New West Midlands Metro line snaking its way through Birmingham city centre
A bird's-eye view of the first phase of the Birmingham Westside Metro extension has been released.
The aerial shots show a view of the work from Grand Central to Centenary Square in the city.
The Birmingham Westside Metro extension is the next phase of works following the West Midlands Metro extension from St Chads to Grand Central which opened for passenger service in May 2016.
Construction on this extension, which is a little over 2km in length and will be delivered in two phases, started in summer 2017. When fully completed the West Midlands Metro will operate between Grand Central in the city centre to Hagley Road in Edgbaston.
The first phase of development will continue from Grand Central, past Birmingham’s Town Hall to Centenary Square. The extension will provide West Midlands Metro stops serving Victoria Square and the Paradise and Arena Central developments at the redeveloped Centenary Square.
When this first phase of the Birmingham Westside extension is open for passengers the 840-metre route will operate on battery power throughout and will be the first tramway in the UK to do so.
Metro operation on battery power removes the need to fix electric wires to the listed buildings along the route, reducing the aesthetic and environmental footprint of the project.
Phase two of the Birmingham Westside extension will see the tramway further extended from Centenary Square along Broad Street to Hagley Road in Edgbaston (just west of Five Ways).
