. And heads need to roll.

"The delays, the dithering, and constant incompetence is making sure that some of these businesses probably won't survive until the tram line is open, and that's not acceptable."

The £24 million bus station, which will also include a tram stop, was originally due to have opened last year.

But the opening date was first put back until spring this year, and then until autumn.

Timeline of delays

February 2020: Work starts on the extension, which was then due to have run from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill town centre. The line was due to be have been completed in its entirety by the end of 2023.

July 2022: Mayor Andy Street announces that delays and rising costs as a result of Covid mean the scheme will now be split into two phases. The first section to Dudley town centre will open by 2024, with no date given for the second phase, between Dudley and Brierley Hill.

June 2023: It was announced the total cost of the scheme had risen to £649 million, taking it 45 per cent over budget.

July 2024: Opening of the Wednesbury-Dudley line delayed until “autumn 2025” amid rising costs. The Brierley Hill extension is postponed indefinitely until further funding can be found.

July 2025: West Midlands Combined Authority says Dudley line will be open “by the end of the year”.

October 2025: Opening of Wednesbury-Dudley line delayed “until the new year”.

January 2026: Opening date for Dudley line set for August 28, 2026.

June 2026: Frustrated Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley reveals he has been told that the August opening date will also be missed, with the line to Dudley now expected to open “in the autumn”.

September 2026: Councillor Harley tells the Express & Star he has been given an opening date of November 1, 2026, but “won't be holding [his] breath”.