Tram delay to Dudley 'regrettable but normal' as testing throws up unexpected issues

Bosses have said delays to a long overdue new tram service to Dudley are “regrettable but normal” as testing throws up unexpected issues.

Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Investment Board were told the testing and commissioning phase of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill extension was now in full flow.

Get the best local stories, straight to your inbox - subscribe to the E&S newsletter

WMCA chief executive Ed Cox said construction work had been completed and it was on track to be fully open in the autumn, but he was reluctant to give a specific date in case tests revealed any further issues.

Earlier this month, Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley called for sackings after revealing a planned opening date of August would be missed.

The project has been beset with previous delays and is two years overdue from a revised completion date of 2024.

At the Investment Board meeting on Monday (June 22), Dudley councillor Steve Clark and Birmingham councillor Chris Garghan raised the issue of the delayed line.

Mr Cox said: “As you’d expect and for very important safety reasons as you test the new tram system, there are issues that have come about as a result of the testing which mean we’ve had to delay that programme.

“It’s regrettable but it’s normal. And it’s why transport authorities very often don’t want to give fixed deadlines for when something is going to come into commission because you never what’s going to be thrown out through testing and commissioning.

“Testing and commissioning now is in full flow. Because we are still in the testing and commissioning phase, we are not committing to a specific date.

“Because if we do commit to a specific date and then something comes up through the testing that proves we’ve got to adjust or develop, it will be daft to give a precise date.

“We are expecting it to come into full service for the general public this autumn.”

West Midlands Deputy Mayor Stephen Simkins and chair of the Investment Board said: “I think we need to have a closer look on delays.

“If there is anything we can do to mitigate or pre-plan, especially when they keep coming with change requests to delay the extensions.

“There must be more work that needs to be done either with the private sector or internally so we can absolutely have a clear and transparent understanding and so we can mitigate delays moving forward.”