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Midland Metro

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Ozzy looks *delighted* with his new tram...

CjYWsC8WkAAyzFu.jpg


https://twitter.com/networkwm/status/735800536608444417
 
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baz52

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Great to see the Midland Metro running to city centre proper now, and thanks tnxrail, a Great video of the trams many thanks,
 

sonic2009

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I noticed that they reverse just past New Street? Can they not turn back in the platform?
 

mikestone1952

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There is a crossover to do that, and given the gradients I am rather surprised they don't use it.
;
When I was there two "conductors" were promoting the fact that cards can now be used for payment and selling tickets to card holders, but with their usual acumen the conductor on the tram had only done half the tram by the time I got off at Jewellery Quarter.
;
Snow Hill was announced as a stop on the outward run, although it isn't open, but not coming back.
 

Techniquest

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I also went up for it today, hopefully people in the city learn to get out of the way of trams eventually!

Hopefully Snow Hill's stop opens soon, the fact it's not today is just madness!
 

Heartland

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The Metro to Birmingham New Street station is open at last! Following a period of driver training when trams made regular trips over the metals. Shelters for the passengers are only provided on the outward journey at the Grand Central and Corporation Street stops. I suppose that will change with the extension to Broad Street. At Snow Hill there is no link between the tram stop and the platform. Is this intended now or will platform 4 be fully reinstated for main line use?
 
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Techniquest

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Platform 4 is eventually to be return to mainline use apparently, which will no doubt make things easier to path and more service options at Snow Hill when it gets done.

Surprised at the lack of link at Snow Hill between mainline and tram, maybe it's coming soon?
 

Smethwickian

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Platform 4 is eventually to be return to mainline use apparently, which will no doubt make things easier to path and more service options at Snow Hill when it gets done.

Surprised at the lack of link at Snow Hill between mainline and tram, maybe it's coming soon?

A new Snow Hill stop on the east side of the main line station, somewhat nearer that station's Livery Street exit stairs than the Colmore Row frontage, is currently being completed.
 

theshillito

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Can confirm card payment (both contactless and otherwise) is now in operation. Bought a £5 day ticket with my card.
 

baz52

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Very good news for Wolverhampton city centre, also good new for the exstention to centenary sq too, anyway when it opens in 2019 , be realy good for both cities.
 

Heartland

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It will be interesting to see where the extensions will next start. Whilst Paradise Circus is a building site it is hard for cars and pedestrians to make it past the Town Hall, the only successful vehicles to negotiate here are the cyclists and some of these care nothing for anybody or any other in their way.

This leaves the extension to Digbeth or the new extension just announced for Wolverhampton

Meanwhile the Trams are running regularly to Grand Central, it is so important that this service has finally happened.
 

Heartland

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The contractors who built the Metro to New Street station have work to do as it has still not been finished. Work is on going at the Snow Hill station stop and it is difficult to see when this will be completed. Meanwhile for the three weekends starting 30th July, the trams terminate at Snow Hill as contractors repair section of track on the route to Bull Street and Corporation Street. With the route only being open for a short time, concerns must be raised as to how the track was laid. In fact the lengthy period of construction for such a short length must also be a matter of concern considering how quickly the 2nd crossing in Manchester has been made.
 
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fgwrich

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It seems to be a positive week for the Midland Metro with not one but 2 extensions talked about at last, as well as the current extensions southwards and northwards on the main route.

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/...cross-the-black-country-will-begin-next-year/


Multi-million pound plans for a Midland Metro extension link from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill ‘will start’ next year, according to a council chief
.
image:
Midland-Metro.jpg


Work on the Midland Metro extension between Wednesbury and Brierley Hill looks set to get under way

The scheme, which has been in the pipeline for nearly two decades, finally looks set to get off the ground after gaining Government backing.
West Midlands Combined Authority bosses have said the Metro extension is set to be the first project completed as part of the region’s devolution deal.
The extension runs for around seven miles from the existing line at Wednesbury to Great Bridge.

