West Midlands Metro sees ridership surge past pre-pandemic figures, fueled by network expansions and improved passenger experience.
The Department for Transport has new data. They show 8.3 million journeys happened last year. This is a 53.7% jump from 2023’s numbers. It also beats the eight million from 2019. Bosses credit this to network upgrades.
Birmingham got the Westside Extension in 2022. It added three new stops for people. The Wolverhampton extension connects to transport hubs. More work continues on the expanding system.
The Black Country and Digbeth lines are underway. Wednesbury to Dudley should open soon. This is the first phase of the Black Country extension. Merry Hill construction has started.
Richard Parker spoke about the Metro’s role. He confirmed the next part of the Black Country line. He wants better transport for everyone living there. It should connect people to jobs. Sophie Allison also commented on the Metro.
She said customer satisfaction continues to grow upward. Their focus involves the passenger experience. They want to improve the experience for daily riders.