UK: Tram operator West Midland Metro opened the first stage of its Birmingham Eastside extension on April 5.
The two-stop extension from a triangular junction at Bull Street to Albert Street and an interim terminus at Millennium Point is the first branch off the main West Midlands Metro corridor between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. It provides access to destinations including the Moor Street railway and bus interchange, the Clayton Hotel, Birmingham City University campus and Millennium Point.
Some trams have been diverted to serve the new stops, providing a basic 15 min headway on the branch. Trams coming from Wolverhampton St Georges now diverge at Bull Street and reverse at Millennium Point before continuing to Edgbaston, whereas trams from Wolverhampton Station still run directly to Edgbaston. As yet, there is no service on the branch in the opposite direction.
Construction alliance
The extension has been developed by Transport for West Midlands, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority which owns the tramway, with construction undertaken by the Midland Metro Alliance which comprises the combined authority and a consortium of Egis, Tony Gee and Pell Frischmann and construction contractor Colas Rail, with Colas’ sub-alliance partners Colas Ltd, Barhale, Bouygues UK and Auctus Management Group.
‘This new extension will bring people close to the places where they work, study and visit, while supporting local businesses’, said Sandeep Shingadia, Executive Director of TfWM. ‘It is just the beginning of a much wider transformation of our Metro network to connect more communities, open up new opportunities to help our region grow and make travel easier and more accessible for everyone.’
Further expansion
Work is underway in Meriden Street to continue the Birmingham Eastside extension to the future Curzon Street HS2 station and Digbeth Coach Station. Detailed plans are being drawn up for a further extension to Birmingham City Football Club’s planned 60 000-seat Powerhouse stadium.
In the longer term it is envisaged that the route could be continued to North Solihull and Birmingham International Airport.
Another branch is expected to open later this year, linking Wednesbury and Dudley.
