Thursday, November 3, 2022
NEWS Oliver scouting for trip funds Page 12
DUDLEY & STOURBRIDGE EDITION
SANDWELL COLLEGE Right course for your career Pages 17-20
SPORT Packing punch for anniversary Page 36
The region’s biggest free weekly newspaper Price when sold £1.20
SHAKE-UP OF RAIL TRAVEL
Major railway schemes over almost three decades will cement the West Midlands’ role at the “heart” of the country’s economy and transport network, chiefs have said. Transport leaders have unveiled major plans for the railway network up to 2050 which will see stations built, lines opened and a string of service improvements made. They say they are remaining optimistic despite the impact of Covid-19 still being felt. And they are confident the completion of the first two phases of controversial rail scheme HS2 will be a major boost to the region. West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, chair of the West Midlands
Report by Thomas Parkes
Rail Executive (WMRE) which released a consultation over its draft proposals, said: “We are making great progress on developing our rail network with new stations in the pipeline on the Camp Hill Line and at Darlaston and Willenhall, and working with our partners like West Midlands Trains to improve services and rolling stock. “There is no doubt that rail is facing challenges following the Covid-19 pandemic but this strategy shows that passenger numbers will return and it remains a crucial part of our transport network.”
More services will run between London and Shrewsbury, through Wolverhampton, by 2026. Another major proposal is for a station in Tettenhall. The stop would be the first after trains leave Wolverhampton, before travelling on to Bilbrook, Codsall, and into Shropshire. Other proposals would see Birmingham to Crewe services routed via Walsall’s new stations – Darlaston and Willenhall, due to open in 2024 – by 2026. Kidderminster to London services could be introduced between 2026 and 2031 and will by 2040 be extended to Stourbridge Junction, which by that time will be remodelled.
New Metro delay ‘catastrophe’ for city New delays in the completion of the Wolverhampton Metro extension is “a catastrophe” for the city, the council’s economy boss says. Trams will not be running to Railway Plaza until at least the spring and deputy council leader Councillor Stephen Simkins said: “This delay is another catastrophe for the people
of Wolverhampton, this whole Metro extension has been one catastrophe after another. “The extension was meant to be ready for the Commonwealth Games and then we were told it would be ready for the Christmas shopping period and now to hear it has been delayed again is such a let down.”
Peter Cushing, director of Midlands Metro Alliance, which informed its stakeholders of the delay, said: “Due to unforeseen supply chain constraints, a key piece of infrastructure which is required to automatically control signals at the junction of Pipers Row and Bilston Street, has taken longer to arrive.”
Castle’s poppy cascade
The poppy cascade organised by the Dudley Remembers Group A cascade of red poppies flowing down the walls of Dudley Castle has been put on show in the run-up to the region’s Remembrance Day commemorations. The temporary art installation contains more than 350 poppies, made from recycled plastic, to remember fallen war heroes. It was installed on Monday and will now be on show until the end of November. The memorial has been organised by local community group Dudley Remembers and this year it is also dedicated to the late Queen
Elizabeth II as its patron of the Royal British Legion. There will also be a poppy walk in Dudley’s Coronation Gardens beginning next week. Schools, community groups and faith groups were asked to make their own poppies and they will be hung around hedgerows and trees at Coronation Gardens, surrounding the cenotaph. Rose Cook-Monk, poppy organiser for Dudley town centre, said: “We will start that on Monday so it is all in place for Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.”
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