Fraudulent June 2017 Business Case for WBHE

EVIDENCE IN BOLD over lack of probity and competence.

So grossly misleading claims from unrealistic thinking that they amount to lies.

My corrections/rebuttal in blue.

Andy Street's Forward to Business Case:

"As you are aware, we are also working on a case for transferring the ownership of the line from Network Rail to the West Midlands Combined Authority which we think will help to ensure we are able to control costs Costs are so out of control that work was stopped in 2022 and the 11 Kms project was divided into two halves and deliver to timetable Planning began in 1981 and work on the ground in 2019!  In four years, not even a 5.5 Kms tram route on a principal mainline railway is nowhere near finished. whilst making provision for future national rail use of the route."  Even a single track for trains is totally unrealistic because of bridges, tunnels and buildings.

FAILURE TO CONTROL COSTS TO KEEP WITHIN BUDGET

FAILED TO KEEP TO THEIR OWN TIMETABLE

FAILURE TO BE HONEST

FAILED TO BE COMPETENT

FROM https://www.metroalliance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/WBHE-Business-Case-June-2017.pdf

Introduction

"The Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro Extension is in the unique position of having a valid Transport and Works Act Order in place, with funding commitments for initial development (from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and the West Midlands Combined Authority) and widespread support from local authorities and the business community. The route makes use of one of the few remaining disused railway alignments left in the West Midlands, the former South Staffordshire Railway from Walsall to Stourbridge. It will provide a mainly segregated Metro service with the opportunity for fast and reliable connections between important towns and cities, in a part of the West Midlands that has historically suffered from a lack of rail based options. It will also make provisions for long-term plans to reintroduce freight traffic into the disused railway. The Metro is planned to adopt a tram train operation so as to allow the use of both Metro trains and conventional freight services to be used, On the UK's last but still available, nationally important mainline railway, to have trams on two nibble-sized sections, followed by tram trains or train trams, followed by freight trains - is entirely unrealistic and a wholly madcap idea.  Can freight go on the tramway at night? thus allowing freight traffic to avoid many congested railway locations across the West Midlands network; improving both journey time and reliability."

3.11 This preferred option also paves the way for the introduction of rail freight on the Walsall to Stourbridge corridor by reinstating the currently derelict corridor and enhancing the likelihood of the reintroduction of freight along the Stourbridge to Walsall route, removing lorries from the congested M5/M6 corridor and freeing up train paths on the congested West Midlands rail network. It will also allow for future extension to Stourbridge and to Walsall.  And all you had to do, for a fraction of the price, was to rebuild the stations and reinstate the regional and intercity services between Worcester, the Black Country and Derby!

The metro extension makes use of the disused railway alignment of the South Staffordshire Railway, one of only a few remaining abandoned rail corridors in the West Midlands. Abandoned by councillors and officers.  Many councillors gave planning permission for about 100 Kms of Victorian railway lines to be built on.  Seven Dudley railway lines have been lost.  It will provide a mainly segregated service with the opportunity for fast and reliable light rail connection between important towns and cities in a part of the West Midlands that has historically suffered from a lack of rail based options. Because of the authorities destroying them!  The scheme has also been designed to facilitate future tram-train operation that will allow for freight trains to avoid ‘hot-spots’ on the network and improve journey times and reliability (See Figure 4.2).  Utterly impossible unless the freight can use the line at night.  Is that what they mean?  But they have never said so in any communication with me or anyone else I've heard from.