The West Midlands Metro line in Birmingham City Centre is to receive essential upgrades and maintenance alongside ongoing activity to extend the tramway to both Digbeth and Edgbaston with track replacement along Corporation Street to begin late July.
During the planned maintenance works along Corporation Street, beginning 25 July and expected to wrap-up in October, tram services will continue to serve Birmingham city centre at a temporary terminus at Bull Street in the Colmore Business District. Those requiring onward travel within the city centre will be able to use their Metro tickets on selected bus services.

You can find out more about the works below and find more about progress of the work from this page.

If you are a nearby resident or business and have any questions regarding the Corporation Street Track Replacement maintenance programme, do not hesitate to get in contact with our dedicated stakeholder liaison team by email at communications@metroalliance.co.uk

What work will you be doing?

As the West Midlands Metro prepares to begin passenger services to a new terminus in Edgbaston later this year, and whilst the Midland Metro Alliance is busy beginning construction on a delta junction on Lower Bull Street, additional maintenance and essential improvement works will be taking place across line one as Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) invests in the existing Metro infrastructure.

This work will remove the need to disrupt the service for a second time over the coming years, and will mean that, for a brief period between 25 July and October, there will be no Metro services between Bull Street and Library tram stops.

I use the tram daily to get to Birmingham city centre, how will my journey be affected?

West Midland Metro services will continue to serve Birmingham city centre throughout, at Bull Street tram stop, and plans are underway to provide replacement bus services between this location and the Library of Birmingham (for those who are unable to make the short walk between Bull Street and Library tram stops). For more information on Metro services, please visit https://www.westmidlandsmetro.com.

Why now?

Main construction is now underway on Lower Bull Street for the Birmingham Eastside Metro extension and part of these works will involve the closure of the Metro line at Bull Street for approximately 11 weeks during the summer.

In order to minimise future disruption, additional maintenance and essential improvement of the existing Metro line will also be carried out simultaneously along Corporation Street. This work would have been needed in the next few years but carrying it out at the same time as the Bull Street line closure will reduce the impact on passenger services.

Why didn’t you do this during lockdown?

The activity is co-ordinated with the start of construction for the Birmingham Eastside Metro extension.

The Transport and Works Act order, which gave permission to build and operate this Metro route, was not awarded to the West Midlands Combined Authority until February 2020, at which point elements of the route needed to be designed, with this activity only just wrapping up.

During lockdown, essential utility upgrades and diversions took place in this area. This too, is a complex undertaking and now that these works are complete construction is able to begin.

Similarly, we recognised that many Metro passengers were also essential workers and any longterm disruption to tram services would have been unwelcome during the peaks of the pandemic in spring 2020 and winter 2020/21.

How long will it take?

All essential maintenance and improvements on line one are expected to be completed by October 2021, allowing testing, commissioning and driver familiarisation to begin ahead of the second phase of the Birmingham Westside Metro extension opening to passengers in December 2021.

How will this impact my business?

Part of the works will mean the unavoidable relocation of city centre loading bays on Corporation Street and Stephenson Street; however, mitigations will be in place to ensure deliveries continue without interruption and all businesses will receive regular updates from the alliance’s dedicated stakeholder liaison officer.

In addition, the alliance works to promote the area as being open as usual.

Will the works be noisy?

Although every effort is made to minimise disruption, some of our activities will involve an element of noise. Where possible, we aim to advise those living and working in the area as to when these activities will take place and the team will utilise noise mitigation measures, including noise monitoring equipment and noise reduction barriers, as required.

How will deliveries reach my business?

For assistance with deliveries please contact Amy Walker, Midland Metro Alliance Stakeholder Liaison Officer, at communications@metroalliance.co.uk.

Can I still access Corporation Street on foot?

Pedestrian access during construction will be maintained. To assist you there are clearly signed wayfinding totems in many places across the city centre.

When times will you be working?

In order to expedite works and minimise overall disruption, construction is planned to take place seven days a week and at both day and night. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Where can I find more information about other works going on around the city?

For more information about additional construction projects taking place across Birmingham that could also affect your journey, visit: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/roadworks and for more details on public transport in the West Midlands visit: https://www.tfwm.org.uk.

How can I be kept updated about the works?

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Midland Metro Alliance by emailing communications@metroalliance.co.uk or by telephoning 0121 643 8729 (monitored during office hours).