West Midlands Metro passengers face tram disruption as Dudley extension engineering work gets underway

West Midlands Metro has issued a warning to passengers to expect disruption this morning (Sunday, January 19) due to engineering work to connect the existing track to the new extension into Dudley, 

As a result there are no tram services between Wednesbury Great Western Street and Edgbaston Village until 1pm on today.

This means that services are only running between Wednesbury and Wolverhampton, with services running every 12 minutes - while Metro tickets and passes were being accepted on National Express Bus Services.

These include the 79 service between Wednesbury Bus Station and West Bromwich and the 74 between West Bromwich and Birmingham city centre, as well as a special 79A service between Wednesbury Parkway and West Bromwich, and all train services serving those areas.

A spokesman for West Midlands Metro said: "Due to work which will be taking place to connect the existing track with our new extension to Dudley, there will be changes to services on Sunday, January 19.

"From the start of service until 1pm, there will be no services between Wednesbury Great Western Street and Edgbaston Village. This means that trams will operate up to every 12 minutes between Wednesbury Great Western Street and Wolverhampton Station only during this time.

"We are committed to keeping our customers moving and while these essential works are taking places, Metro tickets and passes will be accepted on the following alternative transport:

"These are National Express bus services 79 between Wednesbury Bus Station and West Bromwich, 79A between Wednesbury Parkway and West Bromwich, 74 between West Bromwich and Birmingham City Centre.

"The 79A service is a dedicated replacement bus which will serve Wednesbury Parkway, Wednesbury Bus Station, Black Lake and West Bromwich Bus Station only, every 30 minutes. The first bus will leave Wednesbury Parkway at 6.54AM and West Bromwich Bus Station at 7.15AM

"Passes and tickets are also accepted on all routes between Colmore Row and Edgbaston Village and West Midlands Railway train services between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, including any station served along this route, between these stops.

"Please note, the timetable for the 79 and 79A has been enhanced to connect with the first trams. From 1pm, a normal service will resume with trams operating up to every 12 minutes to all stops. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused to your journey by these changes to our service."