Could the Stourbridge Town branch convert to Tramway operation?

[VT 390]

With the West Midlands Metro due to have a new route taking over/running next to the freight only line through Dudley Port is there any way that it could be extended even further south to take over the Stourbridge Town branch with possible on-street running in Stourbridge?
The benifits of this would be that:

• Possible frequency improvements with better acceleration of Trams and no turnaround time at Town station
• More capacity at peak time which I think is needed
• Easier journeys from Kidderminster to places along the New Metro route with interchange at Stourbridge Junction
• The line would be electrified which could then lead to more Snow Hill line electrification
• Rail services could reach further in to Stourbridge town centre

Some things that would have to be done to make the extension worthwhile through ticketing would need to be maintained for passengers for Birmingham, and the track would need to be raised at Stourbridge Junction so a level interchange can happen.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

With the West Midlands Metro due to have a new route taking over/running next to the freight only line through Dudley Port is there any way that it could be extended even further south to take over the Stourbridge Town branch with possible on-street running in Stourbridge?
The benifits of this would be that:

• Possible frequency improvements with better acceleration of Trams and no turnaround time at Town station
• More capacity at peak time which I think is needed
• Easier journeys from Kidderminster to places along the New Metro route with interchange at Stourbridge Junction
• The line would be electrified which could then lead to more Snow Hill line electrification
• Rail services could reach further in to Stourbridge town centre

Some things that would have to be done to make the extension worthwhile through ticketing would need to be maintained for passengers for Birmingham, and the track would need to be raised at Stourbridge Junction so a level interchange can happen.

Not sure but how cost effective is it to do and I think the tramway plans to terminate at Brierley Hill and so any further extension to Stourbridge would continue along the existing freight line to Stourbridge not the branch line.

• Would a passing loop be more cost-effective than electrifying (the line uses self-powered trains currently)
• Either increase frequency with passing loop (currently up to 6 trains per hour and 20–25 seated, 30–35 standing per train) or provide higher capacity trains
• Could be done by a Brierley Hill to Stourbridge Junction extension via South Staffordshire Line
• Doesn't need to be electrified it is currently self-powered
• True.

 

[VT 390]

Not sure but how cost effective is it to do and I think the tramway plans to terminate at Brierley Hill and so any further extension to Stourbridge would continue along the existing freight line to Stourbridge not the branch line.

• Would a passing loop be more cost-effective than electrifying (the line uses self-powered trains currently)
• Either increase frequency with passing loop (currently up to 6 trains per hour and 20–25 seated, 30–35 standing per train) or provide higher capacity trains
• Could be done by a Brierley Hill to Stourbridge Junction extension via South Staffordshire Line
• Doesn't need to be electrified it is currently self-powered
• True.

I did think of this option and was going to suggest it but then tram trains would probably be needed as it would have to reach Stourbridge Junction but that is easily fixed however platform capacity at Junction could be an issue here.

 

[adrock1976]

Not sure but how cost effective is it to do and I think the tramway plans to terminate at Brierley Hill and so any further extension to Stourbridge would continue along the existing freight line to Stourbridge not the branch line.

• Would a passing loop be more cost-effective than electrifying (the line uses self-powered trains currently)
• Either increase frequency with passing loop (currently up to 6 trains per hour and 20–25 seated, 30–35 standing per train) or provide higher capacity trains
• Could be done by a Brierley Hill to Stourbridge Junction extension via South Staffordshire Line
• Doesn't need to be electrified it is currently self-powered
• True.

Being as I am originally from the West Midlands, I would like to mention that the section of route extension as suggested from Brierley Hill to Stourbridge Junction is part of the ex Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Railway (Great Western Railway). The South Staffordshire Railway converged/diverged at Dudley to head to or from Lichfield via Walsall. The ex South Staffordshire Railway was a part of the London & North Western Railway.

 

[pdeaves]

Possible frequency improvements

Is that necessary with a train (that's basically a tram anyway) every 10 minutes already?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is that necessary with a train (that's basically a tram anyway) every 10 minutes already?

I'd say no need at all. If there's more demand, run a properly sized train (a 2-car battery Class 230 with the Tube interior would be perfect).

 

[train_lover]

I'd say no need at all. If there's more demand, run a properly sized train (a 2-car battery Class 230 with the Tube interior would be perfect).

