The next extension on a UK tramway due to open will be the short addition to the West Midlands Metro network from the Birmingham City Centre delta junction to Millennium Point. It had been hoped that this would be open by now, with official documentation saying it should have opened in December 2025 (with that being delayed from the original plan anyway), but issues found during testing with the signalling meant that this has been pushed back – and no new date has yet been mentioned But testing is continuing as we see in this pictorial update. Andy Walters is the photographer.
The line to Millennium Point is just phase one of what is known as the Birmingham Eastside line. As we’ve reported many times it will eventually end up at High Street Deritend, however, work on the section passing the HS2 station at Curzon Street has not yet been able to start and won’t be able to until the HS2 team vacate the area. This has meant the lines delivery has been phased with the first phase featuring two stops – one at Albert Street and the other the temporary terminus by the Clayton Hotel at Millennium Point. The remainder of the line will follow at a future date.
The Corporation Street/Bull Street delta junction with 20 on the track leading between Bull Street and Lower Bull Street onto the extension. Corporation Street and the line towards Edgbaston Village is in the foreground.
39 was also in use on testing on this day and we see it here as its gently walked along the line. Its heading back towards the delta junction.
The one intermediate stop will be at Albert Street.
Millennium Point where temporary buffers are in place to tell everyone that this is as far as the trams will be going at the moment. (All Photographs by Andy Walters,