Midlands drivers who took a wrong turn - four times vehicles ended up on Birmingham metro tracks

It is the efficient Metro network which transports tram passengers from Birmingham to Wolverhampton - unless there is a car parked on it. Despite bright signs, warnings and a 'vehicle trap' at Colmore Plaza, drivers are still blundering on to the tracks at Snow Hill, halting services.

On Wednesday (Nov 6), a Vauxhall Corsa was dumped on tracks near St Chad's for five hours until it was removed - though it is not yet known how the car came to be there. British Transport Police said enquiries are ongoing. We decided to take a look back at when other vehicles found their way onto the track.

In Jan 2021, a hapless black cab driver ended up wedged between the lines for a few hours. Back in November 2016, one drunk driver drove his week-old Mercedes C Class Coupe worth £33k on to the lines, earning himself a 17-month driving ban.

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West Midlands Metro said they have put a number of measures such as signage, additional road markings and a physical vehicle trap to stop driver encroachment. But despite this, cars still plough through.

The transport body said they do investigate and will seek to recuperate costs where possible. A spokesman for West Midlands Metro said: “Since this section of the tramway opened, a number of measures have been put into place to help prevent incursions by motor vehicles.

"These include improved signage, additional road markings and a physical ‘vehicle trap’ between Colmore Plaza and the grassed section of tram track, significantly reducing the frequency of this type of incident. However, in extreme circumstances it is still possible for a vehicle to reach the tracks, and when this happens the incident is fully investigated.

"We will always pursue those responsible to recover any costs to the network and, where appropriate, details will also be passed on to the police for further action.”

We take a look back at some of the drivers who really took a wrong turn

Taxi on tracks

This black cab driver rang in 2021 by getting his vehicle stuck on tram lines on Jan 2. Nobody knows how he managed and services were delayed from St Paul's and the Library for nearly three hours while workers removed the vehicle.

Corsa chaos on tram lines

Crews were drafted in to remove a Vauxhall Corsa after it was dumped on the city's Metro tracks on Wednesday, November 6. British Transport Police were probing the abandoned car incident and hunting the driver.

West Midlands Metro said the vehicle was left on the line at St Chad's tram stop. It meant no tram services were running between St Chads and Edgbaston Village causing five hours of disruption.

We have a full story here.

Mercedes drink drive blunder

In November, 2016, an uninsured drink-driver drove on to the Snow Hill tram track - causing £6,000 of damage to his week-old Mercedes worth £33k.

Services were stopped for five hours. He was handed a 17-month motoring ban, fined £246 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £135 and a £30 victim surcharge.

Lorry driver was looking for M6

In Jan, 2017, a lorry driver who was looking for the M6 ended up on the grassed section of the tram lines. Trams running from Wolverhampton terminated at St Pauls, with passengers having to get off and walk to the Snow Hill and Grand Central stops.

The stricken HGV blocked the Midland Metro tracks for five hours before it was cleared.