Birmingham tram extension opens

West Midlands Metro has extended its network by introducing passenger service over the 0.6km from Bull Street to Millennium Point in Birmingham city centre from 5 April. The short two-stop branch is the first stage of the Birmingham Eastside extension, that will take trams past the new Curzon Street HS2 railway station to Digbeth (with a stop at the coach station) and Derritend. Millennium Point is near the Clayton Hotel and the Birmingham City University campus, also the Thinktank visitor attraction. The intermediate stop at Albert Street is close to Moor Street bus interchange and railway station. Construction was carried out by the Midland Metro Alliance/Colas rail UK on behalf of Transport for the West Midlands. 

 

Metro’s Managing Director, Sophie Allison, said her team is looking forward to welcoming new and existing customers on the new route. 'The launch of services to Millennium Point marks another important milestone in the expansion of the tram network and the two new stops will initially see trams every 15 minutes,” she explained. “They’ll deliver a wealth of benefits for local businesses and the travelling public by connecting another vibrant part of the city centre to the wider tram system’. Trams to Millennium Point are provided by the Wolverhampton St George’s to Edgbaston Village service that now does a seven-minute double run from Bull Street/Corporation Street to the new terminus every 15 minutes 05.00-00.22 (every 30 minutes after 20.00). Trams have been making this journey since 15 March for driver training.