It absolutely doesn't warrant a 2 car at the moment.

I can see the metro eventually reaching Stourbridge Town bus station to interchange with the various different services there. Should that happen I'd be very surprised if the metro didn't then go to the Junction

 

[Bletchleyite]

It absolutely doesn't warrant a 2 car at the moment.

I agree, at the moment it doesn't, but if it ever did that would be the way to solve it, there is no need for a higher frequency.

That or Vivarail "cut and shut" a single car 230.

 

[Sprinter107]

There are certain times of the day when the current vehicle is not big enough. I've been unable to travel on it more than once due to overcrowding, sometimes it's been quicker to walk, than waiting g until you can get on, which on a nice day, or if you're not in a hurry isnt too bad. I remember when the 153 worked the branch, and the old 16.11 from the town would carry between 100 - 120 passengers, the college turning out at this time. The following 16.25 or there abouts would have slightly less, but still full and standing.

 

[Meerkat]

Sorry to be a grouch but why does this line even still exist?
Wouldn’t it be cheaper and more convenient to just extend buses to the station, along the route of the branch if traffic is really that bad?

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Sorry to be a grouch but why does this line even still exist?
Wouldn’t it be cheaper and more convenient to just extend buses to the station, along the route of the branch if traffic is really that bad?

It is used by over 609,000 last year so it is fine how it is. There are 6 trains per hour shuttling between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town.

 

[Meerkat]

It is used by over 609,000 last year so it is fine how it is. There are 6 trains per hour shuttling between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town.

That doesn’t prove it wouldn’t be more efficient and convenient to replace it with extended buses.
Do passengers go to the town centre or do they get on a bus at that end?

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

That doesn’t prove it wouldn’t be more efficient and convenient to replace it with extended buses.
Do passengers go to the town centre or do they get on a bus at that end?

I don’t see a reason to replace it. They just run back and forth. They use small vehicles with up to 25 seats and 30 standing.

 

[Sprinter107]

That doesn’t prove it wouldn’t be more efficient and convenient to replace it with extended buses.
Do passengers go to the town centre or do they get on a bus at that end?

If it was more efficient to replace it with a bus, then that's what they wouldve done.

 

[Sprinter107]

On the occasions that the car hasn't run, up to three buses have been needed to keep the frequency due to the nature of the roads. Hardly more efficient.

 

[AndyW33]

That doesn’t prove it wouldn’t be more efficient and convenient to replace it with extended buses.
Do passengers go to the town centre or do they get on a bus at that end?

Amazingly, Stourbridge Town actually serves the Town Centre, such as it is these days

 

[Meerkat]

Amazingly, Stourbridge Town actually serves the Town Centre, such as it is these days

It’s in the town centre but that doesn’t mean the passengers are going to/from there - hence my question

 

[Sprinter107]

It’s in the town centre but that doesn’t mean the passengers are going to/from there - hence my question

Very often a Town Centre is usually a draw for passengers. Shopping, commerce, education, etc.

 

[option]

Continue the tram along the rail line from Brierley Hill, come off at the A458 & go along to St Johns St, then turn round to the bus station & up the existing line to Junction.
That's the simplest way of doing it.

 

[Sprinter107]

Continue the tram along the rail line from Brierley Hill, come off at the A458 & go along to St Johns St, then turn round to the bus station & up the existing line to Junction.
That's the simplest way of doing it.

Perfect. Be a superb idea. It would mean passengers from Worcester, Kidderminster etc, who want Merry Hill could have one change at Stourbridge Junction

 

[option]

or, from Dudley, A4101 to Kingswinford, then a straight run along the main road to Stourbridge. There used to be a tram route doing that.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Very often a Town Centre is usually a draw for passengers. Shopping, commerce, education, etc.

Or for interchange with buses at the bus station which is directly outside.

 

[iainbhx]

Continue the tram along the rail line from Brierley Hill, come off at the A458 & go along to St Johns St, then turn round to the bus station & up the existing line to Junction.
That's the simplest way of doing it.

As someone dragged up in Stourbridge and still a fairly frequent visitor, I would point out that the OW&W crosses the A458 on a whacking great viaduct. In fact its the geography of Stourbridge which keeps the Town branch going because of issues with the roads and the fairly steep hills. I'm struggling to think of an easy way down from Brierley Hill which has gradients suitable for trams without taking a very long loop around.

