Dudley's new Metro line and bus interchange are almost ready to welcome passengers. Here's what's coming and where it can take you.
What's happening now?
The building work is finished and we're getting everything ready for passengers.
Driver training is now taking place so you may see trams operating on the line and buses at the Interchange, but they aren't quite ready to use yet.
We'll publish opening dates on this page as soon as they're confirmed.
Meet your new Metro and Interchange
Select an option below to find out more about the new facilities and view important safety information.
About the new Metro line
Welcome to your new Metro extension – connecting Dudley to major cities and the wider West Midlands.
The new line runs from Wednesbury to Dudley Town Centre, through Sandwell and Dudley. It joins the existing Metro line at Wednesbury, linking Dudley to the wider tram network, including Birmingham and and Wolverhampton.
One of the new tram stops is at Dudley Port making interchange with rail easy, too.
Why take the tram?
- Turn up and go. Trams will run every 8 to 10 minutes for most of the day, so you won't need to plan around a timetable.
- Away from the traffic. Much of the route has its own track, so journey times are more reliable.
- Easy to get on and off. Trams and stops are step-free, which helps if you use a wheelchair, push a buggy or carry heavy bags.
- Cleaner air. Trams run on electricity and produce no exhaust fumes.
Living or working near the line
The new tram line is live. Trams can run at any time and they're quiet. They can't swerve, and they take longer to stop than a car. The overhead power lines are switched on all day, every day.
- Stay off the track. Never go onto the line, including from your garden. It's dangerous.
- Keep it clear. Rubbish, garden waste or anything else dumped on or near the line can stop trams running. Clearing it is costly and can put the people who do it in danger.
- Take care at crossings. Look both ways, listen for trams and only cross where it's safe to do so.
- Keep away from the overhead lines. Don't use ladders, long tools or poles near them, and don't fly kites or drones nearby.
- Report it. If you see something on the line, a damaged fence or someone on the track, contact [West Midlands Metro contact]. If someone is in danger, call 999.
About the new bus station
Dudley Interchange is the town's new bus station. It's built to make catching the bus easier and safer providing a gateway to Dudley town centre, the heart of the Black Country and the wider West Midlands.
Within a state-of-the-art building, passengers can wait in temperature-controlled comfort with seating, accessible toilets and lifts.
Real-time departure screens will provide information for the 14 allocated bays as well as timetable boards.
The building will also have a dedicated Changing Places facility to support passengers with accessibility needs.
It's a short walk from the new Dudley Town Centre tram stop, so you can switch between bus and tram easily. To reach the tram stop, take the stairs or accessible lifts to the second floor, exit the station and walk 40 steps to the tram on the left.
A new way of boarding
The Interchange uses a "drive in, reverse out" layout.
Each bus pulls forward into its own stand, facing the waiting area, so you won't need to cross a road or a bus lane to get on.
When the bus is ready to leave, the driver reverses out slowly, supported by reversing alarms and visual markers identified through their training, and once the bus passes over a detector in the ground, the doors automatically close. Just another safety feature we have introduced.
The layout also fits more buses into the space, so the overall capacity of the bus station is increased.
When moving around the interchange, please use the marked walkways and crossings, watch out for buses reversing, and follow any signs or instructions from staff.
Where will you go first?
Once they open, the new tram line and bus station will connect with the rest of the region's bus, Metro and rail network.
- Work. More of the regions jobs will be within reach by public transport, with no parking to find or pay for.
- Study. Students will be able to get to Dudley College by tram or bus, and those moving on to university in Wolverhampton or Birmingham can get there by public transport too or even further afield by train.
- Days out. Dudley is home to the Black Country Living Museum, Dudley Zoo and Castle and the Dudley Canal and Tunnels. Visitors from across the West Midlands will be able to reach the town by tram, and local people and international visitors, can visit without needing a car.
- Family and friends. Getting across Sandwell and Dudley to see the people you care about will be simpler, with buses and trams meeting in one place.
- Shopping and nights out. Change onto the wider Metro network for shopping, events and nights out in Birmingham, Wolverhampton or discovering new places across the region.
Thank you for your patience
Building the new tram line and bus station in Dudley has been a large-scale project.
Thank you to everyone involved in the project and to the residents of Sandwell and Dudley who have lived and worked alongside the building work.
Dudley Metro Extension: FAQs
More information about the new tram line.
Dudley Interchange: FAQs
More information about the new bus station.