Birmingham Metro extension to Hagley Road

Work continues on the Birmingham Metro line along Broad St and through the underpass at Five Ways to Hagley Rd where a new terminus will be built. The line is taking shape now. The music is "Instant Crush" by Corbyn Kites licensed through KZbin Audio.

[@timosha21]

Ding ding! I'm a tram and I approve this video!!!!

[@iliketrainsandtrams2328]

I’ve seen the tram stop too They kinda look like the new small heath bus stop

[@hendog3894]

It's nice to see Birmingham getting modernised

[@johnharvey8297]

Hi Henri, as the work on the Metro is coming to an end and buildings are shooting up in Broad St and other places in Birmingham, we may get more visitors and the modernisation can spread across Birmingham.

[@Richcanvas]

Excellent, brings Five ways and Hagley road into the city. Always seemed isolated. Hopefully the facades and buildings along Broad Street will be tidied up, restored as it was and is shabby considering it's supposed to be the focal point for nightlife in the city centre.

[@plasticpaddy198]

Hi Richard, I think it will help people see more of Birmingham. A few new buildings have sprung up in Broad Street.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

The only difference between our tram extension to Edgbaston Village at Five Ways along Broad Street from Grand Central, there will be no over head catenary as the trams will run on battery power on picking up and leaving the over head catenary system at Grand Central in the City Centre of Birmingham and I believe at the present it is the only tram extension in the UK that the trams run on battery power.

[@plasticpaddy198]

Cheers Peter, I suppose as it is only a short stretch they will recharge when they return to the overhead system.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@@plasticpaddy198 Not sure how it is done, but I presume the batteries recharge on the run to Wolverhampton from the overhead power lines some way. the disision to not put up overhead catenary from Grand Central to Five Ways via Centenary Square and Broad Street was because of the Historic Buildings along Broad Street and Victoria Square due to the unsightly look of overhead wires, but I do believe the extension lines from Dudley to Merry Hill and Wolverhampton will revert to normal over head wiring. God knows what system will be used on the East Side Extension to Curzon Street and Digbeth which is also planned to be extended to Birmingham airport and the new Birmingham Exchange Station on HS2. The person to be thanked for this is the present West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, till he took over the Birmingham tram system stood still, when he became Mayor the system first thing was an extension from Birmingham Snow Hill to Birmingham Grand Central, then purchasing a batch of new CAF trams, then a double whammy of extensions on the system from Grand Central to Centenary Square and from Wolverhampton St Georges to Wolverhampton bus Station and now the Extension from Centenary Square to Five Ways via Broad Street. He has now authorised a new line using existing tracks from thee existing tram line close to its depot to Dudley and Merry Hill, plus the East Side connection from Corporation Street to Digbeth, so hopefully at the elections he will stay in power and complete his work.

[@johnharvey8297]

@@peterwilliamallen1063 I must admit that I was doubtful about the extension from Snow Hill but I think it looks fantastic and another attraction to the city. I think the kids will love to have a ride on the trams.

[@jameshardie9914]

I heard one of these crashed at Wolverhampton st georges on Thursday

[@johnharvey8297]

Hi James, I had a look on the internet and it seems the car driver might have had too much to drink.

[@jameshardie9914]

@@johnharvey8297 yeah the driver got right in the way of the tram he got arrested for drink driving and also he went into hospital for minor injuries, meanwhile his pregnant girlfriend was critically injured

[@eirugsiongriffiths8563]

This is what we need in Swansea.

[@plasticpaddy198]

It is a very good system and it should be about 15 miles when the extension to Hagley Rd is complete.

[@robertmorris2363]

I'm 67 now and I remember travelling on the Swansea trams when I was a boy. It then had the distinction of being the oldest continuing railway in the world and the council got rid of it in the name of progress.

[@plasticpaddy198]

@@robertmorris2363 The decisions that so called leaders make are astonishing. They could have invested and upgraded it.