The Midland Metro Alliance are once again celebrating a key milestone in the construction of the Birmingham Eastside extension with rail now in place from Lower Bull Street, through Dale End and into the dual carriageway on Moor Street Queensway. This will help the project to achieve the partial opening of the line in 2025/6 as far as Clayton Hotel.
With the track now down it will also allow bus stops on Moor Street Queensway to be reopened. Buses had been diverted from there to nearby locations during the works and passengers are now being advised to check with operators to see where their bus will now be travelling to and from.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: ““I want to see the extension up and running as soon as possible – once open it will revolutionise the way people move around the city centre with fast, reliable and affordable tram services and direct links to railway stations and bus services. The works around Albert Street and Dale End are nearly finished which I know will come as a great relief to businesses and people in the area.”
The Midland Metro Alliance will continue to have a presence in the area whilst they carry out finishing works including street scene improvements. Preliminary works will also continue behind the fencing to further extend the track to a temporary stop which is to be built outside the Clayton Hotel. This temporary stop will at least allow part of the line to open earlier than the rest of the extension (HS2 station at Curzon Street puts a stop to it getting much further with Metro works not possible until that’s done).
Maria Ion, Project Director of Midland Metro Alliance, said: “We are all extremely delighted to have reached this key stage of construction along Moor Street Queensway. I would like to thank all the businesses, residents and bus passengers for their patience while the construction was taking place.”
The Midland Metro Alliance have also released drone footage showing how the east of the city, from Lower Bull Street to Digbeth High Street, has been transformed by the works to deliver the Metro extension, with new paving, street furniture and greenery complimenting the infrastructure delivery. The footage can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/1008395532/dd12abddc9?ts=0&share=copy
The Birmingham Eastside extension will eventually run for 1.7km from the Bull delta junction at Bull Street/Corporation Street to Digbeth High Street. It will include connections to Birmingham Coach Station and Curzon Street HS2 station. Over half the route will be built without overhead wires. There’s no opening timescale for the opening of the full line but it should be running as far as Clayton Hotel in 2025/6.