Midland Metro Extension | Birmingham City Centre

[NeilM]

Originally Posted by vanson

Although people doubted the extention of the metro from Snow hill to NEW Street this in itself i feel acted as a catalyst for the proposed Centenary squre/Five ways route.

And that will be a catalyst for all the rest IMO, hopefully first continuing up the Hagley Road, and then a second link carrying on towards Moor Street and out towards the Airport and other areas.

[Qoasis777]

Originally Posted by vanson

Although people doubted the extention of the metro from Snow hill to NEW Street this in itself i feel acted as a catalyst for the proposed Centenary squre/Five ways route.

I agree. I think this was the plan all along.

So this report went before cabinet today, wonder whether we will get some sort of announcement this week?

[Christius Alerius]

Still wish the city could have an underground like London or Paris!

[Nacho]

From last ,but some people may not have seen the following : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGFwT...eature=related

[Engels]

Originally Posted by Christius Alerius

Still wish the city could have an underground like London or Paris!

There are some pretty good advantages to an underground system and with our city centre on a ridge we have the right typography for a small system tied into suburban surface metro lines such as Metro Line 1… BUT!!!

Having a street running Metro through the city centre – fed by segregated metro lines - has many of the same benefits as an underground and significant additional benefits over underground systems. It’s notable that the time you spend underground actually getting to your platform for such a system is a lot longer than the time it takes to step off the a tram. A tram system can also usually accommodate far closer stops than is sustainable with an underground system. These mitigate what people usually assume are ‘faster journey times’ in an underground system. Additionally a surface tram system is a lot easier to understand for visitors and promotes every user to visit those areas of the city that the tram passes through and promotes walking in general - everybody who is a regular visitor to London has at least once been surprised when they realised they were close enough to have walked between two places rather than gone into the underground.

The candidate for a Birmingham underground was really limited anyway to a city centre spine (Aston Uni – 5 ways) which is largely what will now be served by the ‘City centre extension’– From Snowhill all the way up to 5 Ways (eventually). Tying into either the tram or underground option would always be the same/similar suburban routes ie the existing Line 1 to Wolverhampton + future routes such as to the Airport, Quinton or Walsall which would never be sustainable themselves as underground routes due to the low density of Birmingham suburbs and therefore these would be similar whether with or without an underground in the city centre.

The main benefits of an underground I can see is that it doesn’t have to share space with competing traffic (ie buses and cars can stay on the existing streets) but frankly I can’t see any reason why outside of the city spine there can’t be some selective tunnelling (or bridging) with a tram based metro system at key pinch points e.g where new routes crosses the ring road to help mitigate traffic issues. Finally it s a rather subjective point but depending on how you view things getting buses and cars out of Corporation St and surrounds is fantastic for pedestrians and (potentially) retail – although you might need to remember how New St was back when it had buses on it to fully appreciate this.

[Qoasis777]

All seems quite on the preparatory works front today. I presume the only thing delaying this now is Snow Hill 2. Once they have finished construction presumably they can start putting tracks down

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051 by Roachy77, on Flickr

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052 by Roachy77, on Flickr

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053 by Roachy77, on Flickr

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059 by Roachy77, on Flickr

[sefton66]

thanks for the pics, Kennedy looks quite nice with the new glazing in the top half, definitely better than Cumberland

[metrogogo]

Utility works continuing albeit rather slowly for me, along Bull St and Corporation St.

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P1010744 by metrogogo, on Flickr

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[ReissOmari]

Wow, that doesn't even look like Bull street without the bus stops and trees!

[Erebus555]

Yeah the trees on Bull Street were particularly large. It took me a while to recognise that place. As lovely as trees are, their removal on Bull Street has really opened it up for the better.

[Qoasis777]

I doubt they will be in any rush. They can't start the works proper until snow hill 2 is finished in January.

[woodhousen]

Originally Posted by Erebus555

Yeah the trees on Bull Street were particularly large. It took me a while to recognise that place. As lovely as trees are, their removal on Bull Street has really opened it up for the better.

well when i was walking up corporation street last week, i noticed following the removal of the trees, you can see the aston student village risging at the end....

[feltip]

If you stand opposite the Wetherspoons on Bull Street corner it's been noticeable for ages going up. It's quite a nice little view with Methodist Central Hall in front of it.

[SuttonBluenose]

Originally Posted by feltip

If you stand opposite the Wetherspoons on Bull Street corner it's been noticeable for ages going up. It's quite a nice little view with Methodist Central Hall in front of it.

Whilst on the topic of the Central Hall, have they started on the flats in there yet?

[feltip]

No, it all went really quiet on it. Be even more of a good spot being short walk to metro stop.

[brumwill]

I didn't think the Methodist Hall got planning permission for conversion for flats? I thought they withdrew? I might be wrong.

As much as I love seeing trees in the city centre, can't deny that the removal of them for the tram, has really opened it up. The streets look so much wider and brighter.

[mikey23]

Originally Posted by woodhousen

well when i was walking up corporation street last week, i noticed following the removal of the trees, you can see the aston student village risging at the end....

It's also nice being able to stand in the middle of the road to take pictures!

[i_like_concrete]

GOOD GRIEF!

Bull st look 1000x wider without those trees! It took me an age to figure out what the hell I was looking at.

[feltip]

Originally Posted by mikey23

It's also nice being able to stand in the middle of the road to take pictures!

I always used to stand in middle if there was an opportunity. Quite the challenge when you see a view and hope you can time passing buses or cars to grab it

[oldbury63]

These are the last 2 bus stop shelters left