Midland Metro Eastside Extension Update
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
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Work on the Birmingham Eastside Metro extension is progressing well and in February I went to take a look. In this video I provide and update on the extension to Digbeth and explore High Street Deritend (B4100)
#WestMidlandsMetro #Birmingham #Digbeth
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The right-of-way definitely looks great, I was living in Birmingham until about half a year ago and the contrast between Bull Street then and now is amazing. The delay is a shame, but it's a positive that the line will at least be partially opened rather than waiting for the full extension to be finished, and of course it's always great to see a public transport project underway.
It's a shame that the opening is being delayed, but that doesn't seem to have put developers off. Just goes to show the positive impact the prospect of better public transport can have
Wow, I can't believe how much it's changed around there!
The road certainly looks a lot nicer and already appears to have kick-started regeneration in the area.
The Digbeth end has definitely come on leaps and bounds. They have done a great job.
Always love a team extension - I’m pleased to see some good use of battery technology as well!
Battery technology is definitely here to stay and not just a gimmick. If it helps reduce costs and preserve the look of older parts of a city then it should be used.
Battery tech certainly is more suited to light rail than heavy rail.
I've seen the Digbeth Tram Stop paving being laid on one side near the Connaught Square site (from the bus). Around the grassed road, I've seen bollards installed this past week.
If you went further on the grass section at the end of the track, you would've seen a very distinct left turn, pointing towards where the line extension is planned to go. Obviously planning for the future, to avoid ripping up more of the footpath than necessary
It's good to see they're planning for the future
It almost looks as if the work the other side of Curzon Street station will be completed a decent time before it will see any use, since it's waiting on the HS2 station. Is there a reason why it's done that way round?
A tram stop at the coach station will be dead handy - it's not a fun walk back to town with a suitcase in tow.
Not sure tbh, I think it was always intended to start in Digbeth first, but it wasn't realised until later on the impact the construction of Curzon St will have. But I do think the public realm enhancements alone will help to kickstart the regeneration.
If you mean why there won't be trams running for several years. My understanding is that partly this may be because there won't be a tram depot at this end (yet? Not sure if one is planned for the future)
I think the question was more why the section to Digbeth finished so early, if the line won't be completed for several years. But I don't think the impact of Curzon St was fully understood before construction began.
@@Rail_FocusYou're right - I was a little confused. In my mind they could be expending that same effort to get the temporary section down to Moor Street open and running sooner, since it would be more immediately useful. I'm not really bothered by it, I know that delays come up and that engineering resources aren't fungible like that.
Anyway, it's the long term that matters. In 10,20,30 years time when the tram is an integral part of the city no one but us geeks will give 2 sniffs which order the stations opened in.
Excellent news for Birmingham
The city will be a viable alternative to london as a place to live and work . One day hopefully the same for Manchester , Nottingham and Leeds when they take a new medium speed line there .
Manchester is already ahead of Birmingham in that regard IMO. But Birmingham has been making strides these last 5 years or so and might leapfrog Manchester with the opening of HS2 which manctown won't be getting anytime soon.
All in all, a better Birmingham & Manchester = better UK 👍
There is (was) a plan to extend NET (Nottingham Trams) to Ripley via IKEA retail park. Mainly using traces of old railway. I'm not sure where they are with this.
It is suspiciously quiet about this now.
Nice update, suprised that the tracks are already laid in Digbeth
Cheers Simon. I was surprised just how much they've done already in Digbeth, looks great though
At least Birmingham is under active development for a while given that there are two sections underway. Now it's time for Manchester to follow suit. UK really needs more tram systems.
Manchester already has the Metrolink which has 99 stations and is a much much bigger network than the West Midland Metro. Or do you mean Manchester needs to follow suit in getting HS2, in which I agree!
The development such as the new BBC headquarters shows what impact good public transport can have, even spearheading developments years before it's due to arrive. It's just frustrating that Manchester and the North won't see the same level of benefits from HS2 ☹️
@@lordgemini2376 I know that but there have been talks about extending the tram network in Manchester. One to Stockport is an option. I was not talking about HS2 to Manchester although it really should have continued there.
(can't believe I sent this at about the same time as the comments above and below this)
Manchester needs HS2
@@annabelholland Ah yes deffo. The Metrolink should be extended in all directions as well. Hopefully the next projects are funded soon 👍
Think I forgot to watch this one. Thanks for the update. I'm surprised at the progress around Digbeth. It looks to be nearly complete in that area.
I was surprised by the progress in Digbeth, shame the trams are still a few years away, but the area looks so much better than it did.
Another really well presented video. It's good to see expansion of tram networks in our cities. I've always liked the idea of trams! It would be good to see some form of tram or light rail in the Greater Cambridge area, but nothing seems to happen in this part of England. So sad as it's badly needed here.
Thank you 😀. Glad you found the video informative
read the new Greater Cambridge plan in the new Spring Budget. Makes continuous reference to a new mass transit system in Cambridge. Nothing concrete of course.
All good developments but I do think it's a shame they haven't used grass surfaces, would brighten the place up
It would be nice to see more greenery. I do question the use of high quality paving in between the rails walking along the tracks isn't advisable
Shame that funding for extensions isn't consistent... At least under the existing national government. Hopefully that changes soon and at least an extension to the airport gets finished... That's the minimum one should ask of a metro system these days is to at least connect airports with downtowns and HSR stations...
04:16 - have they changed where they want cyclists to use? Last I heard we were being diverted down Bradford Street instead as there was 'no room' for cycling infrastructure in Digbeth.
Not 100% sure tbh. I would've thought there was more than enough for at least for a shared space.
Did you not have time to talk about the Bordesley chord?
Separate video. I've been waiting to chat to someone about the project. Will hopefully release a video in April.
@@Rail_Focus I've been trying hard to find out whatsup with this project
@@Rail_Focus Would be great if the video covers the entire Midland Hub program. All the improvements to capacity, new platforms, chords etc 😃
@@Rail_Focus definitely looking forward to that, the whole MRH project will be absolutely fantastic if delivered in full.
Work in progress but definitely on my to do list
the lack of trees in digbeth is disappointing
I didn't notice if there were any young trees on the eastbound side of the road in the planted areas.
Can you give another update on east side metro?
@@bigyy-v6n maybe in the autumn/winter
@@Rail_Focus ok thanks 👍
Why all the massive expense with light rail? Is it to keep up with Manchester? Why not run electric busses on the roads instead?
A lot has to do with utility diversions. Even with light weight rail it wouldn't be desired to have utilities underneath rails, at least not running for long stretches under the rail.
As we have seen with the Cambridge guided busway, using buses doesn't guarantee dedicated infrastructure would be any cheaper and the problems with the structure of the busway are well documented.
£18m was spent in Digbeth on the public realm enhancements which you wouldn't get if they just left the road in situ and arguably the enhancements have a value of their own.
Electic buses no match to metro, they don't don't go faster journeys
Great news for Brum! As they spent millions for a 700 metre extension in Wolverhampton how much will be wasted here??
Investment in public transport is never a waste
It took about the same amount of time as the Edinburgh tram extension, except that is three miles long.
No kilometers please
No nationalism please. When talking about engineering projects people talk in terms of metres and kilometres, even in BrItAiN.
You know we use metric in this country, right?
@@JenOnTheMove miles, ok