Could do with a dogbox at peak times instead of those horrid things.

 

[edwin_m]

Ian Walmsley in July's Modern Railways has a very positive article about this service. He mentions the possibility of a larger Parry vehicle on bogies - something that's been in their catalogue for years but never been built.

 

[Sprinter107]

Trams can climb quite steep hills. They most certainly do in Sheffield. I'm sure that the problem could be overcome. Alternatively, the tram could come off near where Brettel Lane station was and ho into Stourbridge that way.

 

[iainbhx]

Trams can climb quite steep hills. They most certainly do in Sheffield. I'm sure that the problem could be overcome. Alternatively, the tram could come off near where Brettel Lane station was and ho into Stourbridge that way.

They can climb up to around a 1 in 10 gradient. Brettell Lane is slightly less than that but it would also be rather a long period at a gradient.

 

[adrock1976]

As someone dragged up in Stourbridge and still a fairly frequent visitor, I would point out that the OW&W crosses the A458 on a whacking great viaduct. In fact its the geography of Stourbridge which keeps the Town branch going because of issues with the roads and the fairly steep hills. I'm struggling to think of an easy way down from Brierley Hill which has gradients suitable for trams without taking a very long loop around.

Could do with a dogbox at peak times instead of those horrid things.

They can climb up to around a 1 in 10 gradient. Brettell Lane is slightly less than that but it would also be rather a long period at a gradient.

As I am originally from that side of the West Midlands, I agree with you regarding the Stambermill Viaduct.

I can remember the Junction - Town shuttle being a dog box from around about 1990/91 until the 139s took over. Before then, I also remember a bubble car Class 121 (it was a single coach train) plying their trade on the shuttles.

If a dog box was to be brought back on the branch shuttle, I think that the frequency would have to revert back to every 12 minutes from the present day every 10 minutes, which may not be good connection wise being as the trains between the Junction and Birmingham are broadly every 10 minutes (before I left the West Midlands in 1998, I remember the Junction - Birmingham being broadly every 15 minutes - 2 trains calling all stations and the other 2 calling Cradley Heath, Smethwick Galton Bridge, and Jewellery Quarter. The remaining one train that went to and from New Street and the Junction - Stratford upon Avon were odd calling patterns to and from Stourbridge, as the ex New Street called Rowley Regis, the Junction, and stations to Great Malvern/Hereford. To New Street it was non stop. The ex Stratford upon Avon omitted Rowley Regis, but called there to Stratford upon Avon. The Midland Metro tram had not yet opened for passenger service, hence how the Stratford upon Avon and Leamington Spa trains omitted The Hawthorns).

 

[Sprinter107]

As I am originally from that side of the West Midlands, I agree with you regarding the Stambermill Viaduct.

I can remember the Junction - Town shuttle being a dog box from around about 1990/91 until the 139s took over. Before then, I also remember a bubble car Class 121 (it was a single coach train) plying their trade on the shuttles.

If a dog box was to be brought back on the branch shuttle, I think that the frequency would have to revert back to every 12 minutes from the present day every 10 minutes, which may not be good connection wise being as the trains between the Junction and Birmingham are broadly every 10 minutes (before I left the West Midlands in 1998, I remember the Junction - Birmingham being broadly every 15 minutes - 2 trains calling all stations and the other 2 calling Cradley Heath, Smethwick Galton Bridge, and Jewellery Quarter. The remaining one train that went to and from New Street and the Junction - Stratford upon Avon were odd calling patterns to and from Stourbridge, as the ex New Street called Rowley Regis, the Junction, and stations to Great Malvern/Hereford. To New Street it was non stop. The ex Stratford upon Avon omitted Rowley Regis, but called there to Stratford upon Avon. The Midland Metro tram had not yet opened for passenger service, hence how the Stratford upon Avon and Leamington Spa trains omitted The Hawthorns).

That's right. Only every other train, the all stations called at The Hawthorns. The semi fasts missed it out. During the day off peak trains both to and from New Street eventually ran non stop from New Street to Stourbridge Junction. Then from the 16.43 from New Street, they called at Rowley Regis and Cradley Heath, then Stourbridge Junction, incidentally, the 16.43 was one of the few Stourbridge line trains to call at Smethwick Rolfe Street, after the Snow Hill line reopened. Sorry to be off topic !