The UK's transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has broken ground, initiating the extension of the West Midlands Metro tram network in the Black Country, England.

This project is funded by the UK government's £1.05bn ($1.30bn) City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement for the West Midlands and aims to provide underserved communities with better connections.

The investment will enable trams to run from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill for the first time, offering 'faster' and superior transport connections between Dudley and Brierley Hill to the city centre and the wider West Midlands.

This development is anticipated to facilitate access to jobs and opportunities for local residents.

Passengers are expected to benefit from journey time savings of up to 30% compared to bus travel, with greater reliability during peak times.

The first phase of the extension, from Wednesbury to Dudley town centre, is already in progress and is scheduled to open to passengers in late 2025.

Upon completion, the extension is set to pass through Cinder Bank, Pedmore Road, and the Waterfront business park, providing a boost to local businesses.

Improved local transport is crucial for enhancing productivity, especially in smaller towns and rural areas that heavily rely on buses, trains, and trams.

The government's Growth Mission emphasises the importance of boosting local transport infrastructure, as outlined in the Devolution White Paper.

This initiative is part of the government's Plan for Change, aiming to support jobs, stimulate local business, and deliver growth across the UK.

In December of last year, the UK’s Labour government committed to making decisions on at least 150 infrastructure projects and constructing 1.5 million homes as part of its ‘Plan for Change’ initiative.