Posted 5th September 2014 | 3 Comments
Next generation Midland Metro trams launched
THE first of the new generation of trams for Midland Metro went into service today, as a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Snow Hill was performed by Birmingham city council leader Sir Albert Bore and the leader of Sandwell council Darren Cooper. The £40 million fleet of CAF vehicles will have completely replaced the original Midland Metro trams next year. Four of the new trams are in service from today, and more will follow soon. A tram is arriving from the builders in Spain once a month.
Council chiefs are hoping to host a triple celebration next year, when not only will the old trams have been retired altogether but the extension of the tram lines from Snow Hill to New Street should have been completed, along with Network Rail's modernisation of New Street station.
Preliminary ground works have also started on a further extension from New Street to Centenary Square, while central government funding of £90 million has been earmarked for two more routes. One is towards Five Ways in Edgbaston and the other will serve the new HS2 station which is to be built near Moor Street.
Sir Albert told invited guests at the launch that there were "exciting times ahead", because a larger light rail system, possibly eventually extending to Coventry, would "open up the West Midlands". He also said that such a vision would have been "beyond our wildest dreams 15 or 20 years ago".
He continued: "These new trams and the forthcoming Metro extensions are such good news, not just for passengers but for the regional economy as a whole."
The introduction of the new fleet will allow transport authority Centro to shorten headways so that there is a tram between Birmingham and Wolverhampton every six minutes.
The trams are part of a £128 million investment in Midland Metro which also includes the extension to New Street, a £13 million upgrade of Wednesbury tram depot and some modifications at stops.
Reader Comments:
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Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Its worth noting that Croydon Tramlink in London has seen no extensions since it opened with just sections double tracked. Long term plans to extend to Crystal Palace are not yet underway despite photo shoots with mayor Boris standing next to new tram with it shown as a destination !
The DLR proved the exception in constantly growing at the beginning but that stopped when you've guessed Boris became Mayor !
The tram train project may bring new opportunities and even help to remove pacer trains from some branches .
Jim Campbell, Birmingham
"Such a vision beyond wildest dreams 15-20 years ago" Why? Manchester has seen Metrolink growing steadily over that time yet here in the midlands we are shouting about a short extension across the city.
(As a matter of record, Metrolink did not grow steadily. After the original lines opened in 1992 there was only one addition towards the end of that decade -- the Eccles line -- despite determined lobbying. The main period of considerable expansion only began around six years ago.--Editor.)
Tony Pearce, Reading
Still no mention of extending the Metro line through Dudley to the shopping complex at Brierley Hill ? Both towns lost their BR Stations years ago and would love to re-connected via the Trams.