Midland Metro passenger numbers fall amid A41 roadworks disruption

Overall, the network saw a nine per cent fall in travelling customers in January, compared to the same month last year.

But weekend travel has been worst hit, with the number of passengers on Saturday down 18 per cent and Sunday down 20 per cent.

• Express & Star comment: Vital Midland Metro must stay on track

Bosses say custom has been impacted by the replacement track works in Bilston Road, which were completed in December.

The project lasted six months and meant the operating line could only go as far as Priestfield Metro Stop, not to the city centre's St George's stop.

The figures form part of a Metro Operations Business Report to go before a meeting of the West Midlands Combined Authority on Monday.

It shows passenger numbers were at 597,326 in January, compared to 653,035 the year before.

Across the year, February last year to January, the service was down one per cent in custom from the same period the prior year.

While weekend usage across the year also fell five per cent on Saturdays and three per cent on Sundays.

The report said: "Following the closure of Bilston Road in June 2017 patronage decreased but since re-opening in December 2017 has started to recover."

The report also revealed punctuality, while improving since June last year, had worsened in December and January.

In December Metro trams covered 92 per cent of scheduled kilometres.

This was down to 'driver availability issues'.

In response, National Express Midland Metro has trained up six new drivers.

The fall in passenger numbers comes a year after the network was celebrating after hitting record usage, following the extension into Birmingham city centre.

Passenger numbers broke seven million in one year.

Work has now started on extending the Midland Metro line from St George's to Wolverhampton railway station.

Pipers Row has been closed for the work, which will be complete for passengers in 2020.

Plans are also in the pipeline for a new line from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill.

The 11km route with 17 stops is expected to open in 2022.