Midland Metro’s planned two-kilometre (1.24-mile) extension to Edgbaston and Birmingham’s Westside areas has been given the go-ahead.
Department for Transport will provide £59.8 million towards the £149m total cost. A further £84m has been raised locally through the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Birmingham City Council, Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, and others.
Five new stops will be served by up to ten trams an hour at peak-time when the new line opens in March 2021. It will run from Grand Central outside Birmingham New Street.
On a visit to Birmingham, Rail Minister Paul Maynard said: “This new extension will be a further boost to Birmingham businesses, and make travelling to work easier for commuters."
- More information including details of the stops will appear in RAIL 835, published on September 13.
Comment as guest
Comments
Noam Bleicher - 04/09/2017 09:39
Two years per kilometre. In the meantime the Estonians started a tram line to Tallinn Airport last year, and it's finished already. Maybe some time has been allowed to blast through the granite, or for archaeological digs of the World Heritage Site along the Hagley Road?
Reply as guest
Paul - 04/09/2017 11:43
Take note Leeds City Council this is what your priorities should be a tram network not more buses running on already massively congested roads
Reply as guest
AndrewJGwilt1989 - 11/09/2017 03:10
Is there plans to expand the tram line to Westfield Merry Hill shopping centre near Dudley if that's does get approved by the transport committee and local authorities including Westfield, Birmingham City Council and Dudley Council.
Reply as guest