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Lots of positive news about the Midland Metro's extensions this week: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport-news/2016/10/07/midland-metro-new-milestone-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 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.

From yesterday's Express and Star: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport-news/2016/10/03/midland-metro-extension-work-across-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. 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.”

From today's Birmingham Post: Midland Metro tram stop given a new name Complaints from confused tram passengers prompts transport bosses to consider name change http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/regional-affairs/midland-metro-tram-stop-been-11924923 The name of a stop on Birmingham’s city centre tram line is to change because of complaints from confused passengers. The Snow Hill stop on the Midland Metro will become St Chad’s from January in order to distinguish it from the railway station of the same name. Transport for West Midlands said having the same name was causing confusion for people who incorrectly thought they could access the train station directly once alighting the tram there. Midland Metro’s service between Wolverhampton and Birmingham previously terminated at Snow Hill but an extension down to New Street station opened in May, adding stops in Bull Street and Corporation Street. A spokesman for Transport for West Midlands said: “As part of planned improvements at Snow Hill rail and Midland Metro interchange, it is proposed to rename the current metro stop Snow Hill to St Chad’s from January 2017. “At present, the name Snow Hill is misleading some passengers who anticipate they can access the railway station from the metro stop. This has led to a number of complaints. “As part of the changes, Bull Street stop, which provides level access to Snow Hill and has an aesthetically attractive walking route, will be the primary metro stop promoted as the interchange for Snow Hill rail station. “The renamed St Chad’s will remain an alternative interchange and will be signed accordingly.”

Two additional bits of news regarding to the Wolverhampton Extension, both from the gov.uk website: 1) The Midland Metro (Wolverhampton city centre extension) order: decision letter https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-midland-metro-wolverhampton-city-centre-extension-order-decision-letter Explains the Secretary of State for Transport’s decision to authorise Centro to construct, operate and maintain an extension to the Midland Metro tramway system in Wolverhampton city centre. And here's the link to the pdf file of the letter itself: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/530686/midland-metro-wolverhampton-decision-letter.pdf 2) The Midland Metro (Wolverhampton city centre extension) order: inspector's report https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-midland-metro-wolverhampton-city-centre-extension-order-inspectors-report The inspector’s report of the public inquiry into the Midland Metro Wolverhampton city centre extension order. The inspector recommends that approval should be given. The public inquiry sat for one day. It opened and closed on 9 June 2015. And again, here's the link to the pdf: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/530693/midland-metro-wolverhampton-inspectors-report.pdf Looks like Keith will be busy with his camera for a little while longer!

From BBC News Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-36590999 Wolverhampton tram extension gets green light Plans for an £18m extension of the tram service in Wolverhampton has been given the go-ahead by the government. The Midland Metro is set to go along Pipers Row, to the city's bus station and on to the railway station which is being redeveloped. The secretary of state for transport's approval meant preparatory work could start later this year, said West Midlands Combined Authority. The route is expected to be competed in 2019. The work is part of a £120m redevelopment of the city centre. Roger Lawrence, Wolverhampton City Council leader, said the extension "can play a key role in unlocking further investment and jobs". "If we are to succeed in revitalising our city then we must have the right transport infrastructure in place to open up new areas for redevelopment and underpin our long term ambitions," he said.

