Passenger tram services are now running to the Millennium Point stop, connecting more parts of Birmingham city centre to the West Midlands Metro network.
New additions to the line, which form the first stage of the Birmingham Eastside Metro extension project, include stops offering passengers access to destinations such as Moor Street Station, the Clayton Hotel, Birmingham City University campus and Millennium Point.
Passenger services began this past Sunday (5 April)
© Midland Metro Alliance
A direct tram link at the new Albert Street stop for some 400,000 bus passengers using the Moor Street bus interchange every week enables links between bus, tram and train for the first time in this part of the city centre.
The newly-extended route is one of a number of expansion plans for the West Midlands Metro throughout the east of the city, with additional projects set to include work to continue the line to Digbeth Coach Station; a further extension to Birmingham City Football Club’s new Powerhouse stadium; and longer term intentions to carry the route through East Birmingham and North Solihull to Birmingham Airport.
Delivered by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM); the new extension forms the first part of the route to branch off from the main West Midlands Metro line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, with a second branch set to be opened later this year once trams begin running between Wednesbury and Dudley.
Sandeep Shingadia, executive director of TfWM, said:
This new extension will bring people close to the places where they work, study and visit, while supporting local businesses.
It is just the beginning of a much wider transformation of our Metro network to connect more communities, open up new opportunities to help our region grow and make travel easier and more accessible for everyone.