Metro plans back on track

• Mar. 18 by Andrew Nichol (2)

Plans for a Midland Metro tram extension through Birmingham city centre are back on track, however the route will be less than half the length originally proposed.

Transport company Centro have admitted that they will not be able to afford to take the line from New Street and up Broad Street to Five Ways as originally planned. Leaders of seven West Midlands councils have backed a £25 million bid to the government for part of the cost to extend the route from Snow Hill to New Street station.

The councils have also asked the Government for £35 million to help build a circular tram route around Wolverhampton city centre. However a planned Black Country metro extension running from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill and Stourbridge, also running through Merry Hill shopping centre, has been dropped for the time being. The decision finally puts paid to a £300 million-plus vision for the Snow Hill to Five Ways extension and the Black Country routes.

The bid for Government funding failed after council leaders said they were not prepared to take part in the West Midlands congestion charging experiment. The cost of the Snow Hill to New Street extension is estimated at £60 million, this would leave a £35 million shortfall even with the government grant. It’s hoped the difference in money can be made up by contributions from businesses in Birmingham and the city council themselves. Work on the Snow Hill-New Street route could begin in four years, if all of the funding can be secured.

Babs Coombes a spokeswomen for Centro said “The extension to the Midland Metro is a regional priority and we’ve just put in a regional bid for funding.

“Everything still has to be approved by central Government.”

Ms Coombes added: “It’s really exciting news. It is going to bring benefits to commuters and we are hoping it is going to take many more cars off the road.

“It will also mean that people will find a lot more flexibility in the service.

“They will be able to hop on a tram as soon as they get off a train at New Street Station instead of making their way to Snow Hill.

“We think this increase in convenience for people will result in a lot more journeys being taken on the service.”

 It is estimated that the increase in services will take an estimated 420,000 car journeys off the road each year. This fact alone can only be good as it will be heavily reducing Birmingham’s carbon footprint and the amount of emissions that are let off in our city. Do you agree that an extended Metro system in the city will only benefit the environment, and will it be more convenient to you?

By Andrew Nichol