From Centro Press Release dated 30.05.2016: http://centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2016/grand-opening-for-midland-metro-to-new-street-station/ Grand opening for Midland Metro to New Street station Tram services began running today (Monday May 30) to Birmingham's New Street station as the city centre extension opened for business. The Midland Metro's city centre extension from Bull Street to the station and Grand Central shopping centre began operating at 8am. Centro, the delivery arm of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA), is responsible for the extension, which sees trams running through the heart of the city centre for the first time since they were withdrawn in 1953. The first tram from Birmingham Grand Central and New Street station goes into service. Coun Richard Worrall, Metro lead member for the ITA's transport delivery committee, which oversees Centro, said "It's wonderful to see the Metro running all the way between Wolverhampton Birmingham New Street. "It's obviously great news for Birmingham - but also for the wider West Midlands. This extension is expected to create more than 1,300 sustainable new jobs and boost the regional economy by more than £50 million a year." James Aspinall, managing director of Centro, said the extension was just the start of a major expansion of the Metro over the next few years thanks to the regional devolution deal struck with the Government. "We will see £1.2 billion invested in public transport over the next 10 years," he said. "This will mean important new Metro links in Wolverhampton as well as Edgbaston and to Brierley Hill. Passengers will be able to get straight to the High Speed 2 rail stations in Birmingham and the NEC/Airport by 2026. This is a marvellous boost for the region." The Midland Metro runs between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, serving locations such as the Jewellery Quarter, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Bilston.The extension to New Street is part of a £128 million project that has also seen the purchase of a brand new 21-strong fleet of Urbos 3 trams, a refurbished depot at Wednesbury and a new stop at Snow Hill station. It will deliver more than three million people a year directly into the heart of Birmingham's main shopping district and is expected to boost the West Midlands economy by more than £50 million a year and create 1,300 new jobs. The extension was built by construction group Balfour Beatty. Mike Reade, a Balfour Beatty director, said: "We are delighted to join Centro and Birmingham City Council in celebrating the completion of the Birmingham City Centre Extension. "This complex and challenging project has demanded collaborative work across the entire team and is a significant milestone for Birmingham. "We look forward to supporting the continued investment in the infrastructure of the West Midlands to improve connectivity and support economic growth." Peter Coates, managing director of National Express West Midlands which operates the Metro on behalf of Centro, said: "It's excellent that customers can now get the Midland Metro to and from Grand Central and New Street Station. "Since we started running to Bull Street, we've seen 23% more passengers on the trams. Now the extension is open we look forward to passenger numbers continuing to grow." Work has already begun extending the route from New Street Station to Centenary Square, with services expected to start running in 2019. Funding has also been earmarked to extend the route further along Broad Street, past Five Ways and on to Edgbaston by 2021. The route of the extension through Digbeth has also been chosen, running from Bull Street via Albert Street and on to the forthcoming HS2 high speed rail station at Curzon Street. From there it would go along New Canal Street and Meriden Street into High Street Deritend, stopping at Digbeth Coach Station and the Custard Factory. It is anticipated the line could be open by 2023.

From Centro press release dated 23rd May 2016: http://centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2016/ozzy-osborne-to-name-midland-metro-tram/ Ozzy Osborne to name Midland Metro tram Rock icon Ozzy Osborne is to get star billing in his native Birmingham by having a Midland Metro tram named after him. The city's own Prince of Darkness will be in town to meet the tram bearing his name this Thursday May 26. The Aston-born frontman of legendary Birmingham band Black Sabbath will be at the new Corporation Street stop at 11am. Ozzy said: "It's a great honour to have a new tram named after me, I'm proud to be a Brummie and this means so much." On-street driver training between Bull Street and the Stephenson Street stop outside New Street station began today (May 23) following successful work over the weekend to correct minor alignment problems on some sections of the track. Training is scheduled to take seven days and passenger services will begin once this is successfully completed. In further good news for the network the Department for Transport has announced it has given formal approval for the extension from New Street to Centenary Square via Victoria Square. This is scheduled for completion in 2019. The tram-naming ceremony has been organised by Centro, the delivery arm of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA). The extension to New Street is part of a £128 million project that has also seen the purchase of a brand new 21-strong fleet of Urbos 3 trams, a refurbished depot at Wednesbury and a new stop at Snow Hill station. Trams returned to the streets of Birmingham city centre for the first time in more than 60 years last December when the Metro started running to the new stop in Bull Street.The previous month saw Her Majesty the Queen visit the stop and name one of the new trams after former Centro chairman Cllr Angus Adams, who died in 2012 and was a key figure in driving through the extension plans. In April this year test runs began to New Street from Bull Street. Now testing is complete, Midland Metro drivers have begun on-street training having first used the computerised route simulator at the Wednesbury depot. The extension is expected to boost the West Midlands economy by more than £50 million a year and create 1,300 new jobs.

