Official Midland Metro Thread

[hoody]

They also lob bombs and people/things.

[NeilM]

Originally Posted by Pebble.Mill

They also make the Learjet, I think they're different companies...

Yeah they do, they are a Canadian company, but also they have a large site just outside Burton-Upon-Trent that makes and repairs trains, so if they get it at least it would be fairly local, as I would assume that would be the site they would use to build the trams.

[SuttonBluenose]

I like the beer company. They are nice. mmmmmmmm

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Any chance of picking up the Edinburgh trams on the cheap as Croydon are doing?

[Engels]

Originally Posted by Irish Blood English Heart

Any chance of picking up the Edinburgh trams on the cheap as Croydon are doing?

Not sure why that would be needed as a new tram fleet is already being funded by the Dft. I assume they'll keep a fair number of the old ones for back up / network expansion etc - or do you think they'll be so relived to see the back of them that they'll go to scrap?

[Typhoon2000]

Originally Posted by Engels

Not sure why that would be needed as a new tram fleet is already being funded by the Dft. I assume they'll keep a fair number of the old ones for back up / network expansion etc - or do you think they'll be so relived to see the back of them that they'll go to scrap?

I bet the techs can't wait to get rid of that Italian crap, especially the electricians. Terribly put together with over complicated electricals.

[Engels]

Originally Posted by Typhoon2000

I bet the techs can't wait to get rid of that Italian crap, especially the electricians. Terribly put together with over complicated electricals.

Yeah but i wonderd whether they would actually scrap them or mothball them as backups? They must have some second hand value perhaps they could get rid of them at webuyanytram.com

[LNGCats]

The Transport Committee was very scathing of the WM PTE - Centro - in relation to the purchase of the original trams.

Biggest complaint was the total lack of oversight of the manufacturing process, essentially once the contract for the purchase was signed the next invovlement was when the things started to arrive.

GMPTE purchased the Phase 1 and 2 trams from the same company and as the report stated they had very few of the same problems predominently because the PTE was continually invovled in the process receiving feedback and providing feedback.

If the same mistakes are made with the new trams be in no mistake the next set of trams will have exactly the same problems.

[Typhoon2000]

Originally Posted by LNGCats

The Transport Committee was very scathing of the WM PTE - Centro - in relation to the purchase of the original trams.

Biggest complaint was the total lack of oversight of the manufacturing process, essentially once the contract for the purchase was signed the next invovlement was when the things started to arrive.

GMPTE purchased the Phase 1 and 2 trams from the same company and as the report stated they had very few of the same problems predominently because the PTE was continually invovled in the process receiving feedback and providing feedback.

If the same mistakes are made with the new trams be in no mistake the next set of trams will have exactly the same problems.

Reminds me of when Connex ordered a whole load of trains for 3rd Rail operation from Bombardier, only to find there wasn't enough voltage to run the trains at full length. Connex blamed Bombardier but Connex were also at fault for not providing the right specification. In the end it cost them both more time and money to get the whole thing right.

[Brumtonian]

I can't wait to see the metro on the city streets. The new street billboards outside stephenson st. Entrance show one going past with 'Brierley hill' as the destination. I doubt that will ever happen in real life though. Will the metro be going from snow hill to new street or will it be going all the way to five ways or even Quinton?

[Engels]

The current extension plans (ie those approved with funding comitted) will extend the metro for 1.2km from Snow Hill to Stevenson St (for New St station) only

The next planned (ie funding not committed yet) extension is for 'line 2' to create a branch line off line 1 at Wednesbury to go south through Dudley to Brierley Hill. Trams travelling along this line would then alternate their destinations between Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

So in answer to your question, yes, you may eventually see trams in Birmingham city centre with Brierley Hill as the destination

[Typhoon2000]

Originally Posted by Engels

The current extension plans (ie those approved with funding comitted) will extend the metro for 1.2km from Snow Hill to Stevenson St (for New St station) only

The next planned (ie funding not committed yet) extension is for 'line 2' to create a branch line off line 1 at Wednesbury to go south through Dudley to Brierley Hill. Trams travelling along this line would then alternate their destinations between Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

So in answer to your question, yes, you may eventually see trams in Birmingham city centre with Brierley Hill as the destination

But certainly not for the next 30-35 years or so.

[Qoasis777]

i think its more likely we will see the brierley hill extension in the next 5 years as it is already 25% funded by Westfield. Then 5-10 years extensions to the airport digbeth and up broad st.

still only my opinion and only time will tell but i remain positive about this.

having the trams on the street will greatly raise both profile and usage making extensions more viable.

[Brummyboy92]

Well whens the current extension to New Street going to begin? This year?

[Qoasis777]

next year once they move the buses off corporation street. They are currently tendering for the new fleet of trams.

The extension itself wont take too long but its the logistics of moving the buses which is slowing it down. It should be open by 2014 for the opening of New Street Gateway.

But I believe they are working on a business case for the brierley hill extension as we speak (see the website). This should be easier as it is a disused railway line at present.

Just a question for anyone - the new service between new st and wolves will be every six minutes. Then when the brierley hill ext is open that will offer a 12 min interval. so will that be a tram between new st and wednesbury every say 3-6 mins? if so that would be excellent!

[Biosonic]

It will be great for places like West Brom having a link right into the heart of Brum and an easy connection to London and BHX.

[Typhoon2000]

Originally Posted by Qoasis777

next year once they move the buses off corporation street. They are currently tendering for the new fleet of trams.

The extension itself wont take too long but its the logistics of moving the buses which is slowing it down. It should be open by 2014 for the opening of New Street Gateway.

But I believe they are working on a business case for the brierley hill extension as we speak (see the website). This should be easier as it is a disused railway line at present.

Just a question for anyone - the new service between new st and wolves will be every six minutes. Then when the brierley hill ext is open that will offer a 12 min interval. so will that be a tram between new st and wednesbury every say 3-6 mins? if so that would be excellent!

You may even find Wednesbury moving up in the world because of those frequencies as property developers start to encourage commuters to the area... And with services and hi-tech taking a leading roll in the city, expect money to be flooding into the area.

[Qoasis777]

Wow Typhoon a positive comment about the Metro! Are you feeling okay??

[Typhoon2000]

Originally Posted by Qoasis777

Wow Typhoon a positive comment about the Metro! Are you feeling okay??

I should have sufficed... "in 10-20 years time."

But I have to admit, when I hear frequencies of 3-6 mins on a light transit project I get that true big city excitement. It happened all along the DLR routes and when you get high frequency services you get people wanting to move there, which means more money comes in. Of course, if managed correctly, it gives a chance for the built environment to be developed properly for multiple tastes. Affordable housing for key workers rubbing shoulders with luxury flats...

[LNGCats]

What does the West Midlands LTP 3 have in relating to trams?