West Midlands Metro extension ruled out for Walsall through lack of demand

Several councillors called on Walsall Council to lobby for funding to bring the metro, which is already being extended to Dudley and the Merry Hill shopping centre, to Walsall, via New Cross Hospital.

However, experts say a comprehensive study revealed there was not enough support locally for the move, and that they would instead throw their weight behind plans to re-open train stations in Willenhall and Darlaston.

It will come as a disappointment to councillors who had hoped to boost the transport offering around the town.

Sean Coughlan, leader of the opposition Labour group in Walsall, said he believed there was a need for a metro service to serve New Cross for people living in Willenhall.

He said: "It’s really disappointing. People in Walsall have been promised a metro system for the last 20 years and have sat back and watched extensions happen in Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

"It seems to be one rule for the rest of the Black Country and another for Walsall."

Council officials believe the Walsall area will be adequately served if plans to rejuvenate the train line, a move which is being partly led by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, comes to fruition over the next decade.

Faster ‘smart’ buses are also set to be introduced in Walsall in the coming years.

A motion put forward to the authority called on bosses to ‘use all opportunities at its disposal’ to try and bring the metro to Walsall.

But a report on the matter said: “A study to look at the potential for a more limited extension of Metro from Wolverhampton to Willenhall via New Cross Hospital completed in 2018, concluded that there is insufficient demand at this time in the corridor to generate a positive business case for a Metro extension, especially if the heavy rail passenger service resumes as planned with the intermediate stations and a timetable that includes both local shuttle services and direct connections to Birmingham New Street.

“Consequently, with the support of West Midlands Combined Authority, Transport for West Midlands and West Midlands Trains, officers are actively progressing the new station proposals for Willenhall and Darlaston (James Bridge) as part of the ‘West Midlands HS2 Connectivity Package’.

"The train franchise operator – West Midlands Trains – has made a commitment to serve the new stations.

"Subject to all of the necessary statutory approvals and funding approvals, the earliest the stations could be open and served is December 2021.”