Major milestone reached for Wolverhampton city centre Metro extension

The Metro tram extension in Wolverhampton city centre has reached a major milestone with the first pieces of track laid.

The new Metro tram track that has been recently installed in Wolverhampton city centre.

The initial 36 metres (118 ft) of the track, that will take the Metro to Wolverhampton railway station, has been laid in Pipers Row, as works continue to progress.

The event was marked by Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton council, and Alejandro Moreno, director of the Midland Metro Alliance, and brings the project to extend the Metro in the city one step closer to completion.

Councillor Roger Lawrence said: “This is a significant milestone for West Midlands Metro in Wolverhampton, it is a sign of the progress the scheme is making and people can see how it is now that much closer.

Alejandro Moreno, director of the Midland Metro Alliance, and Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton council, at the first piece of tram track in Pipers Row.

"Nearly eight million journeys a year are now made on the Metro but this extension also has a key role to play in unlocking further investment and jobs, not just in Wolverhampton but across the wider Black Country, enabling us to open up new areas for redevelopment and underpinning our long term ambitions for jobs and prosperity.

"The Wolverhampton Interchange project is all part of getting the right transport infrastructure in place to improve connectivity and ensure the city is ready to capitalise on the arrival of HS2 in a just a few years’ time.”

Alejandro added: “The first tracks being laid is a significant and symbolic moment for the Wolverhampton city centre Metro extension.

"By extending the Metro to the railway station, we will not only provide an attractive gateway to those entering the city by national rail, bus or tram services, but will help to improve transport links in the city.”

The extension forms part of the wider £150m Wolverhampton Interchange to regenerate the city’s transport hub, and construction work for phase two along Pipers Row got underway in the spring.

When operational, after the construction of the new railway station is complete, trams will serve two additional tram stops; one at the city’s bus station on Pipers Row and one at the station, allowing easy interchange with other modes of public transport.

It is anticipated that this second phase of the works will be completed in late summer 2018 when the road will reopen.