As part of the Coalition Government’s investment in infrastructure programme – aimed at boosting the UK economy – an early decision was taken on the £128 million Birmingham city centre tram extension and work started in the streets in 2013. Now passenger services have started running to the Bull Street stop on Birmingham’s Midland Metro Services, marking the first time trams have run in this part of the city since they were withdrawn over 60 years ago.
When it is completed, the Metro extension will mean that trams from Wolverhampton will be able to run though the city via Bull Street, Corporation Street and Stephenson Street, to serve Birmingham’s recently refurbished New Street Station.
However, work has already begun to extend the route from New Street Station to Centenary Square, with services expected in 2019.
Funding has also been earmarked to extend the route further to Broad Street, past Five Ways and onto Edgbaston by 2021.
Looking further ahead into the future the route for an Eastside extension to Digbeth will also see trams running between the Bull Street/Corporation Street, via Albert Street and onto the forthcoming HS2 station at Curzon Street.