Keith, Amused to read your description of the intensive engineering resources that have been deployed to fix the track issues as a priority... David

The Birmingham Post's website has a 3-minute video giving a driver's eye view of the first run up the extension from Birmingham New Street (going "up" the "down" line!) Watch: First tram runs on Corporation Street in more than 60 years Footage of testing of passenger services on Midlands Metro extension to New Street, due to start running next monthhttp://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/regional-affairs/watch-first-tram-runs-corporation-11233172

All systems go for Midland Metro to New Street station [Centro Press Release, 24.04.2016] The Midland Metro is set to run to New Street station in Birmingham city centre from May 22. Trams will begin operating a full passenger service on the extension between Snow Hill station and New Street station via Bull Street and Corporation Street. The development comes following electrical safety checks and test runs in the early hours of Sunday [24 April 2016] morning by Centro, the delivery arm of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority. The Midland Metro makes a successful test run along Corporation Street in Birmingham city centre. The results are now being reviewed by Centro and Network Rail and, subject to any last minute issues being identified which would set the date back, on-street driver training will commence ahead of a full service beginning on May 22. Centro's Midland Metro programme director Phil Hewitt said: "This was the last big hurdle to overcome. "Now that we have completed these crucial trials we are in the final preparations to start services down to New Street and Grand Central, with all the benefits that will bring to Birmingham city centre and the wider West Midlands economy." Ben Ackroyd, director of Midland Metro, which operates the tram on behalf of Centro, said: "This is great news for passengers. "Our Midland Metro drivers are keen to start running the trams all the way down to New Street. They have been already learning the route on our simulator in the depot at Wednesbury. "In the next few weeks, the public will see our drivers out in the training tram, getting ready to carry passengers on May 22." Centro was given the green light in February by Network Rail to take possession of New Street station over this weekend to run stringent testing of electrical systems along the new route. This was to ensure the Metro's systems do not interfere with those controlling trains using New Street and vice versa. There then followed a series of test runs by a tram between Bull Street and Stephenson Street, starting off at walking pace then gradually getting faster until it was running at normal operational speed. Trams returned to the streets of Birmingham for the first time in more than 60 years last December when the Metro started running to the new stop in Bull Street. Work began on the 1.2km scheme (0.6 miles) in 2012 and it was originally scheduled to open by December 2015. The extension is part of a £128 million project which has seen the introduction of a new fleet of 21 Urbos 3 trams, a refurbished depot at Wednesbury and. a new stop at Snow Hill station. It is expected to boost the West Midlands economy by more than £50 million a year and create 1,300 new jobs. The Midland Metro runs between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, serving locations such as the Jewellery Quarter, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Bilston, and will deliver more than three million people a year directly into the heart of Birmingham's main shopping district. Meanwhile work has already begun on extending the route on from New Street Station to Centenary Square with services expected to start running in 2019. Another extension through Wolverhampton city centre to the bus and railway stations is also expected to be completed in 2019. Funding has also been earmarked to take trams further along Broad Street, past Five Ways and on to Edgbaston. The route of another extension through Digbeth has also been finalised, running from Bull Street via Albert Street and on to the forthcoming HS2 high speed rail station at Curzon Street. From there it would go along New Canal Street and Meriden Street into High Street Deritend, stopping at Digbeth Coach Station and the Custard Factory. It is anticipated the line could be open by 2023.

