Tram
depot
++

Work
has
started
on
the
expansion
of
the
West
Midlands
Metro
tram
depot
at
Wednesbury
to
accommodate
a
larger
fleet.
The
additional
trams
are
needed
because
the
network
is
growing.
The
depot’s
capacity
will
be
more
than
doubled,
while
maintenance
areas
and
workshops
will
be
modernised
and
extended.
Transport
for
West
Midlands
has
estimated
that
150
jobs
will
be
created
at
the
larger
depot.

No
trains
yet
++

West
Midlands
Trains
has
warned
that
restoring
trains
rather
than
rail
replacement
buses
on
the
Marston
Vale
line
between
Bletchley
and
Bedford
is
proving
difficult.
The
Vivarail
Class
230
units
on
the
line
were
withdrawn
at
the
beginning
of
December
after
Vivarail
had
appointed
administrators,
because
of
fears
that
maintenance
would
be
a
problem.
WMT
subsidiary
London
Northwestern
has
issued
a
Business
Update,
which
says
it
has
been
‘working
hard
to
explore
all
options’,
but
that
introducing
another
class
of
unit
raises
issues
of
compatibility,
training
and
effects
on
capacity
on
the
West
Coast
Main
Line.
Stakeholders
are
set
to
be
briefed
further
on
6
February.