to Cathy Bayton

FROM:

 Dudley - Brierley Hill Transport Scrutiny Note - Aug 2022 - Reply to Mr Weller.pdf

Conclusions
1. While the option presented by Tim Weller could lower costs for the WBH extension, it would not directly stop at Merry Hill and The Waterfront, two of the line’s main attractors. This would impact patronage and thus the overall viability of the scheme.

2. From 2021 assessments, the most promising option to link Brierley Hill and Stourbridge Junction is to share the live rail freight line from Stourbridge Junction to Round Oak terminal with a tram-train and then proceed to join the Metro line to provide direct services without
interchange to Merry Hill and The Waterfront . This enables higher service frequencies to attract significant patronage. Light rail and Very Light Rail services would require a separate single line which would only give low frequency services, attracting less patronage. This suggests that the feasibility of tram-train, from Stourbridge to Brierley Hill, and then onto Dudley, Wednesbury and Walsall needs to be explored further.

Jake concluded that a tram-train might fit the bill between Stourbridge Jct and wherever the tram terminated or, replacing the Metro tram completely with the tram-train.  Yet more enormous expense!  From the 1980s, the plan has always been to argue:

"Light rail investment provides the basis for restoring heavy rail services at the appropriate time."  Tom Magrath, Passenger Services Director, Centro in a letter to me, dated September 2000.  In other words, some kind of tram must go on the railway first, in order to get the trains back.  Palpably absurd!

As you know, there is a Transport and Works Act Order to destroy nature, housing land and public open space at Merry Hill.  Yet, Cathy, it only needs the political will to change the Order and that can easily be done if the top decision makers wish to save £100s millions in both price and weight of deadly greenhouse gas emissions.  And, increase the usefulness of the tram to us all.  When a blunder is made, it can be undone.

Please can you use your influence to stop the tram depositing passengers over 100 m from the main front entrance and on top of the embankment next to the towpath,too?!  The monorail should never have been sent off to Queensland!