Centro, the delivery arm of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority, has unveiled the new route for a tram extension through Birmingham’s Eastside and Digbeth areas.
The Midland Metro system links Birmingham and Wolverhampton and is being extended across Birmingham from Snow Hill railway station to link with the newly revamped New Street station, which is due for completion by the end of this year.
Plans for the Metro extension also include extending the line out to Eastside and Digbeth to link up with the proposed HS2 high-speed rail terminus, known as Curzon Street station.
The decision has been taken to run the Eastside Metro arm of the route between the extension now under construction in the city centre at Bull Street, via Albert Street and on to the forthcoming HS2 Curzon Street terminus.
A route will also run from the HS2 station along New Canal Street and Meriden Street into High Street Deritend, stopping at Digbeth Coach Station and the Custard Factory before terminating at Adderley Street.
The new line could be open by 2023, ahead of the scheduled HS2 service running from 2026/2027.
Meanwhile, the Metro line could also be extended in Wolverhampton from the St George’s terminus to the railway station, pending consent from a planning inspector following a public inquiry.
