£4.5m tram refurbishment remains on hold as bosses still don't know when service into Wolverhampton will resume

The Centro scheme to improve tram tracks between Priestfield and St George's, as well as expanding the latter's platform, was supposed to finish at the end of November.

But after an abandoned mine shaft was discovered the project has been hit with delays.

The Royal stop opened in mid December.

But bosses cannot give an opening date for the main St George's stop in Bilston Street.

It means yet more misery for tram users who have been unable to get a tram into Wolverhampton city centre since early September.

And it comes as tram fares go up around five per cent, with a single journey now costing 10p more and returns up 20p or 30p depending on how far people are travelling.

Work on the £4.5m scheme was supposed to take around three months in total but has now stretched to more than four – and with no end in sight.

Transport authority Centro is still waiting for information on how solve the mine shaft problem.

Centro spokesman Peter Cameron said that information would dictate how much longer the firm will need to finally complete the project.

He said: "Work to upgrade the Midland Metro tracks to St George's continues and we are awaiting information from our consultants detailing the best way to tackle the mineworkings that were recently found nearby.

"This has of course led to delays and due to the complexity of the project the timescales will be dependent on the consultants' feedback and the chosen course of action.

"While this vital work to upgrade the tracks continues we are pleased that trams are again running to The Royal stop in Wolverhampton."

A new crossover track has been installed at The Royal meaning trams can turn back towards Birmingham, whereas previously they would have to go to St George's to do so.

The abandoned mine shaft was found beneath a section of the tram line near to The Royal on the A41 Bilston Road.

It was discovered as workmen dug into the ground to prepare foundations for the new track, which will offer a smoother quieter ride according to Centro.

There were also question marks over whether The Royal would open in mid December, with fears on whether concrete would set if temperatures dipped below 5C (41F), but the stop did open just two weeks after its original completion date.