New railway technology in Germany has the potential to help deliver a world class public transport system for the West Midlands and extensions to the Midland Metro tram system.

A delegation from Centro, the region’s passenger transport authority, has just returned from a fact finding trip to the German city of Kassel to see first hand how trams and heavy rail share the same tracks.

The system uses new technology to run trams, traditional passenger trains and freight services on the same track. It offers some exciting possibilities for the Midland Metro extension plan, which is of nine transport priorities for the West Midlands.

The technology also has some positive implications for plans to increase capacity on the West Midlands rail network. In Kassel, passenger numbers have increased by up to 25 per cent since the track sharing scheme went live.

One possibility that Centro will now explore with the seven district councils, Network Rail, train operators and other stakeholders is the potential to share the planned Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension with rail freight services.

That would remove the need to build a separate heavy rail track alongside the tram, significantly reducing construction costs. The line could also be extended through to Stourbridge Junction where it could connect with the national rail network

Cllr Angus Adams, Lead Member on Centro for District Liaison and Metro Extensions, said: “This visit showed us that not only can trams and passenger trains share the same lines, but there is also considerable mixed running with freight.

“We were very impressed with the extensive Kassel system, which is helping people to support the environment by leaving their cars at home.

“There are significant opportunities to use this kind of technology throughout the West Midlands where better use could be made of our railway lines which would reduce the cost of future rail and rapid transit routes."