One of the UK light rail systems which doesn’t get an huge amount attention on British Trams Online is Midland Metro which – with the exception of a few major stories such as the upcoming complete system closure – tends to just go about its business without a great deal of fuss. With thanks to BTO reader Michael Averill we are able to bring you an update on a few of the goings on around the system in recent times.
Not directly linked to Midland Metro but alongside Birmingham Snow Hill is the installation of strange large screen between the platforms and the adjacent office block. Since this was originally erected it has had plants added which tends to make it look like a
large vertical flower bed!
The "Great Wall of Snow Hill" seen from the office block side with the strange placing of plants. (Photo: Michael Averill)
The main Depot complex at Wednesbury is currently being expanded as preparations are made for the arrival of the new CAF built trams. The framework for a large building on the far side of the site (alongside what are currently the main storage sidings) has recently been installed whilst some tracks in the Depot Yard have been taken up and the rear doors of two of the roads of the main building have been boarded up, presumably ahead of further works here.
The framework seen in place for the extension to the Depot complex at Wednesbury. (Photo: Michael Averill)
And this shows the rear of the current Depot building with tracks now lifted. (Photo: Michael Averill)
And to conclude our round-up on Midland Metro tram 09 was fitted with digital destination displays last November – the first tram on the system to receive these. In addition new, slightly larger, displays were installed inside and the number of announcements were increased at the same time including one advising passengers to “hold on tight, the tram is about to depart”. Unfortunately for this announcement they haven’t managed to get the timing right and by the time it springs into action it is too late as the tram is already on the move!
04 is seen at Wolverhampton St George's showing off the new(ish) (but never previously illustrated on British Trams Online) light clusters and a strange destination because of service disruption. (Photo: Michael Averill)
Arguably the Sheffield Supertram gets less coverage. There were reports of a possible extension to Dore last month when HS2 was announced but this was never covered by British Trams Online. Just saying, I do really like this website and you do a fantastic job of updating it every week, if not even more frequently but I was surprised this slipped through the net. It even reached the front page of the Star and Sheffield Telegraph, making BBC News online too.
We can only report on any news that we know about so if you ever see a story which has not been featured on these pages do please let us know with a link to the story. I have just done a search on the BBC News website looking for this and can find no mention so any help you can give to point us in the right direction would be appreciated!
Okay no problem.
Sorry, I was wrong about the BBC (although I swear I remember reading it).
Sheffield Telegraph and the Star have deleted their stories I think. I can’t find anything now but something more recently on how they want the tram to come sooner than 20 years.
To be fair, I’m sure that Gareth is to some extent dependant on being informed by someone who has seen these reports as I don’t think he will be reading every newspaper and watching every regional news broadcast! After all he is doing this as a hobby whilst doing a day job I believe!
If I see any news concerning Manchester Metrolink I inform him, either by emailing him or usually by posting a comment on a relevant active news thread, with a web link if appropriate. He is then able to read the link and publish the news on the website as appropriate.
But fortunately Ken I have no social life so have plenty of time to concentrate on the site!
And I’m sure I speak for all your readers when I say that you’re doing an excellent job Gareth.
And please don’t forget Andrew’s hard work on the site as well – I couldn’t do the website without his input.
Yes, absolutely.
Yeah, that’s true. I just assumed that given how many news stories there are per week here that he went through all these different publications.
In future, if I see any news on the Supertram that hasn’t been reported here first I’ll send you an email and a link to the relevant article. Sorry about the complaint, I really do appreciate how much time and effort you put into this website Gareth.
I do go through a lot of the local newspaper websites but this tends to only be once a week and the search facility on some of these makes it difficult to actually find tram related stories.
For my picture report on the Midland Metro from last year you may wish to visit http://www.focustransport.org.uk/ymm.aspx
regards
Ken
Sheffield Middlewood is 40 minutes from my house in Diggle Yorks and I have done a fair bit of filming on this system. The backdrops in some places are spectacular. I have also a number of still photographs of the system, which I may submit.
I have had the good fortune to have been involved in the depot expansion and had a tour of the depot during the works. Seeing these images has really made me think that I must get back out there to see how it is coming along.
If I get permission I might be able to send a few photographs through to Gareth for publication.
Hello Gareth. I will add that you do a very fine job, with your Trams on Line Web Site.. I view it frequently with great interest. Detracting from Midland Metro for a moment. You have in the past given mention to a Brighton Tram (the only survivor I believe.) There was/is a group attemping to restore it. But I had ‘heard’ of nothing of it for a long time.
Does that mean the worst ? Regards Mike Slipper.
The Brighton group are still going with some progress on the project. They have a website at http://www.brightontram53.org.uk/ which gives more details on latest progress.