'Delayed delivery and broken promises' – Labour to consider move away from tram travel

He said alternative modes of transport such as very light rail may be a "better fit" for parts of the region.

It came as Mr Parker called for an independent inquiry into schemes including the cash-strapped Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, which has seen its budget surge by 45 per cent to £650m.

Other flagging schemes include the long-delayed 700-metre Wolverhampton city centre extension, which has still not opened, and Birmingham Eastside, which won't fully open until 2027.

Conservative Mayor Andy Street has overseen a mass expansion of the Metro network since he entered office in 2017.

But Mr Parker told the Star that a pattern had emerged of "delayed delivery and broken promises", with too many projects hampered by financial issues.

He said: "It makes sense that Metro schemes that have been committed to should be completed, but this shouldn't be to the detriment of people in the region.

"What has been happening raises some really serious questions about the long-term value for money of the Metro system. At the University of Warwick they are working on very light rail systems for a tenth of the cost of the Metro.

"I'll be looking at further research and analysis into the benefits of schemes like that which could be a better fit for parts of our area than a Metro system."

Mr Parker, a former corporate accountant with PwC, said if he wins next May's mayoral election he would immediately launch an inquiry into the region's transport schemes.

He said there were "serious questions" about the viability of financing, the funding of projects and the effectiveness of delivery. He also accused Mr Street of "over-promising" and "hoping that everything falls into place".

"Our transport systems are about improving connectivity and getting people around the region more quickly to their workplaces and the jobs market," he said. "But those people are being failed badly.

"Not only that, because of the delays and increased costs there is a black hole in the budget of the combined authority.

"There needs to be more transparency, which is why I am calling for an inquiry to find out exactly what has gone wrong and why. We need to understand the plan for delivery and how it is going to be funded.

"At the moment we are not getting those explanations. If the mayor won't start that inquiry then it will be the first announcement I'll make on day one.

"We have a choice. We either accept that these projects can't be delivered, we readjust the capital budget, or we set out to government exactly what extra funding is required. Currently we have no idea why any of this has occurred, which is a real concern.

"Rather than boosting our economy our transport network is actually damaging us."

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which Mr Street heads up, has said the delays and surging costs are largely down to rampant inflation and supply chain issues.

It emerged last month that a new business case is being drawn up for the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill line to reflect its increased cost.

The part of the 6.8-mile route beyond Dudley has been split into three phases, with Dudley taxpayers funding the section between Waterfront and Merry Hill. The final stop to Brierley Hill remains unfunded.

A Transport for West Midlands spokesperson, said: “Inflationary pressures and other economic challenges have had a significant impact on major transport projects across the country.

“The West Midlands has not been immune. However, together with our delivery partners, we are working tirelessly to deliver an ambitious infrastructure programme that will help ensure the region is better connected.

“The WMCA Board regularly reviews the progress of large-scale infrastructure projects with partners in local and national Government. Local leaders will continue to be briefed and invited to scrutinise delivery.”