Midland Metro tracklaying in Wolves

[melmerby]

Hi all

As the extension of the Midland Metro from near it's current terminus to Wolverhampton Bus & Railway stations is about get underway I thought it would be time to start a new thread.

The updates won't be as often as the Birmingham extension was.

 

The extension will run from Bilston Street close to the current terminus, turning North along Piper's Row, passing the new(ish) Bus Station, it will then turn right into Railway Drive, crossing the Ringway and terminating to the right of the Main entrance of the Railway Station.

There will be a stop alongside the Bus Station in Piper's Row

 

The current terminus is St Georges, where originally there were two platform faces and a scissors crossing approach. A few years ago this was reduced to the current  one platform layout.

 

St Georges Terminus viewed from the town end:

 

 

From the end of the platform along Bilston St.

You can see the preliminary work just ahead to the left:

 

 

Bilston St/ Piper's Row junction showing worksite.

There is a lot of marking on the road & pavement around here:

 

:

 

Looking back at junction from Piper's Row:

 

 

Some of the associated markings:

 

 

Further up Piper's Row still toward Bilston Street:

 

 

Turning around we can see the Bus Station:

 

 

A couple more shots of the Bus Station from Piper's Row:

 

 

The corner of Piper's Row looking into Railway Drive

The road is now closed to ordinary traffic:

 

 

I'll update as and when I can get to Wolverhampton.

 

Something I noticed was the appalling ride on the street section from Priestfield into Wolverhampton.

It felt like the tram had no springing whatsoever. The ride over the various pointwork along the route was equally rough

It really was unpleasant and hardly a good advert for using a tram!

 

Cheers

 

Keith

 

EDIT Inserted a bit of missing text to aid legibility!

Edited April 12, 2017 by melmerby

[Siberian Snooper]

I look forward to seeing any updates that you get the chance to post. Thanks.

[melmerby]

Something I noticed was the appalling ride on the street section from Priestfield into Wolverhampton.

It felt like the tram had no springing whatsoever. The ride over the various pointwork along the route was equally rough

It really was unpleasant and hardly a good advert for using a tram!

 

Looks like work is in hand to remedy the poor track condition along Bilston Road that I noticed.

News Item from The Metro Alliance:

 

http://www.metroalliance.co.uk/bilston-road-metro-line-renewal-to-take-place-from-summer-2017/

 

Keith

[melmerby]

I managed to get to Wolves today to see how much progress had been made ohn the extension and I was ....underwhelmed.

So only two pictures

 

Apart from the new Junction at Piper's Row/Bilston Street the only other work was on the corner of Railway Drive where some new services were being installed.

Considering it is nearly 9 months since I last visited I am surprised at how little has been done.

 

The Junction was laid as part of the track renewal between Priestfield and St Georges which IMHO was sorely needed and the ride is now much improved.

 

New junction Piper's Row/Bilston Street:

( I notice the kerbing has been replaced with something much less substantial and presumably easy to remove.

Also most of the street furniture has gone from by the tram tracks.

 

 

Piper's Row/Railway Drive:

 

 

keith

Edited January 25, 2018 by melmerby

[melmerby]

Managed ro get back to Wolves to have a look at the progress

 

Piper's Row, Bilston Street end looking towards the bus station:

 

 

A bit further along the concrete track base:

 

 

Another couple of views:

 

 

Some track has appeared outside the bus station:

 

 

Looking back towards Bilston Street:

 

 

A couple of views at the Railway Drive end:

 

 

 

Keith

Edited June 28, 2018 by melmerby

[bike2steam]

Christ !!!! How things have changed since I used to live there 45 - 50 years ago.

Edited June 29, 2018 by bike2steam

[shipbadger]

Christ !!!! How things have changed since I used to live there 45 - 50 years ago.

Couldn't agree more.  I was a student there for four years in the early 70's and a regular user of buses and trains but I found it quite hard to pick out once familiar landmarks.  To put it in to context; in those days it was still possible to see much of the former trolleybus infrastructure on lamp posts and buildings.  Keep meaning to come back up and have a ride on the trams so will follow this thread with interest.  Thanks to the OP for posting.

 

Tony Comber

[melmerby]

There is not much going on re the tram at the railway station just yet but it would appear it will be included during the re-development/rebuilding of the station itself, which is imminent.

 

I find Wolverhampton a bit soulless these days.

It all looks as if re-developments have been done rather piecemeal, leaving a mish-mash of old and new.

The Mander Centre has a lot of empty space and there are quite a lot unused buildings of various types around the City centre.

At least the beer at the 'Spoons (Moon under Water) is good.

 

Keith

[bike2steam]

At least the beer at the 'Spoons (Moon under Water) is good.

 

Keith

 

And there was me thinking they only bought cheap ale past it's 'best by' date, or do you mean lager ( as he spits !)   

[Siberian Snooper]

And there was me thinking they only bought cheap ale past it's 'best by' date, or do you mean lager ( as he spits !)

 

Not had many bad pints in 'spoons pubs and when I have the staff have always sorted it out. No I don't drink eurofizz either.

[melmerby]

And there was me thinking they only bought cheap ale past it's 'best by' date, or do you mean lager ( as he spits !)   

I said BEER. (Hand pull only). They had a Titanic promotion on, complete with some sort of competition.

 

Lager - Wash your mouth out. (You would need to if you have just had any of that UK massed produced fizzy stuff )

OK if you mean that proper German/Belgium/Czech brewed product.

 

Keith

[melmerby]

Looks like the Metro website has now been updated.

From Sunday 24th operation came under direct control of TfWM rather than National Express and new fare structure has been introduced with some useful price reductions.

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/news/savings-and-new-fares-as-tfwm-launches-west-midlands-metro/

 

According to Modern Railways, the trams will eventually be painted blue with the TfWM logo with blue centre.

 

Keith

Edited June 29, 2018 by melmerby

[melmerby]

Another update on the progress in Wolverhampton, which since last summer has been quite substantial.

Pipers Row/Bilston Street Junction:

 

 

Progressing up Pipers Row:

 

Bus station on right

 

Turning into the Station Approach:

Lookimg back towards Bilston Road:

 

Station Approach (as far as the track gets to):

 

They obviously expect some expansion on the bridge over the ringway as we have these:

 

You will note the road surfaces are extremely rough. Apparantly this is just a temporary surface which will be replaced before the extension is opened.

 

The last bit wont be done until the station redevelopment has taken place and for completeness here is the current state of the work:

Edited February 21, 2019 by melmerby