SNCF stephen

I agree. I have been three times but it's a 3 hour drive and it really takes t out of you on a Sunday and often results in me having to take a day of annual leave. I have to say though that I think it is definitely worth it and I enjoy catching Up with fellow members and seeing different layouts. I am slightly tempted to have a go at a box file but would I be able to do anything decent in the time? Hmmm

Last year there was a good service heading towards Ussel/Eymoutiers with the focus on the AM/PM commutes. I have yet to see this years timetable but at least that branch is doing ok for the time being.

Some great images there, did you go on the bridge near to the depot? Was it easy to get on? The 141 TD 740 is not seeing service this year as their other steam loco is running the service for its first year.

One thing that is for certain is that this will all have been programmed in minute detail so whilst the timings may seem a little odd or slow it will al be for a reason.

Four of the Urbos 3 trams are now in service. I have been informed that there was a slight issue with the air conditioning on one unit.

My understanding is that the catenary will be held from the buildings on wires. Not sure if they will all be mounted that way but I remember reading about the issues with listed buildings etc that they had to overcome.

Great pictures there, I took some earlier this week but you beat me to it with posting them. It is nice to see some of the track work completed for the Corporation Street section. It will look quite neat when it is done. I did take a few of New Street and Bull Street though which may be of interest: I like the brickwork on what will probably be some sort of hard landscaping here. This is a shot of One Snow Hill with the tram line running in front.

Not to go too far off topic but I have heard rumours about the Isle of Wight replacement stock but nothing tangible. MM stock does not figure into it at all.

Thank you for sorting out the master plan link. My understanding of the Eastside extension is that it has not had the detailed design work completed. I read some of the documents a few weeks ago that were published as part of the consultation and they stated that the exact design and spec of the track work had not yet been undertaken. I would imagine that this is why the extension to Eastside will take longer than to Five Ways. Whilst Five Ways is obtaining a revised T & W Act Order it has had most of the design work undertaken for it for some time.

I know this topic is about the current extension to New Street but this article is interesting in that it confirms funding for the line to be extended as far as Edgebaston. With the link already going to Centenary Square one has to wonder if this will be done in one single build from 2015. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-28190157 Other extensions with confirmed funding include a spur to Eastside and Digbeth. I am not sure if this will be going any further than the current proposals which terminate near the Woodsman pub but either way it is an extra two stops EDIT - Looks like it could be more than two, perhaps 4 or 5 with a Park and Ride at the terminus. I have also read on the Birmingham Mail web site that the line in Wolverhampton has confirmed funding to the railway station as part of that redevelopment. This is all great news for the system. However the line to the airport was mooted as "rapid transit" which to me suggests Sprint/Bus Super Showcase. With all this in mind I suspect that this thread will continue for a fair few years! EDIT - Article found with more details: http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/light-rail/funding-agreed-for-midland-metro-expansion.html EDIT 2 - Updated master plan found on Centro web site: http://www.centro.org.uk/media/209718/Master-Plan.png

One thing worthy of note for this section of track is that it is due to be replaced this year (in fact the closure will be kicking in any day now). I have been on that section of track when it was recently grinded and found the ride to be smooth and quiet. However it does go loud quickly.

It did operate for a very short period of time in 2005 but then tram failures meant they could not maintain it.

My understanding was that they were procured on the basis that they would run on further extensions to Line 1 which included to Five Ways. I suspect that whilst they may not find it easy they could get up the New Street climb. The T69's have powered bogies whereas the Urbos 3's have individual wheels powered which reduces weight so I suppose that could be a factor as to why they would not offer as good a performance as their replacements. I do agree that they are tat but I will miss them when they are gone. The fact that Midland Metro manage to operate the system so well with such poorly made trams is a testament to their professionalism.

Snap! I was out today and took a few as well. The angles in these shots are not quite as good but you might find it interesting: I believe the Urbos3 Trams will be coming into service in the next few weeks. Driver training has begun and the first set of 4 will be available shortly but an official date has yet to be announced. I can vouch for the fact that they have great ride qualities and are very quiet compared to the T69s. Part of me hopes that they try to run a T69 on the extension. Since they will be stored there is a possibility that they could see use if there was an issue with the new trams although I cannot imagine how the new trams could have any issues that are worse than the current ones...

The concrete section on Corporation Street is the foundations for the stops there. They are not opposite each other being in a staggered formation instead. I would guess that if is because of the space available to the line in this location. Hopefully I will get out there tomorrow evening to see it before some nice Ale...

Here are a few shots from earlier this week. Here is Corporation Street looking north. The trackbed looks like it has been installed: Alongside Snow Hill the track has been installed and the tarmac gone down. That appears to be it for the moment: Then finally a shot of the CAF Urbos3 Trams that will operate on the line: Edit - Whilst looking for clips of the CAF Urbos3s on youtube I found this

The Ansaldo T69s were procured on the basis that they would be able to negotiate the steep gradient out of Stephenson Street up to Corporation Street. However, in the articles stating why they are to be replaced it was frequently mentioned that they needed a tram capable of negotiating tighter curves and steeper gradients despite the fact that the design for this section of Tramway has been set in stone for a significant period of time.

It was to be a 21 storey hotel so although its footprint would have been small it would have been very tall. The apartment block adjacent to it would have been even taller at 30+ storeys. There would have been a joint glass entrance to both buildings.

Thats an interesting looking park. I hand't seen it but I will be walking passed it on Monday morning. The blocks that were going in there were to be Birmingham's first 5* hotel and an apartment block. No doubt the recession has put these plans on hold or they won't happen.

Great pictures. I believe that Platform 4 will return to Network Rail but won't be reinstated for some time, at least not until the Rowley Regis turn back facility is put in situ as far as I am aware. Interestingly there will be a new stop positioned at about where the tram is pictured running into Snow Hill. The new stop will be called St Chads and will replace the current Snow Hill stop. I also got some pictures this week but I just need to upload them. Hopefully I will get around to doing that tomorrow. I noted that on the New Street/Corporation Street road junction the Council are installing neighbourhood heating conduits which is interesting. Initially I thought they were doing some mopping up of the stat undertaker apparatus...