Pre Metro Operations has spent the past six months in active dialogue with local leaders, MPs, businesses, and transport authorities to advance the Dudley Dasher – our proposed Very Light Rail (VLR) link connecting Stourbridge to Brierley Hill and Dudley via existing infrastructure.

From welcoming West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and MP Cat Eccles aboard the Stourbridge Shuttle, to meeting with Dudley MP Sonia Kumar and senior leaders from Dudley Council and the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, we’ve ensured that this project is shaped by the needs of the region—not imposed from the top down.

At its core, the Dudley Dasher aims to address some of the Black Country’s most pressing challenges: transport accessibility, affordability of public transport, and over-reliance on car travel. More than 80% of journeys in the region are made by car, with few convenient rail alternatives, resulting in substantial traffic congestion on busy local roads, like the A461.

Our proposal offers a people-first solution: a low-cost, zero-emission, local service that leverages underused freight corridors and integrates with Metro routes to connect key destinations. There’s also substantial potential to support the next generation of Very Light Rail vehicles, such as the Revolution VLR, to deliver this service and support West Midlands innovations.

With an estimated capital cost of £30 million, the Dasher is a high-impact alternative to expensive infrastructure schemes. It builds on the proven success of the Stourbridge Shuttle, which continues to deliver 500,000+ annual passenger journeys with 99% reliability.

This isn’t just a proposal, it’s a ready-to-go project backed by resident surveys, economic rationale, and clear community support. What we need now is action.

We’re calling on government, industry, and regional partners to commit to delivery.

The Dudley Dasher isn’t just a rail link. It’s a model for smarter infrastructure – built on existing assets, driven by local priorities, and powered by next-generation sustainable transport. Together, we can move from vision to reality.

Read our full blog below.