Successful overnight tram tests for metro extension
Trams have reached Millennium Point in a successful overnight track test on the first leg of a new tram extension out to Birmingham City FC’s forthcoming 60,000-seater stadium.
This first phase of the Eastside extension includes two stops offering passengers easy access to key destinations including Moor Street Station, Millennium Point, the Clayton Hotel and Birmingham City University campus, while work continues to take the extension to Digbeth Coach Station.
Cllr Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, joined colleagues from Metro Midlands and Transport for West Midlands when the trams were tested last night.
The line also offers a direct tram link for the almost 400,000 bus passengers a week who use services at the busy Moor Street bus interchange. This brings bus, rail, tram and cycle hire together in a single location as part of an integrated transport system.
Mayor Richard Parker has earmarked £400m to build the tram extension to the new stadium and surrounding Sports Quarter regeneration scheme. The money is also being used to plan and design the full East Birmingham and Solihull extension out to Birmingham Airport and HS2 Interchange.
Cllr Mahmood said: “This is an exciting milestone in the expansion of the Metro to East Birmingham.
“I am determined to work hand-in-hand with the Mayor to deliver better transport links across our city, and the Metro is at the very heart of this. The £400m investment that the Mayor secured will unlock economic growth in East Birmingham, helping to connect our communities with jobs and opportunities for generations to come.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Our plan to extend the Metro network to East Birmingham and Solihull is crucial to unlocking the £3 billion private sector investment in our new Sports Quarter, which in turn will create huge opportunities for communities that have been held back for too long.
“These successful tests show how close we are to opening up new reliable tram links to this part of Birmingham City Centre. Soon it will be easier for everyone to get around – whether they are commuting to work, heading to class or travelling further afield by connecting to rail and bus services.
“Expanding the tram network is a crucial enabler for my Growth Plan. It’s about more than just transport; it’s about connecting people to the businesses and education opportunities that will drive our region forward.”
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