It has been known for some time that plans to open the full West Midlands Metro Birmingham Eastside extension would be met with delay as works around the Curzon Street HS2 Station can not start until that project hands it over to the Midland Metro Alliance. That is not expected to be until 2026 which means there would be a significant delay to public services opening on the extension to Digbeth, when a lot of work would already have been completed. To avoid the complete line laying dormant for some time it has been decided to progress plans for a temporary terminus to allow services to begin earlier – but don’t get too excited as that earlier is in fact 2025/2026.
The temporary stop and terminus is to be built outside the Clayton Hotel and as well as the stop additional infrastructure works are needed, including points to allow trams to switch tracks on arrival/departure from the stop.
The advantage of opening the line earlier than may have been possible if waiting for the HS2 works to be completed is that it will provide good interchange facilities between tram and train and bus services at Moor Street Station and the Bus Mall. It will also give a convenient stop for Birmingham City University and Millennium Point.
Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “Despite ongoing HS2 works at Curzon Street hampering our ability to finish the full Eastside extension until Metro is able to get on-site at Curzon Street, I tasked transport officials with finding a way to get trams running sooner. That’s why I’m delighted we’ve found an innovative solution to part-opening the Eastside metro extension – with this stop at the Clayton Hotel enabling local people and businesses to start benefitting sooner. This approach means trams will be running here in 2025/2026.
“Having recently opened the Wolverhampton city centre extension, we know just how popular these schemes are with the public – offering seamless connections to rail and bus services just as this extension will provide at Moor Street. As frustrating as the short-term hurdles can be, it’s important to remember over the longer term what the final prize is – a vastly improved public transport system which will serve local people and businesses for many years ahead.”
Cllr Liz Clements, cabinet member of transport at Birmingham City Council, added: “Although the delay to the Eastside extension due to HS2 works is frustrating, this plan for a temporary terminus will allow people to make easy transfers from rail to bus and metro by the Clayton Hotel.
“Completing the full Eastside extension to High St Deritend remains a top priority for Birmingham; at Birmingham City Council we won’t stop campaigning until the whole scheme is delivered.
“To reverse the reliance on private cars and encourage more people onto public transport, we need a fully integrated transport system – Birmingham Eastside extension is a vital part of that system.”
The temporary stop and associated infrastructure will add £18 million to the overall project which had already been costed at £227 million. The WMCA Board are being asked to approve this at a meeting on 18th November.
Surely of the temporary stop is popular I can see it been kept
At lat those who build tramways in the UK have wised up to the fact that completed sections can be operated before the whole line opens. It used to be like that from the early days and even on Sheffield Supertram in the 90s. Then we got Blackpool North Station …
How would you suggest North Station opens only part? You can’t turn Trams round and there are no platforms. The terminus cannot open until the hotel site is finished as there is basically no way to get to it in the construction site. The overhead was also partly taken down to facilitate a crane.
Its a complete farce but totally out of the Tramways hands.