Front-runners to build new Midland Metro fleet announced

The five front-runners in the race to supply the new multi-million pound tram fleet that will take the Midland Metro forward into the 21st century have been selected.

The five companies are Alstom, Bombardier, CAF, Siemens and Stadler.

They have been invited by Centro, the region’s transport authority, to bid for a contract which is worth up to £50 million.

The procurement process is expected to last around 12 months and the new trams will be brought into service from late 2014, with the Midland Metro extension from Snow Hill to New Street station coming on line in 2015.

The extension will create 1,300 sustainable new jobs and boost the West Midlands economy by £50 million a year as the new trams increase passenger capacity between Birmingham and the Black Country.

Councillor Angus Adams, the Chairman of Centro, said: “This is an exciting development in the story of the Midland Metro.

“All of the candidates are leaders in their field and users of the Midland Metro can be assured that whoever is chosen will be delivering vehicles of the highest quality.”

The order will be for 19 vehicles and they will replace the current 16-strong fleet to deal with the expected growth in use of the Metro once the 1.3km (0.8 miles) extension is open.

The larger number of new trams, which will be approximately 30% bigger, will also allow more frequent services to be operated, significantly increasing the passenger carrying capacity of the system.

Councillor Adams said the result would be a much more pleasant city centre in Birmingham.

“It will be a very different city centre to walk around – quieter, cleaner, with much reduced emissions and well-connected,” he said.

“The new tram fleet and subsequent extension into Birmingham City Centre will be a real step forward for the Midland Metro and the West Midlands, linking the revamped New Street Gateway Station to key retail and business areas in the city and on to the Jewellery Quarter and the Black Country.”