Local media pressure has been applied to tram bosses over whether the delayed Metro extension up Birmingham’s Broad Street will be up and running in time for this summer’s Commonwealth Games.
Phase two of the £149 million Westside tram extension was promised to be ready by December 2021, but this deadline has been missed.
Birmingham Live – the online sister of the Birmingham Mail – has now challenged the Midland Metro Alliance (MMA) over when tram passengers would be travelling from the city centre to Five Ways.
But the MMA was unable to state a date and would only say: “We are still looking for it to be in early 2022, and are working with partners to make this happen, but are unable to give a more concrete date as yet.”
The Mail also interviewed Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, about the delays, and he said: “It’s a simple question: when will trams start to run up Broad Street? And the MMA can’t answer it!
“We’ve been very patient through all of the work on Broad Street. We now feel bitterly disappointed the trams aren’t running and it’s unacceptable if we can’t even be told when we can buy a ticket to use it.”
Mr Olley added: “Dare I say it, but is the Broad Street line even going to be ready before the Commonwealth Games begin in July?”
Mr Olley’s full interview can be read in Mail reporter Graham Young’s report here: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/fears-broad-street-tram-line-22664875
