Metro extension arrives three weeks early
BIRMINGHAM’S Metro tram has reached another milestone after an extension to Broad Street was opened to passengers this week.
The Metro now travels on from Stephenson Street to the new ‘Town Hall’ and ‘Library’ stops following successful testing.
It is the first time in the UK that trams have used battery power to run along a modern line specifically built without overhead wires, preventing the need to attach cables to historic listed buildings such as Birmingham Town Hall and also reducing the line’s carbon footprint.
Laura Shoaf, managing director of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which commissioned the extension, said: “This tram extension is open in time for Christmas, but will serve the West Midlands for years to come. We said it would be open by the end of 2019, and here it is ready to go with three weeks to spare. We are offering people a convenient service direct to some of Birmingham’s premier visitor attractions as well as the key office developments.
“Our network is expanding rapidly with further extensions in development, and combined with our investment in rail, bus, roads and cycling, is transforming transport in the West Midlands.”
Work on the first section of the Westside extension began in June 2017 and construction was carried out by the Midland Metro Alliance (MMA), a consortium set up by TfWM. It is now working on the next stage of the £149 million project which will see passenger services running along Broad Street to Edgbaston in 2021, stopping at Brindleyplace, Five Ways and Edgbaston Village.