Birmingham New Street tram extension to open in May

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An extension of the Midland Metro to Birmingham New Street station will open next month, Centro has announced.

The full length of the extension from Snow Hill Station to New Street, via Bull Street and Corporation Street, will go into service on May 22 following a successful period of testing.

“This was the last big hurdle to overcome,” said Centro’s Midland Metro programme director Phil Hewitt.

A series of late night tests were completed between April 23 and 24, including a low-speed test run between Bull Street and Stephenson Street.

The 1.2-kilometre link was due to open in December 2015. However, work was scaled back on the project over Christmas to minimise impact on city centre retailers. Work is already underway to extend the route beyond New Street to Centenary Square.

Ben Ackroyd, director of Midland Metro, which operates the tram on behalf of Centro, added: “Our Midland Metro drivers are keen to start running the trams all the way down to New Street. They have been already learning the route on our simulator in the depot at Wednesbury.

“In the next few weeks, the public will see our drivers out in the training tram, getting ready to carry passengers on May 22.”

 

 

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