First glimpse of how Dudley’s new bus and tram interchange could look
Published: Friday 30 Nov 2018
This is the first glimpse of how Dudley's new multi-million pound bus and tram interchange could look.
The draft images were released as an outline planning application for the Dudley Interchange scheme was being submitted to the borough council by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) - part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The application follows a decision by the WMCA board earlier this month to put £10m towards the estimated £18m cost of the project. Other funds will come from a combination of sources including the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (BCLEP) and Dudley Council which is close to finalising its remaining funding.
A computer generated image of how the interior of the new Dudley Interchange could look
The drawings are an early indication of how the final design, which could include a ‘living roof', might look.
They show how the Interchange will serve buses, Sprint rapid transit vehicles and West Midlands Metro trams operating on the forthcoming Wednesbury to Dudley to Brierley Hill extension.
Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: Thanks to devolution the region now has far greater freedom to decide for itself which transport schemes are best for economic growth, jobs and passengers.
It means we will be building more than £3.4bn of new transport infrastructure over the next decade and the Dudley Interchange and the West Midlands Metro extension are part of that investment package.
The scheme submitted today and the associated tram extension will better connect Dudley to the rest of the West Midlands opening up more job, training and leisure opportunities for local people. That has to be good news for the town and its future
Subject to planning permission, the new Interchange could be completed by 2022 - ready for the scheduled opening of the West Midlands Metro extension in 2023.
Cllr Keiran Casey, Dudley Council's cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: I am really pleased that an application has now been submitted for outline planning permission for Dudley's new Metro and bus station interchange.
"This is another major step forward in terms of improvements in local transport and connectivity for Dudley and for the general regeneration in the town centre.
That's why we have been pushing the WMCA to get the plans drawn up as quickly as possible and it's great they are now on the table for consideration.
It is one of a number of great projects in the pipeline at the moment which will make a massive difference to Dudley and I want to see these started as soon as possible
Cllr Roger Lawrence, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, added: The existing Dudley bus station deals with more than 5.2m passengers and nearly half a million bus departures each year and is a vital cog in the local transport network.
But with Metro set to also serve the town we need a new facility that can offer people a step up in terms of quality, comfort and ease of use.
The Dudley Interchange will enable passengers to switch seamlessly between bus, Metro and Sprint while also creating an attractive new gateway for the town
Cllr Lawrence said that in addition to the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, the town was also on the planned Sprint route from Birmingham to Dudley via Bearwood.
Sprint will use tram-style vehicles running on road-going wheels rather than tracks to provide fast, reliable journeys along some of the region's busiest roads.