Report blasts tram bosses for delays to £400 million Wednesbury-Dudley Metro link

Constant reorganisation of the the West Midlands tram network, a “blurring of accountabilities” and “inconsistent leadership behaviours” are blamed for repeated delays to the Wednesbury-Dudley tram link in a critical new report.

Das Mootanah, Metro director at Transport for West Midlands, has called for the appointment of an independent expert to look at what has gone wrong with the scheme and how these problems can be avoided in future.

In a report to the board of the West Midlands Combined Authority, which is responsible for the £400 million project, Mr Mootanah recommended Steve Edwards should be appointed to oversee a review of its management.

Work began on the seven-mile tram line from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill in February 2020, with an expected opening date of summer 2022. Delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic led to the scheme being broken up into different stages, with the first section - Wednesbury to Dudley - due to have opened in the summer of 2023.

Following a succession of postponements, the first test trams completed the route into Dudley in June this year, but fears are now growing that the line will not open to the public until next year.

Mr Mootanah said Transport for West Midlands, the transport arm of the combined authority, had commissioned a preliminary review of the way tram projects were managed following concerns identified during previous audits.

“Over the last few years, the constantly changing arrangements between the various organisations delivering the Metro programmes and operations led to blurring of accountabilities and interfaces, resulting in difficult relationships, project handover delays,” said Mr Mootanah.

He said this had led to delays in opening the Wednesbury-to-Dudley tram line, as well as the first section of the Birmingham Eastside line, to Moor Street station.

Mr Mootanah said a preliminary review was commissioned to examine concerns regarding “a perceived blame culture which lacks joined-up working” as well as problems with the fragmented structure which involved different organisations responsible for the ownership, construction and operation of the tram network.

“Friction arising from poorly managed interdependencies” and “unclear accountabilities and ownership of Metro-wide integration activities” were also blamed.

“This review concluded that the Metro ecosystem is fragmented, with unclear accountabilities,” Mr Mootanah said.

He said Transport for West Midlands found itself having to mediate between Midland Metro Alliance, the body responsible for constructing the extensions, and Midland Metro Ltd, which ran the tram service. This resulted in “blurred responsibilities and duplication of effort”, Mr Mootanah said.

“Whilst strategic objectives are broadly aligned, the review identified inconsistent leadership behaviours, silo working, fragmented communications and limited reinforcement of collaborative behaviours under pressure,” said Mr Mootanah.

“Leadership and culture were identified as areas requiring particular attention.”

He said the review identified weaknesses in management, planning, testing, commissioning and “operational readiness”.

It recommended a further, detailed review by an independent expert was necessary to address these concerns for future projects, including the second phase of the Dudley line, which will extend the link to the Merry Hill shopping centre.

Mr Mootanah recommended Mr Edwards, who is currently chairman of Tram UK and had more than 30 years of experience in the industry, should lead the review. His report makes no mention of how much Mr Edwards would be paid, but said the cost could be met from existing budgets.

It will be considered by the West Midlands Combined Authority board, headed by mayor Richard Parker, at its next meeting on Friday next week.