Fewer trams will stop at main Wolverhampton station in plan

The current St George's Terminus in Bilston Street will still be used but transport bosses have said it will only be at certain times of the day.

Instead many of the trams will go to two new stops on Piper's Row and at the city's rail station.

Trams will not be able to visit all three stations due to having to turn at the junction of Bilston Street and Piper's Row.

It comes as a consultation is taking place into the plans to extend the Midland Metro around a third of a mile to link it up with the city's bus station and rail station. Trams will travel down Piper's Row and over the bridge in Railway Drive. Pedestrians will be unable to use Railway Drive and will instead have to use the £1.4m foot bridge installed two years ago.

Funding for the project has not yet been secured but if the government agrees to it work would start in 2015. It will mean two years of roadworks in the city centre.

There are further plans to eventually loop the Metro line around the city centre which would bring the total cost to £30m.

In a leaflet issued as part of a consultation people are being asked what times of the day the tram should stop at St George's rather than at Piper's Row or the rail station.

In it transport authority Centro said: "The proposal is to maintain the St George's Stop.

"Most trams would travel along Piper's Row to the rail station. However, to improve flexibility at certain times of the day, the trams could use the St George's Stop. The current layout and land available for the tram means that it would not be possible for the tram to serve both Piper's Row and St George's stops on the same journey."

Former Wolverhampton mayor Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett said: "I fully support the Metro but I can't understand how we can spend millions of pounds on an extension that doesn't allow it to serve all the tram stops. It's totally illogical."

The tram would run every six minutes. A new fleet of trams arrives next year as part of a £128m extension programme linking the other terminus at Birmingham Snow Hill with New Street station. Centro says the Wolverhampton scheme will support the planned redevelopment of land next to the rail station which is expected to see £100m of investment and 1,400 new jobs.

Centro chairman Councillor John McNicholas said: "We are keen to hear from as many people and businesses as possible."

Consultation runs until May 31. People can comment about the plans for the Metro at www.centro.org.uk/metro