It may have seemed like a long-time coming but Sunday 17th July will see the much delayed West Midlands Metro extension to Edgbaston Village open. And, of course, if trams are running to Edgbaston Village that also has to mean that the previously opened section – but not served by trams since the resumption of services in June – from Bull Street to Library will also see services once more.
Driver familiarisation has been taking place for the past couple of weeks on the extension to Edgbaston Village and with this now complete, along with additional trams now being available for service after repairs, West Midlands Metro are confident enough to start a full (or as full as it can be at the moment) service onto the second phase of the Birmingham Westside extension.
As from Sunday 17th July the following service will run on the line:
- Up to every 12 minutes during the day
- Every 15 minutes after 1900
- Extra trams will run at busy times “where possible”
- The service frequency will continue to be reviewed as more trams are cleared for use
The first tram due to run to Edgbaston Village in public service will depart Wednesbury Parkway at 0713 on Sunday and is due to arrive at the new terminus at 0754. It then departs back from Edgbaston Village at 0800 – running all the way through to Wolverhampton St George’s. The journey time end to end on the line will be 54 minutes. Final tram from Edgbaston Village on Sundays will be at 2300 (for Wolverhampton) and 0000 (for Wednesbury).
Mondays to Saturdays first tram from Wednesbury Parkway to Edgbaston Village is at 0428 with the first departure from the terminus at 0515. The final departure to Wolverhampton St George’s from Edgbaston Village is 0000 (further departures run as far as Wednsbury Parkway at 0015, 0030, 0045, 0100) whilst the last tram from Wolverhampton is also at 0000.
With the service due to start on Sunday 17th July it also means the promise of trams running on the extension by the start of the Commonwealth Games has been met – the games start on 28th July so its by the skin of their teeth but they can say they did it!
The reason that it has now been possible to start services all the way is that there are now additional Urbos3 trams available for use. 18, 21 and 37 were all in service earlier in the week whilst 36 was also out on test. The first tram to be repaired at Wolverton Works – 28 – is also back at the depot now and although not yet back in service shouldn’t be too far off. Views from a distance at the depot also seem to suggest additional examples aren’t too far off returning either. The eight Urbos100 also remain available for use.
The extension will see three new stops join the West Midlands Metro network: Brindleyplace, Five Ways and Edgbaston Village. At the same time Corporation Street, Grand Central, Town Hall and Library will also reopen to the public for the first time since March when things came to an abrupt suspension. The new extension is mostly built without overhead wires although there is a short-section installed on the approach to the new terminus.
There is still some public realm work to complete and some work to prepare for future public transport infrastructure along Hagley Road to come but the majority of work has now been completed with various barriers removed and signage added recently.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, is probably a very relived man: “After an unfortunately interrupted customer experience this year for Metro passengers, I’m so pleased for local residents and businesses that we’ve now reached a turning point and a comprehensive service is returning.
“Not only are tram services to Library being restored this weekend but we are also unveiling three more stops on and beyond Broad Street – which along with Brindleyplace sits at the very heart of one of our region’s most vibrant business and hospitality districts attracting locals and visitors alike.
“This news could not have come at a better time as our hotels and venues prepare to offer a warm Brummie welcome to the thousands of people coming to town for the Commonwealth Games this summer. And the vast improvement in the tram connectivity in the city centre will make it easier than ever to choose public transport – helping us to reduce congestion and tackle the climate emergency.”
Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA Portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, added: “After the disruption to the services over the last year is fantastic to see trams once again on the city centre streets delivering passengers to our shops, entertainment venues, visitor attractions and workplaces again – just in time for Birmingham 2022. This new extension opens up more our city centre to fast and clean tram services which can help further reduce car use and improve our air quality. It is a crucial part of our plans to decarbonise transport in the West Midlands through investment in cleaner bus, rail and road transport as well as offering more opportunities for walking and cycling.”
Sophie Allison, interim managing director of Midland Metro Limited, said: “As we reach this significant milestone for the network, the Metro team would like to welcome customers back to the city centre stops whilst bringing tram services to Edgbaston for the first time. We would also like to thank customers for their patience as they awaited the return of trams to Grand Central and Library following the restoration of services between Wolverhampton and Bull Street a few weeks ago.
“This was made possible with the return to service of a number of trams following successful body panel replacement work. As this programme of work accelerates, even more trams will be re-joining the fleet, enabling us to increase service frequency across the network.”
Following the opening, Transport for West Midlands and Safer Travel Police Officers will be out on Broad Street to assist and advise people on road safety during the first full weekend of tram operation next Friday and Saturday (22nd/23rd July). Teams from West Midlands Metro will also be about during the first week to support passengers in using the service.
Let’s hope the opening of the line is everything we hoped it would be and it all goes according to plan…
Signage – including maps and the stop names – has been added to Edgbaston Village stop.
The new expanded map at Edgbaston Village.
When our photographer was out and about work to put the signage up at Five Ways was underway.
“Our network is growing”
Brindleyplace also has its signage added – here we see the new timetable on display. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, 15th July 2022)
Can anyone tell me where the OLE restarts, is it Brindley Place?
Also is the traction supply to the Edgbaston line, isolated from that at Grand?
Hi, The OLE restarts at Brindley, runs the length of Broad Street until the next stop at Five Ways. Then runs on battery again. As noted there is a short section at the Edgbaston Village terminus.
I assume the traction supply is separate as there has been a sub station built in the centre of Five Ways traffic island to supply power.