The Birmingham Eastside extension of the West Midlands Metro should be one of two new sections of line on the network to open by the end of this year (albeit just a small part of it) – the other being the Black Country line as far as Dudley of course. In preparation for trams to start running as far as the Clayton Hotel, the Midland Metro Alliance have been continuing work in recent months and in this pictorial update Ken Jones takes a quick look at recent progress around Moor Street Queensway.
Eventually the Eastside extension will run for 1.7km between the junction at Corporation Street in Birmingham City Centre to High Street Deritend. It provides key connections to Birmingham Coach Station as well as the HS2 Station at Curzon Street, and as we’ve seen following recent funding announcements will also provide the start of a line out to the new Birmingham City FC stadium and beyond.
The construction of the line has been beset with delays, and they are mainly down to the HS2 works around Curzon Street. The Midland Metro Alliance will not be given access to this area until the HS2 team have finished and so this would have significantly delayed the opening of the complete line as far as Digbeth. That’s when a decision was made to build a temporary stop by the Clayton Hotel on Moor Street Queensway, with this due to be completed in time for opening by the end of this year (or possibly in early 2026).
This is the view outside the Clayton Hotel looking towards Curzon Street. The viaduct for HS2 can be seen in the distance on the right and the building in the centre is old railway station building which will be included as part of the new HS2 complex. Birmingham City University – an advertiser on the Metro – is on the left. Tracks are down and landscaping is in progress.
View across to Albert Street where we see the tramstop – island platform – under construction. Tracks are down and final road surface is already in place.
A crossover is being installed here to allow this to be a temporary terminus and further track is to be laid beyond Clayton Hotel as the line continues.
A plan affixed to the fencing showing the work which is planned or has already been completed. Of note here is that it states the OLE was being energised at the Bull Street end of the line on 3rd May 2025. (All Photographs by Ken Jones, 13th June 2025)
You have to wonder how the further delayed HS2 will affect the completion of the ‘being built’ Birmingham tram system?
Birmingham City new stadium to be built in Bordesley Green….? Why build it in one of the most crime ridden and dangerous areas of the city( according to Google)….?
There is decades long experience across the UK & Europe that investment in an area, improves it economically and thus transforms it.