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Fares for passengers who use the tram service in the West Midlands are set to increase in the new year. Midland Metro Limited (MML) have proposed 'modest price rises' to help cover increased running costs and ensure the service can be 'sustainable' in the future. Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority Board will be asked to approve the fare increases when they meet on Friday, November 14. READ MORE: Aston Villa fans' travel woes could finally come to an end under £25 million railway stations plan MML bosses have assured passengers revenue from ticket sales will be invested back into the service for further enhancements. They added people with concessionary passes will not be affected by the rises and fare increases have been kept below the rate of inflation. A report to Board said single ticket prices will increase by between 20p and 50p and day tickets will go up by 30p on short distance trips and 50p-70p on longer distance trips. Season tickets will increase by 10 per cent. If agreed, changes would be as follows: MML bosses said a number of major developments to enhance the network will come to fruition over the next 12 months. These include the opening of the first phase of the Birmingham Eastside extension and the first phase of the Black Country line to Dudley Town Centre opening next year. A major £76 million upgrade of the Wednesbury depot to help cater for increased Metro services is also currently underway. A spokesperson for West Midlands Metro said: "A decision to increase fares is never taken lightly, but these modest price rises will help us to meet increased running costs while ensuring the future sustainability of the Metro. "The past few years have seen massive investment in the region's tram network as we prepare to connect even more communities across Birmingham and the Black Country, and we would like to assure customers that revenue from ticket sales will continue to be reinvested into further service enhancements. "Since 2023, Metro fares have increased well below the rate of inflation, and the tram continues to offer excellent value for money when compared to other modes of transport. "Furthermore, nearly one in five people who use the tram with a concessionary pass will be unaffected by these changes."
