Metro extension will go to Brierley Hill High Street as funding confirmed

Andy Street said diggers were already building the extension

A tram extension thrown into doubt by funding issues is to go ahead.

The West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill had been deemed as likely to be delayed or even scrapped as costs rose and more funding was needed.

But Metro Mayor Andy Street confirmed the link from Wednesbury will go all the way to Brierley Hill High Street as cash had been secured.

The money has been confirmed by the government following the cancellation of phase 2 of HS2.

Currently, the Metro runs from Edgbaston in Birmingham to Wolverhampton. Three extensions are planned, one being the link from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) said it was part of a £2.7bn investment into the region's transport infrastructure.

It will receive an immediate £100m investment for the metro and for development work at Arden Cross, next to the HS2 Interchange Station, it said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged billions for transport projects across the country after scrapping the West Midlands to Manchester leg of the high-speed rail project.

Labour criticised the government's Network North alternative to the project as a "back of fag packet plan".

The Wednesbury to Brierley Hill scheme was thrown into doubt by rising costs

West Midlands Combined Authority added the funding confirmed by the Department for Transport would also help it deliver the Midlands Rail Hub project.

It said £1.75bn had been set aside for the hub which would increase capacity for new services, including plans to build new links and open more platforms at Birmingham Moor Street station.