Centro Press Release, 1 April 2016 http://www.centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2016/deal-signed-to-convert-midland-metro-trams-to-run-on-batteries/ Deal signed to convert Midland Metro trams to run on batteries Cutting-edge battery technology is to be fitted to Midland Metro trams in a UK first. Centro, the West Midlands public transport delivery body, put pen to paper with Spanish tram manufacture CAF to start work on fitting them to the Metro fleet. The battery equipment will enable the CAF-manufactured Urbos 3 trams to operate without the need for overhead line equipment to power them - the first tram fleet in the UK to do so. Antonio Campos Irujo of CAF, left, and James Aspinall sign the deal. The technology will allow the trams to run overhead line-free through architecturally sensitive areas or where expensive building works would be needed to install overhead power lines. The 21 tram fleet is scheduled to be ready for when the extension from Birmingham New Street station to Centenary Square is opened in 2019. The deal was signed by James Aspinall, managing director of Centro and Antonio Campos Irujo, Western Europe director for CAF. Mr Aspinall said: "This is an exciting new development for the Midland Metro as it will be the first tram fleet in the country to operate in this way. ""By upgrading these vehicles we are cementing the role of tram as an important means of public transport for the region." Mr Campos Irujo of CAF added: "I am delighted to be signing this contract on behalf of CAF. "There are only a handful of cities in the world and none in the UK that operates catenary-free running, and in doing so the Midland Metro joins an exclusive club." The lithium ion batteries will be fitted on the tram roof and be recharged by overhead lines along other parts of the route. The first tram to be converted will be sent to CAF's manufacturing plant in Zaragoza in Spain. Once this has been successfully completed and tested the remainder of the conversion work will be done at the Metro depot at Wednesbury, in Sandwell. The cost of the scheme is commercially sensitive however a £3.15m contribution will be made by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and £1m will come from industry association UKTram. The Metro fleet was originally ordered by Centro - the delivery arm of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) - in 2012. The ITA envisaged them being able to run without overhead wires along certain sections of the network but battery technology was not sufficiently developed for it to happen until now. While Urbos 3 trams already run catenary-free on parts of the tram networks in Zaragoza, Seville and Cadiz in Spain they use supercapacitors to provide on-board energy storage. However these would be unsuitable for trams negotiating the steep hills heading to Centenary Square from New Street station via Pinfold Street and into Victoria Square. Overhead lines and equipment would have been needed, marring the architecturally sensitive environment of Victoria Square. Sections identified in future network extensions for catenary-free running are: The whole of the Birmingham Centenary Square extension, including through Victoria Square, where the Town Hall and Council House are situated The Birmingham-Edgbaston extension from Centenary Square to the Brindleyplace tram stop, and through the underpass at Five Ways Birmingham Eastside extension between Moor Street Queensway and Digbeth High Street stop, including under the proposed HS2 station at Curzon Street Wolverhampton city centre extension between the bus station and the railway station tram stops, encompassing the main pedestrian approach to Wolverhampton Interchange The proposed Wednesbury to Brierley Hill extension is also being evaluated to identify catenary-free sections.

Centro Press release: http://www.centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2016/spring-opening-for-next-leg-of-city-centre-tram-extension/ 18.02.2016 Spring opening for next leg of city centre tram extension The go-ahead for a series of crucial safety checks has been secured, paving the way for a spring opening of the next leg of the Birmingham city centre tram extension. Centro, the region's transport delivery body, has been given the green light by Network Rail to run essential overnight testing of the electrical systems along the new Midland Metro route on April 23. The granting of the 'possession' will ensure that the Metro's electronic systems do not interfere with those controlling trains using New Street Station. The work will also check that Network Rail's systems do not interfere with the Metro. Trams returned to city centre streets in December Centro's Metro programme director, Phil Hewitt, said: "The only way we can carry out this work is by getting a possession, when no trains are running, from Network Rail and we are grateful to them for speeding up the process and cutting the length of time you usually have to wait. "This is a crucial piece of work because once done it clears the way for us to carry out the final testing, commissioning of, and staff training for the new extension. Once that process is completed we can start running trams down to New Street Station." Trams returned to the streets of Birmingham for the first time in more than 60 years in December when the Midland Metro started running to a new stop in Bull Street. But work to complete the remainder of the route along Corporation Street and Stephenson Street to New Street Station was suspended for eight weeks in the run up to Christmas to provide a more attractive environment for shoppers. Work restarted in the New Year. Jonathan Cheetham of Retail Birmingham, the Business Improvement District for Birmingham city centre's retail area, welcomed the announcement. He said: "We are delighted that this next phase has been achieved and we look forward to seeing trams arriving at Grand Central. This development is good news for the city and traders." The industry standard timescale for possession is a minimum of 13 weeks but Network Rail was able to confirm the Metro date sooner, speeding up the potential opening of the new extension. The £128m project, which includes a fleet of 21 new trams and a new maintenance depot at Wednesbury, is expected to boost the West Midlands economy by more than £50 million a year and create 1,300 new jobs. The Midland Metro system, which runs between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, serving locations such as the Jewellery Quarter, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Bilston, will deliver more than three million people a year directly into the heart of Birmingham's main shopping district. Meanwhile work has already begun on extending the route on from New Street Station to Centenary Square with services expected to start running in 2019. Funding has also been earmarked to take trams further along Broad Street, past Five Ways and on to Edgbaston. The route of another extension through Digbeth has also been finalised, running from Bull Street via Albert Street and on to the forthcoming HS2 high speed rail station at Curzon Street. From there it would go along New Canal Street and Meriden Street into High Street Deritend, stopping at Digbeth Coach Station and the Custard Factory. It is anticipated the line could be open by 2023.