Under plans it would continue to Horseley Heath, Dudley Port, Dudley town centre, the Waterfront and Merry Hill, before terminating at Brierley Hill town centre.
Business leaders have hailed its potential impact on the region’s economy.
Dudley Council chief executive Sarah Norman tweeted: “Good progress on Brierley Hill Metro reported at @WestMids_CA Board Meeting.
“Will start in 2017 & be first Devo deal scheme completed.”
Black Country LEP board member Ninder Johal said: “For too long this region - and other parts of the UK – have been blighted by poor infrastructure.
“If we’re going to continue to attract inward investment then infrastructure is the number one priority.
“The formation of the West Midlands Combined Authority and the devolved funding it will bring will hopefully bring much improved infrastructure.
“The extension from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill is an example of that and also ties in with the extra investment into the Merry Hill shopping centre by intu.”
Dudley Council’s Conservative group leader Patrick Harley said the move was a statement of intent by the Combined Authority.
“This is something people have been talking about as a pipe dream for about 20 years,” he said.
“If we can get this done and people can see the construction, preparation and clearing of sites for tracks as quickly as 12 months’ time it will give them confidence in the merits of the combined authority.
“If one of the benefits is the Metro link and that’s one of the first achievements it will give people the belief [the combined authority] isn’t just a Birmingham initiative.”

A report is due to be brought before the Combined Authority in March
According to board papers, chiefs will seek ‘approval to progress the early delivery works in 2017-18 and submit an outline business case to Government’

Read more at http://www.expressandstar.com/news/...try-will-begin-next-year/#FFzx5XXPThT8UEp3.99


Which comes atop of the news of:

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/...stone-for-137m-birmingham-hs2-tram-extension/

Midland Metro: New milestone for £137m Birmingham HS2 tram extension*plan -*Plans to extend the Midland Metro through Birmingham city centre in a £137 million project have reached a new milestone

image:
midland-metro-HS2-extension.jpg


An artist’s impression of the Midland Metro in Curzon Street by Millennium Point on the Birmingham Eastside extension


A formal application has been submitted by the Midland Metro Alliance to build and operate the Birmingham Eastside extension from Bull Street to Digbeth. If granted, the order will allow work to start on the 1.05 mile – 1.7km – extension which will serve the proposed HS2 station at Curzon Street offering connections to New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill train stations. Work is due to begin in 2019 and the line to open in 2023. The scheme will cost £137.2m. As well as linking all of the city centre railway stations, it will mean easy access to Birmingham coach station and to bus routes to the south east of the city centre.
*
Councillor Roger Lawrence, lead member for transport on the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “The Birmingham Eastside extension will provide a direct high-quality link between the significant areas of commercial and leisure activity to the east of the city centre and the Jewellery Quarter and the Black Country.” The route will start at the junction of Bull Street and Corporation Street and run along Lower Bull Street past the southern edge of the proposed Martineau Galleries re-development to Albert Street. It will then cross Moor Street Queensway towards Curzon Street and continue to Meriden Street and turning left onto Digbeth High Street. There will be four stops on the route.
*
The Midland Metro runs between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton city centre, serving stops including the Jewellery Quarter, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Bilston. Work is now underway extending the route from New Street to Centenary Square, with services expected to start running in 2019. Funding has also been earmarked for the line to go further along Broad Street, past Five Ways and on to Edgbaston by 2021. In Wolverhampton work has begun on the city centre extension, with completion scheduled for 2019. A route linking Wednesbury to Brierley Hill is also being developed and work on this could start as early as next year.
 
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Techniquest

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Some fantastic news there, most especially on the extension to Brierley Hill! That has been proposed for so long I honestly thought it would never happen.
 

HA25322

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And there is further good news in that number 17 tram is now out and about on passenger services finally.
 

Techniquest

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It's about time it got into passenger service! Hopefully it'll produce when I'm next up that way, anticipated to be in early November.
 

Harbornite

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Good news! Finally, the South Staffs trackbed will be in use again (well, part of it and correct me if I'm mistaken but I believe this is the plan.)
 
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