At the end of last year it was confirmed that with delays caused by HS2 on the Birmingham Eastside extension, the West Midlands Combined Authority were looking to construct a temporary terminus to allow services to commence a couple of years earlier than might have otherwise. Whilst this terminus, which is set to be outside the Clayton Hotel, has yet to see work started on it – or indeed full permission yet confirmed – other work on the extension has been continuing, including at Dale End.
If you cast your memories back to 2023 you will remember that at Dale End there were a number of buildings which had to be demolished to make way for the alignment of the West Midlands Metro extension. This included a former McDonald’s and once this work was completed the site was flattened and the rubble from the buildings will now be reused in construction elsewhere to expand the network by the Midland Metro Alliance.
Dale End is towards the start of the Birmingham Eastside extension not long after the end of Bull Street and will be on the section of the line which will hopefully open in 2025/6 once the terminus at Clayton Hotel is completed. The line in its entirety will head to High Street Deritend and will provide interchange with Birmingham Coach Station and the HS2 Station at Curzon Street.
The scene at Dale End with the Midland Metro Alliance hoardings surrounding the cleared site. (Photograph by Mark Cufflin, 26th December 2023)