Hornby has 252 employees, and a wage bill of just over £10 million on a turnover of £58 million. Directors renumeration was £800,000 in total, with the highest paid receiving £343,000 (all figures taken from 2015 annual accounts on FAME financial database).

Fascinating news - several part of future extensions will have no overhead line thanks to lithium-ion batteries: Battery-operated Midland Metro trams to be a UK first http://centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2016/battery-operated-midland-metro-trams-to-be-a-uk-first/ Birmingham is to be the first city in the UK to use cutting edge battery technology that removes the need to attach overhead power lines to its historic buildings for trams. The fleet of Midland Metro Urbos 3 trams are to be fitted with hi-tech batteries to power the vehicles through architecturally sensitive areas. Known as catenary-free running, the go-ahead has been given by the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) to the plan by Centro, its delivery body. It means there will be no need for overhead cables around the 182-year-old Town Hall in Victoria Square when the city centre Metro line is extended through from New Street station to Centenary Square. It also means the planned Birmingham Eastside extension running under the proposed HS2 station at Curzon Street will not need expensive infrastructure works to accommodate overhead lines. Cllr John McNicholas, chairman of the ITA's delivery committee, said: "When we placed the order in 2012 for our new fleet of trams the ITA had the vision for them being capable of running without overhead wires. "The technology then was not sufficiently developed to incorporate into the Birmingham city centre extension, but provision was made within the contract that should technology catch up the new trams could be retro-fitted with batteries. "That is now the case and the application of battery technology on this scale in the West Midlands will be a historic first for the UK light rail industry and the modern era of British tramways." How catenary-free trams would look running through Birmingham’s Victoria Square The current 21 tram fleet was made in Spain by CAF. Urbos 3 trams already run catenary-free in sections of the tram networks in Zaragoza, Seville and Cadiz in Spain but use supercapacitors to provide on-board energy storage. However these would be unsuitable for trams negotiating the steep hill in Pinfold Street from New Street station into Victoria Square. Overhead lines and equipment would have been needed, marring the architecturally sensitive environment of Victoria Square. However CAF now says newly available lithium ion batteries are robust enough to handle the gradients and can be fitted so trams are ready to run when the extension to Centenary Square opens in 2019. The batteries will be fitted on the tram roof and will be recharged by the overhead lines along other parts of the route. They are expected to require replacement at approximately seven-year intervals. Four new trams to allow the fleet to keep the current level of service once the Centenary Square extension opens have already been ordered and will come with batteries fitted. There are four sections identified in future network extensions for catenary-free running: The whole of the Birmingham Centenary Square extension, including through Victoria Square, where the Town Hall and Council House are situated The Birmingham-Edgbaston extension from Centenary Square to the Brindleyplace tram stop, and through the underpass at Five Ways Birmingham Eastside extension between Moor Street Queensway and Digbeth High Street stop, including under the proposed HS2 station at Curzon Street Wolverhampton city centre extension between the bus station and the railway station tram stops, encompassing the main pedestrian approach to Wolverhampton Interchange The proposed Wednesbury to Brierley Hill extension is also being evaluated to identify catenary-free sections. The saving just from catenary-free operation on these four sections is £650,000, but longer term there will be greater savings as there is now no longer any need to prepare roads or buildings for overhead lines. This includes the Birmingham Eastside section where the extension runs under the proposed Curzon Street station along New Canal Street. The lack of headroom under the new station and the existing West Coast Main Line bridge would have meant major works to lower the road to install overhead lines - work which will now not be needed thanks to catenary-free running. Negotiations have begun with battery suppliers but the final cost is not yet available. However a £3.15m contribution will be made by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and £1m will come from industry association UKTram.

