Proposed airport tram route for Birmingham could look like this - resulting in disruption for many
Draft designs for a proposed tram line running from Birmingham to stops including the airport and the NEC have been unveiled.
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The first phase of plans to stretch West Midlands Metro services were given a funding boost when Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced a generous £2.4 billion package for public transport across the region last week, meaning the line will be extended from the Curzon Street HS2 station and Digbeth to the proposed new football stadium for Birmingham City at Bordesley Green. After that transport chiefs harbour long-term plans to extend the line from the Sports Quarter going on to North Solihull, the airport, NEC, HS2 Interchange provided the cash can be found.
The illustrative map shows the proposed tram track running east past Heartlands Hospital towards Chelmsley Wood and Coleshill before terminating at the HS2 interchange station in Arden Cross. West Midlands Combined Authority said any future line extension will be subject to a full business case assessment, budgets and public consultation.
Additional metro costings include highway improvements such as new road junctions and pavements, street lighting, traffic signals and bus stops. Other improvements include linked road and rail network infrastructure.
Transport for West Midlands stated that the graphic was an "indicative map for illustrative purposes" and that detailed work was ongoing behind the scenes.
“Installing a Metro system in a densely populated inner-city area is both complex and expensive. And West Midlands Metro projects deliver far more than a simple tramway. This project also includes the cost of new road junctions and signals and even new bus stops, pavements and street furniture.
“But the benefits for the community and wider region are massive in terms of new jobs and homes and economic growth. This is especially the case for this proposed route to the Sports Quarter regeneration site," a spokesman added.
Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East, and a cabinet minister, said the project which is linked to £15.6bn package for major infrastructure projects for mayoral authorities was good news for the region.
"Improvements to the tram and better bus services will make life easier for passengers and be a boost to the local economy. And it is only possible because the Labour Government has prioritised investment for the future in transport, housing and energy."
