Stourbridge MP, Suzanne Webb has welcomed the West Midlands Mayor’s commitment to link Stourbridge and the Brierley Hill Metro Extension.

Andy Street has written to Suzanne giving an update of the technical aspects of the proposed Stourbridge Dasher project and to reaffirm that the WMCA is firmly committed to delivering a transport extension to Stourbridge.

The MP has been working to obtain finance for the Dasher, through a ‘Restoring Your Railways Fund’ bid. She met with the new Transport Secretary Mark Harper this week to discuss the fund. Suzanne said: 

“I am very pleased the Stourbridge Dasher remains firmly in the mind of the mayor and we will continue to work together effectively to find the solutions and funding we need to make this project work. 

“This exciting project would link Stourbridge to the wider West Midlands region and give us significant scope for economic regeneration, public transport connectivity and development of numerous brownfield sites.

"My job is to do all I can to secure funding. The meeting with the secretary of state allowed me to outline the situation."

In his letter, the mayor said the economic case for the Dasher had been hampered by the need to avoid interaction with freight trains that sometimes use the line. This reduced the frequency of passenger services which could be delivered on the corridor.

However, WMCA officers will explore a potential collaboration with Pre-Metro Operations Limited to develop the business case for very light rail. Andy Street added: 

“I have written to the Chairman of Pre-Metro, Geoff Lusher, outlining this commitment,” he explained. 

“I am keen to see this corridor become better served by public transport in some form and my officers will continue to seek funding opportunities to support the further development of a business case.  

“Subject to further approval from the Department for Transport we expect to be able to release some funding…which will be used to examine the business cases for all our priority mass transit corridors in the region.

“Officers will ensure that Stourbridge-Dudley corridor is one of the corridors that is thoroughly considered in this process.”