Eastside Metro line will not be ready until 2027
THE West Midlands Metro Eastside extension will not be able to run trams from Bull Street to High Street Deritend for four more years, the Mail has learned.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street had been hoping for 2025, but the earliest date now appears to be 2027. When work on the Eastside extension was first announced in December 2020, the mile-long route was costed at £227 million, to include ‘urban realm’ improvements for Digbeth.
HS2 said that work to build the HS2 Curzon Street Station would begin this year. But work on the tram tracks right next to and below HS2 could not start until January 2026 and it would take more than a year to complete once under way.
Mr Street cautiously suggested 2025 after being asked when travellers could enjoy a pint at journey’s end.
Mr Street said: “The thing we are celebrating is the start of the work.
“We are creating the extension that will go from the existing Metro line in
Bull Street and finishing up in the High Street by The Old Crown.
In terms of the finish date, we are hoping that it will be 2025.”
But this week Mr Street said: “2025 I was hoping.
A new date has not been set. The issue is the coordination of the work for HS2 and why we do not have clarity. As far as we are concerned, as is obvious, the Midland Metro Alliance work can be well ahead of it.”
A Midland Metro Alliance spokesman said: “Due to the complexity of the parallel work at the HS2 Curzon Street Station, we are working closely with HS2 to find the earliest date we can open the full line.
“A number of options and scenarios are being looked at pending the outcome of detailed discussions over the construction schedule with HS2 and the Department for Transport (DfT)’.”
An HS2 spokesman said: “Construction work will start on Curzon Street Station this year and MMA plan to start work on constructing the tram section in January 2026, with trams planning to run through the site from spring 2027.