Rare but welcome e-mail from Andy Street with my reply - Sept 2020

On Sat, 19 Sep 2020 at 20:14, Andy Street <Andy.Street@wmca.org.uk> wrote:

Dear Tim

Thank you for your correspondence about Metro lines received on 07 September 2020.

 

I also thank you for your comments regarding the use of railway lines, as you are aware, part of the track will be used for the Midland Metro, which is a step towards a multi-modal transport network in the West Midlands.

The expansion of the Midland Metro tram system is one of many projects that we are delivering with our partners to help meet those future needs.

 

Kind regards

 

Andy

Dear Andy

Thanks so much for the email.

You write, "... part of the track will be used for the Midland Metro, which is a step towards a multi-modal transport network in the West Midlands."

This is exactly the problem, my friend!  However, it is the multi-modal public transport that you are doing which is the PROBLEM!

Multi-modal means a change between bus and tram for those of us coming into Brum city centre from the west.

It means a slower and more tortuous journey by bus via the Arena diversion to the NW or, changing onto the tram at Morrisons, Five Ways for a more direct route.  Either way, a much slower public transport journey compared with the no 9 going directly down Hagley Road and Broad Street.

The WBHE means, similarly, spoiling/wrecking a previous direct train route, for 100 years, between Worcester the Black Country and Derby.

Instead of a train from Stourbridge to Derby, it means a bus to Cottage Street, Brierley Hill to pick up the tram to Wednesbury; for another bus to Walsall to then hire a pushbike to pedal to Brownhills for another bus to Lichfield; to then get a passenger train to Burton on Trent but, via Nuneaton (in the wrong direction) to finally get to Derby.

In addition, you already have every railway bridge, tunnel, underpass and flyover in place for TRAINS, over the full 120 Kms (74 mls)!

This is palpably absurd but you are wholly responsible, Andy!  AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO MAKE SUCH A COLOSSAL BLUNDER!

Please use the £15 BILLION to 2040 on mainly trams, to give us regional, fare-free public transport.  Like I have had for twelve years.  Dunkirk and Luxembourg are the most recent.  And give us our trains back on the train lines!

Best wishes

Tim