Hi Keith, Lovely to see your latest report - I've missed them! Thanks for documenting the progress for us viewers so diligently. Best wishes, David

Looks like things are starting to move along at the other end of the line as well: Midland Metro extension to bring year-long chaos to Wolverhampton roads Council bosses have warned drivers to expect a year of disruption on city centre roads when work begins to extend the Metro. The £15 million new line will run along Piper's Row and Railway Drive linking the existing Wolverhampton St George's stop with the railway station. Road closures will be put in place at times during preparatory work which bosses revealed will start in May 2016 and last for almost a year: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2016/01/28/midland-metro-extension-to-bring-year-long-chaos-to-wolverhampton-roads/

Trams return to Birmingham city centre http://centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2015/trams-return-to-birmingham-city-centre/ Trams are once again running on the streets of Birmingham as Midland Metro services began operating in the city centre today. Passengers can now travel to a new stop in Bull Street, the first step in the opening of the £128 million city centre tram extension. Services began running to the stop on Sunday morning, the first time trams have run in the city since they were withdrawn in 1953. The first Midland Metro tram of the day breaks through a celebratory banner as it arrives at Bull Street. Building of the Midland Metro extension is being carried out by Centro, the delivery arm of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (ITA). Councillor John McNicholas, chair of the ITA's Transport Delivery Committee which oversees Centro, said it was a historic day both for Birmingham and the wider region. "I am delighted that Metro services are now running into the city centre," he said. "It's good news for Birmingham but also the wider West Midlands as this extension is expected to create more than 1,300 sustainable new jobs and boost the regional economy by more than £50 million a year." Cllr McNicholas said the extension was just the start of a major expansion of the Metro over the next few years thanks to the regional devolution deal struck with the Government. "We will see £1.2 billion invested in public transport over the next 10 years," he said. "This will mean important new Metro links in Wolverhampton as well as Edgbaston and to Brierley Hill. Passengers will also be able to get straight to the High Speed 2 rail stations in Birmingham and the NEC/Airport by 2026. This is fantastic news for the region." Once complete the Metro extension will see trams from Wolverhampton continue into the city through Bull Street, Corporation Street and Stephenson Street to terminate at New Street station. Work on the remainder of the city centre extension has been scaled back by Centro for the Christmas period and will resume in the New Year when a completion date will be scheduled. Work has already begun extending the route from New Street Station to Centenary Square with services expected to start running in 2019. Funding has also been earmarked to extend the route still further along Broad Street, past Five Ways and on to Edgbaston by 2021. The route of the extension through Digbeth has also been chosen, running from Bull Street via Albert Street and on to the forthcoming HS2 high speed rail station at Curzon Street. From there it would go along New Canal Street and Meriden Street into High Street Deritend, stopping at Digbeth Coach Station and the Custard Factory. It is anticipated the line could be open by 2023. The service is operated by National Express West Midlands.

Midland Metro is coming to Town http://nxbus.co.uk/the-metro/news/midland-metro-is-coming-to-town We are delighted to be running Midland Metro into Birmingham City Centre from Sunday 6th December 2015. We'll be operating a normal service from Bull Street to Wolverhampton from 08:00 in the morning. Bull Street tram stop will now provide the interchange with rail and bus services serving the Snow Hill Interchange and bus services at the Priory Queensway Interchange. Please see the map below to familiarise yourself with the location of this new Midland Metro stop: http://nxbus.co.uk/files/MidlandMetro/Misc/BullStreetMAP-01.jpg Work is continuing to complete the new Snow Hill, Corporation Street and Grand Central stops and these will open next year. Thank you for your continued support during the recent works.

