Fresh doubt has been cast over the future of new tram lines in the West Midlands after the launch of a parliamentary inquiry into the financial viability of light rail schemes. The Commons Transport Committee is to investigate whether improved bus services would offer more benefits to passengers than light rail. The inquiry was welcomed by Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood, who claimed an extended Metro would be inferior and more expensive than other forms of public transport. However, the region's transport bosses insisted last night that plans to extend the Midland Metro were still on track. Centro, the passenger transport executive for the West Midlands, said it had nothing to fear and insisted the MPs' investigation would not jeopardise the Birmingham project. Centro director general Rob Donald said: "This inquiry, like the National Audit Office report last year, will highlight some very important truths that need to be aired if we are to get on and deliver an integrated transport system with the same speed and efficiency of other European countries. "We need a framework that considers the options, gives value for money and leads to a good deal for passengers - but then at the end of the day allows us to build tram lines cheaper and quicker." The committee, which includes Midland MPs George Stevenson (Lab Stoke South) and Paul Marsden (Lib Dem Shrewsbury), launched the inquiry after a critical report by the National Audit Office, which found light rail had not bought the benefits expected of it. Five new light rail schemes have opened across the country since 1990, including the Wolverhampton to Birmingham Snow Hill route. The Government gave the go-ahead to a £139 million Black Country spur for the Midland Metro in December. This will run for seven miles from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill. But the Birmingham city centre extension of the scheme was delayed for a year because of concerns over how city centre buses would be affected. Although that issue has now been resolved, work on the project is still waiting for the result of a public inquiry and for the city council to complete a feasibility study into a potential underground system. The National Audit Office warned that light rail systems were not fully integrated with other forms of public transport, had a limited effect on congestion, pollution and road accidents, and their effects on regeneration and social exclusion were unclear. In a statement yesterday, the Transport Committee said it had launched the inquiry because support for light rail appeared to be falling and there were indications the Department for Transport had come round to the view that it was better to invest in bus routes. The inquiry, chaired by senior backbench MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, will look at the costs and benefits of light rail systems, what they need to be successful, how effective they are as part of an integrated transport system and how they compare to alternatives. Councillor Gary Clarke (Con Streetly), chairman of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, said: "We certainly have nothing to fear from such a high level investigation into the future of modern trams. We will be presenting evidence to the inquiry." | 
