00:00 Sophie Allison, Managing Director at West Midlands Metro
00:03 and Tom Mankthorpe, Project Director for the Midland Metro Alliance
00:07 and we're on a beast of a structure, just fill us in on what this is
00:11 So this is the Delta Junction structure, so this is the start of the Wensmead to Briley Hill tramway extension
00:19 and this is the point at which we tie into the existing Hampton to Birmingham line
00:23 so yeah, this structure takes us from ground level 6.5 metres into the air
00:28 Hi there from the Metro depot here in Wensbury, joined by Sean Bailey of course
00:32 who's a Member of Parliament for West Bromwich West and Peter Hughes, Cabinet Member for Transport in Sandwell
00:37 So Sean, first of all, finally this is happening, what's in it for your residents?
00:41 Well look, it's a vote of confidence in the town isn't it?
00:43 It's about making sure we carry on all the really big capital investment that's gone in
00:47 and obviously this is jobs Andy, this is infrastructure, this is connecting Wensbury to the rest of the West Midlands
00:52 and the black country and it's a really exciting time to see this project come to fruition
00:57 and obviously we've been driving it forward now for the last few years so it's great to see it, a real boost for the town
01:02 Lovely, and Peter do you share that sense of excitement for what you've seen?
01:05 I think it's a groundbreaking day in more ways than one for us in Wensbury
01:11 and my title by the way is Cabinet Member for Regeneration
01:16 and I think it's going to bring regeneration into Wensbury and the line through Tipton to Dudley
01:23 I think Dudley's been too remote for such a long time and to connect Dudley with Wensbury
01:29 and the wider conurbation is going to be fantastic
01:32 with the investment zone as well which runs along the line between here and Dudley
01:37 I think it's going to generate employment for quite a few people in our local towns which I'm really really pleased with
01:44 So there you are, you heard it, we said it would happen and it most definitely is
01:48 Fantastic piece of work isn't it Soph, that's going on here?
01:51 Excellent piece of work and us as the operator we're looking forward to getting this open
01:55 so we can welcome many new people on board our services