Advent of the Tram At 15.36 on 1st December 2015, Midland Metro 35, the Royal tram, arrived at the Bull Street stop in Birmingham under its own power.Two visits had been made to this stop in November, but pulled by a Unimog, so this was the first running of an electric tram in Birmingham for 62 years. The initial journey was a slow one as many tests had to be made, however, it was followed by a further run at speed. Videos of the test are available on: BBC News website - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-34979366 Network West Midlands Facebook account (for those on Facebook) - https://www.facebook.com/networkwestmidlands/videos/907111862671946/ Passenger services are planned to commence to Bull Street on Sunday 6th December, but look out for test trams over the next few days. Over the coming weeks trams should be running along Corporation Street to New Street Station as Centro aims to carry out testing and commissioning of the entire extension during December.

Excellent news, samples look magnificent

From today's Birmingham Mail: Royal seal of approval for Midland Metro She may have toured a new tram in Birmingham city centre – but there was no danger of the Queen getting carried away. Because the showpiece Midland Metro extension is not yet ready to accommodate passengers. And that meant the tram dedicated by Her Majesty at the Bull Street stop had to be TOWED into position by a big truck. The £127 million Metro extension scheme does not launch until December 6, with the line to New Street not expected to be open until February next year. http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/queen-birmingham-tram-inspected-royal-10471311 Photos are available on the Centro website: http://centro.org.uk/transport/metro/photos-and-videos/photos/royal-visit/ Centro's own press release is rather more upbeat than the Birmingham Mail's: Royal seal of approval for Midland Metro Her Majesty the Queen gave the Midland Metro tram system the Royal seal of approval in a visit to Birmingham. Despite heavy rain a large crowd defied the weather to cheer the monarch, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, at the new Bull Street stop in the city centre. There the Queen named a tram after the late Councillor Angus Adams, the former chairman of Centro. Cllr Adams was a popular member of Dudley Council and a key figure behind the £128 million Midland Metro extension from Snow Hill station to New Street station, which is now nearing completion, before his sudden death in 2012. The Queen was then given a tour of the vehicle where she met workers behind the Birmingham city centre Metro extension, and even got in the driving seat herself for a look around the cab. Addressing the crowd before inviting Her Majesty to unveil the name of the tram, Centro chief executive Geoff Inskip said the Metro would reduce congestion and boost the regional economy by creating jobs and growth. "Already we are seeing inward investment coming to Birmingham and Wolverhampton because of our new trams," he said. "The next phase of getting the trams to New Street station will really transform the city and our passenger experience. "We have secured further funding which will see £1.2 billion invested in the Midland Metro network over the next 10 years - important new links in Wolverhampton, to Edgbaston, and to Brierley Hill will be enhanced with passengers being able to get straight to our High Speed 2 rail stations at Curzon Street and the NEC/Airport by 2026." Centro is the delivery arm of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority. Chairman Cllr Roger Lawrence said: "I am - and I know Angus certainly was - a passionate advocate of public transport and of the Black Country. "He would be delighted to see this extension which links the route from Wolverhampton and the heartland of the Black Country into the centre of Birmingham and the iconic New Street station. "I cannot think of a more fitting legacy for a tram to be named in Angus' honour as he did so much to make this ambition a reality, and this is just the start of what we are certain will be a more far-reaching tram network for the West Midlands." The Sandwell Youth Brass Band provided a musical accompaniment to the visit, which concluded with a posy to the Monarch presented by four-year-old Taahlia Cameron of Erdington, Birmingham. http://centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2015/royal-seal-of-approval-for-midland-metro/

