THE FIRST tram rails have been laid in Birmingham city centre, as work continues on the £127 million project to extend Midland Metro from Snow Hill to New Street and also replace its fleet with new trams built by CAF.

The symbolic bolting of the rails at Colmore Gate in Bull Street marked a milestone in the scheme which will see trams return to the streets of central Birmingham for the first time since 1953. The extension is being built by Balfour Beatty, and is expected to open in 2015.

Cllr Roger Horton, Centro lead member for rail, said: “Trams are very much a transport mode of the future and this is a significant and symbolic moment for the Metro extension.

 “In the year that sees the 60th anniversary of the last tram running in Birmingham we are seeing the first tracks go in for a new 21st century system.

 “These first tracks are another sign of the progress the scheme is making and people can see that the return of trams, with all the economic benefits they will bring, is that much closer.”

The first of the CAF Urbos 3 trams arrived at Midland Metro's Wednesbury depot in October. Later in the month Birmingham City Council approved the next extension, which will take trams onwards from New Street station to Centenary Square.