Midland Metro disruption after overhead lines damaged during recovery of broken tram

People travelling through the Black Country from Wolverhampton were told to expect delays throughout Friday.

A tram broke down on the line at around 7pm on Thursday.

When it was removed by engineers, the overhead cables were damaged in the process.

Officials said on social media that it had been hoped it would be repaired by Friday morning.

However repairs took longer than expected and officials admitted they may not be completed until the service shuts down overnight into Saturday.

Trams were running from Wolverhampton city centre to the Jewellery Quarter stop.

Passengers were then forced to get off and re-board a separate shuttle service which would take them into Birmingham.

This was due to only a single tram line operating between the stop and its terminus at Grand Central.

The overhead lines had been damaged near the Soho Benson Road stop, said officials from Midland Metro.

During the Metro disruption, customers were told their tickets and passes were valid on bus services including on the number 74.

Tickets were also being accepted on West Midlands Railway trains.

Midland Metro officials apologised for the inconvenience after confirming the delays would continue all day.

A spokesman was reassuring passengers via Twitter that trams would visit every stop all day despite the issues.

The frequency of trams was being reduced into the evening after the rush hour.