The site may need some urgent tidying before Thursday next week: Queen heads to city to see New Street and Birmingham Metro trams http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/queen-heads-city-see-new-10419985 "The Queen is heading to Birmingham next week for her first glimpse of New Street Station and the new city centre trams. The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will visit Birmingham on Thursday, November 19, with a long itinerary in the city. After taking in the improved New Street, Her Majesty will be shown the new Midland Metro extension, which will go to Bull Street. The Queen will name and then board one of the new trams – although she will not be able to see them travel to New Street after it was delayed. The Queen and The Duke will pause at the Pals War Memorial, which commemorates railwaymen who died during the First World War. There, they will take part in a dedication and wreath-laying ceremony. They will then head to the is the official opening of the new Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry. The Queen will tour the facility and unveil a plaque to mark the official opening of the site at Pebble Mill." Interesting to see which bit of the tram extension they actually take her to ...

Midland Metro services to return to Birmingham city centre - Centro Press Release, 09.11.2015 Trams will return to the streets of Birmingham for the first time in more than 60 years when Midland Metro services start running into the city centre on December 6th. The announcement by Centro will see passengers taken directly to a new stop in Bull Street as the first step in the opening of the £128 million city centre tram extension. Traders gearing up for the busy festive shopping period also issued a resounding 'Open for Business' message today after Centro announced a scaling back of tram works in the run up to Christmas. Services will run to the new Bull Street stop from Snow Hill from December 6 while works further down the line will be scaled back over Christmas following talks with city centre traders. The decision has been taken in order to minimise disruption in the crucial festive trading period and provide the best Christmas shopping experience possible for the millions of visitors expected to pour into the city over the coming weeks. However, those visitors will see trams running along Corporation Street to New Street Station as Centro aims to carry out testing and commissioning of the entire 0.7 mile (1.2km) extension during December. Passenger services to New Street Station will start once all infrastructure work and test running has been successfully completed. Centro chief executive Geoff Inskip said: "We recognise this is a vital time of year for retailers and they need to provide the most attractive shopping environment possible, which is why we have scaled back our works. "Doing so shows Birmingham is very much open for business and can lay on a truly magical festive atmosphere for everyone coming to the city. "There has been a tremendous effort from everyone involved in this project with people working around the clock in recent weeks. I would particularly like to thank Retail Birmingham for all its support and co-operation. "It is because of that hard work that we will be able to start running trams into the city centre at Bull Street before Christmas. "However, as with all tram extensions through city centres at the moment there are always unforeseen challenges and that makes it difficult to give an exact date for when we will run trams to New Street Station." Trams last ran on the streets of Birmingham city centre in 1953. Centro's decision to reduce construction work has been warmly welcomed by Retail Birmingham, which is hoping for bumper Christmas crowds again this year. The organisation, which represents city centre businesses, said the Frankfurt Christmas Market alone attracted more than 5.5 million visitors last year, helping to generate a major shot in the arm for the local economy. Jonathan Cheetham, the chair of Retail Birmingham, said: "We are delighted that Centro have considered the needs of businesses in Birmingham in this vital trading period. "We are looking forward to the New Year and the delivery of the tram through to New Street in yet another phase in the aspirations to achieve world class connectivity in transport throughout the city." The £128 million tram extension, which includes a £40 million fleet of new trams, is expected to create more than 1,300 sustainable new jobs and boost the regional economy by more than £50 million a year. Work has already begun on extending the route from New Street Station to Centenary Square with services expected to start running in 2019. Outline funding approval is also earmarked to extend the route still further along Broad Street, past Five Ways and on to Edgbaston by 2021. The route of a further extension through Digbeth has also been chosen, running between the Bull Street/Corporation Street, via Albert Street and on to the forthcoming HS2 high speed rail station at Curzon Street. From there it would go along New Canal Street and Meriden Street into High Street Deritend, stopping at Digbeth Coach Station and the Custard Factory. It is anticipated the line could be open by 2023.

Hi Keith, thanks for another update. Absolutely agree with you on the "madness"! Good to see work progressing though. Best wishes, David

Full photo now available courtesy of Railway Modeller magazine: http://s250.photobucket.com/user/dieselmechanical/media/12191343_947473375287683_5577205162985993429_o.jpg.html Best wishes, David