Trams on the Streets (of Birmingham)

On the 6th December 2015 (yeah, this is late), the Midland Metro opened its extension from St Paul's, the first extension since its opening on 31st May 1999.

NX-Midland Metro 33, Birmingham Snow Hill (© Aubrey)

This shows the dark depths of Snow Hill, the extension is on the ex-road to the right of the tram in the photo. This section closed on the 25th October 2015 to allow work to occur to divert the trams instead via the new Snow Hill Metro Station which is on the bridge approach to Snow Hill to Bull Street.


NX Midland Metro 24, Bull Street (© Aubrey)

On the 6th December, the new extension opened to some fanfare. This is the first time since 1953 that trams are on the streets of Birmingham.


Midland Metro Route Map (© Aubrey)

Bull Street already shows the Grand Central-New Street Station and Corporation Street Stations, still under construction. The platforms at New Street are definitely close to finishing, but asphalt keeps on being put on top of the tram tracks at the moment for a ramp to the pavement.


Tracks to New Street (CC Aubrey)

Yeah, it looks like a load of cones at the moment, but in a few months time, this will be trams running to New Street.


NX Midland Metro 27, Bull Street (© Aubrey)

Here is more of the road running, with the traffic lights behind showing the start of the road running of the trams. Traffic is stopped (or trams) to let the other thing go through.

This video from the first day (by Anthony Gumm) shows the operations of the first day, including that junction and a view of the then still under construction Snow Hill station:



(The Snow Hill shots are an editing error.)

Yeah, it's the same trams as in the photos.


NX Midland Metro 18, Bull Street (© Aubrey)

Don't ask what's standing by the door. Anyhow, the station is just like most Midland Metro stations, with no ticket selling facilities (all done by a ticket seller on the tram)

The Midland Metro is a protracted scheme from what was supposed to be many more lines than this one, hence this is called Line One of the Midland Metro. Line 2 (Birmingham-Airport (and possibly Coventry)) and Line 3 (Wolverhampton-Walsall) still are not built after being planned by Centro when the Midland Metro was in planning.