Ding-dong, merrily on high! The new tram stop at Centenary Square on Broad Street is now fully open and giving passengers direct access to Westside.
And to celebrate the latest extension by the Midland Metro Alliance, a brass quartet from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) came out to play festive favourites.
The new tram stop will make it easier for music-lovers to attend performances at Birmingham Symphony Hall, the home of the CBSO.
The CBSO musicians bringing Christmas delight to Westside were Elspeth Dutch on the French horn, Jon Holland and Richard Blake on trumpets, Tony Howe on the trombone and Graham Sibley on the tuba.
Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “What a treat for us all on Westside to listen to some of our favourite festive tunes played by members of one of the best orchestras in Britain.
“This was a lovely touch, and rightly celebrates the latest stage of the Metro tram extension onto Broad Street.
“It’s been a long journey waiting for this important new means of transport to arrive, and we’ve still got to have patience for the next year or so for the tram to reach Five Ways.
“Therefore it’s good that we celebrate every stage that’s reached, and that the BID makes sure that the rest of the works are completed as soon and as efficiently as possible.”
The line to Centenary Square is the first phase of the Westside extension to Edgbaston, with phase two taking trams along Broad Street to Five Ways to be completed by the end of 2021.
Mike added: “We’re very much looking forward to another Christmas when everything’s complete, and then we really can finally sing ‘God rest ye merry gentlemen’ very loudly!”
As well as celebrating the tram, the CBSO is also getting ready for three special Christmas concerts this week. For full details, visit https://cbso.co.uk/event/a-choral-christmas-2.
By Steve Dyson
