21 days to go: 3 platforms are still to be built and finished, I can't see the line opening for early may, more late June at this rate.
I think the only platform left to be done is the northbound Snow Hill one. The overhead is now complete to the start of Stephenson Street. As there are no holes left in the Corporation St stop platform inbound for supports I wonder if there will be a shelter there.
First tram ran down the extension last night
photo on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/thetraveltom/photos/a.184370401576339.55700.122785057734874/1299671040046264/?type=3&theater
Centro news article
http://centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2016/all-systems-go-for-midland-metro-to-new-street-station/
Maybe it's just me, but I don't really see where the access to the Snow Hill stop is going to be, apart from along the back of the office blocks on Snow Hill itself. Is there going to be any access from the rail station?
As I've posted before, I think you'll have to walk alongside the grassed track and enter the station at the front. I presume that Network Rail in the fullness of time will reinstate platform 4 and relay the track, but till then it would be easy to put a temporary ramp to the platform from the stop. There is no sign of lifts or staircases being built to get down to Great Charles Street. It's all rather poor and far less convenient than the old stop.
I see the signals and point indicators in Stephenson Street are now operational.
The new timetable...
http://nxbus.co.uk/files/MidlandMetro/current_timetables/MidlandMetroTimetable-22May2016.pdf
Quote from: uniquicity on May 10, 2016, 10:19:54 PM
The new timetable...
http://nxbus.co.uk/files/MidlandMetro/current_timetables/MidlandMetroTimetable-22May2016.pdf
I do hate timetables that read "then every 8 minutes or less", what is the point of that?
Well they're doing work on the grassy bit on the end of snowhill 2. Maybe this is stairs related to the rail station
According to Midlands Today, the opening date of the extension is postponed again!
Well, we all saw it coming I suppose
http://www.centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2016/midland-metro-services-to-new-street-station-hit-delay/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_source=Facebook
Quote from: uniquicity on May 13, 2016, 05:08:01 PM
Well they're doing work on the grassy bit on the end of snowhill 2. Maybe this is stairs related to the rail station
Work as started on snow 3 development, i thought the stairs was on the other side of the road where the works unit is at the momnet
Quote from: T840MAK on May 17, 2016, 06:30:35 PM
Well, we all saw it coming I suppose
http://www.centro.org.uk/about-us/news/2016/midland-metro-services-to-new-street-station-hit-delay/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_source=Facebook
Not good news to discover this problem only five days before the due date. And a less-than-adequate news item from Centro, with no indication of how the faults will be remedied or how long it is likely to take.
For those who didn't see Midlands Today, the BBC said that grinding of rails is all that is required and, if all goes well, the extension could open during the Bank Holiday weekend (which I guess means it may open by July, perhaps).
There are loads of lessons that need to be learned from all these delays. I hope they are all learned before the works hit Broad Street, otherwise the Harborne and Hagley Road corridors will be in a mess for years.
In a way I'm glad that the extensive safety checking has identified these faults that will need rectifying.
The alternative situation would be that the trams would be rushed into service, then some kind of fatal incident occurs within a few weeks. Imagine the horror if a tram were to derail in the city centre during the busy peak period!
People have waited long enough for the trams to go all the way to New Street, hopefully it will only be another couple of weeks before they can do so... safely.
Yes, the tramway must be safe before it opens.
But why have the works overrun so badly?
Quote from: Justin Tyme on May 17, 2016, 09:55:32 PM
Yes, the tramway must be safe before it opens.
But why have the works overrun so badly?
Sadly it doesn't seem to be restricted to just Metro with over-running works whilst doing extensions to networks - Nottingham Phase 2 was delayed by several years, as were several Metrolink lines during opening, and even Sheffield's tram-train (which doesn't even require half a mile of track & only needs two new stations constructing) - even Edinburgh's initial network shows the issues which are caused through the construction of tramways.
Maybe a question in general for those in the know?
Quote from: T840MAK on May 17, 2016, 10:25:06 PM
Sadly it doesn't seem to be restricted to just Metro with over-running works whilst doing extensions to networks - Nottingham Phase 2 was delayed by several years, as were several Metrolink lines during opening, and even Sheffield's tram-train (which doesn't even require half a mile of track & only needs two new stations constructing) - even Edinburgh's initial network shows the issues which are caused through the construction of tramways.
Maybe a question in general for those in the know?
Sheffields Tram-Train already over a year late has now been delayed further with no date yet
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-36315711?SThisFB
Birmingham Metro extension built at a rate of 32 inches a day.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/anger-birmingham-metro-extension-built-11352546
Quote from: Tony on May 18, 2016, 10:43:51 AM
Sheffields Tram-Train already over a year late has now been delayed further with no date yet
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-36315711?SThisFB
That's what I was referring to in my original post - now looks to be early 2018, so maybe if the trial is successful (and even happens!) we might see a local tram-train network (which is what SYPTE wants) by, say, 2100 maybe?
http://www.itv.com/news/central/2016-05-17/midland-metro-tram-extension-delayed-again-due-to-unlevel-track/
Looking at all the links that have been posted, I can't help but laugh at some of these. Yeah, I get that both operator and passengers and residents aren't best pleased at the Metro delays, so does that mean that Centro should just go ahead and run the service anyway and risk a major incident?
Media clutching on straws to draw a bad name to the transport industry again.
Quote from: T840MAK on May 19, 2016, 08:25:12 AM
Looking at all the links that have been posted, I can't help but laugh at some of these. Yeah, I get that both operator and passengers and residents aren't best pleased at the Metro delays, so does that mean that Centro should just go ahead and run the service anyway and risk a major incident?
Media clutching on straws to draw a bad name to the transport industry again.
I don't think it is a case of the media giving a bad name to the transport industry, more a case of to the contractors who are constructing it.
i have seen speed signs on the new ropute from Bull St saying 15 for 15 KPH as i don't the speed of the tram is a factor.
Quote from: wembley86 on May 19, 2016, 07:19:30 PM
i have seen speed signs on the new ropute from Bull St saying 15 for 15 KPH as i don't the speed of the tram is a factor.
15kph is about 10mph - usual when moving through more pedestrianised areas of city centres.
They were working on the track in Bull St today and you could see the rusty marks in Corporation St where the rails had been ground. The signs on the stops said the opening was delayed due to track alignment problems but when I came back from Wolverhampton they had been changed to say that driver training was under way on the extension, so I wonder if the track works have been completed.
Quote from: Stevo on May 23, 2016, 05:36:38 PM
They were working on the track in Bull St today and you could see the rusty marks in Corporation St where the rails had been ground. The signs on the stops said the opening was delayed due to track alignment problems but when I came back from Wolverhampton they had been changed to say that driver training was under way on the extension, so I wonder if the track works have been completed.
Here is Tram 26 on Corporation Street today
http://wmbusphotos.com/MidlandMetro/tram26.html
Quote from: Tony on May 23, 2016, 05:56:08 PM
Here is Tram 26 on Corporation Street today
http://wmbusphotos.com/MidlandMetro/tram26.html
Midlands Today has had a story about the Metro extension saying hopefully now that driver training is being carried out now, that the extension will open this bank holiday weekend. It was nice seeing trams running the whole of the new extension at last. Cannot wait to see them running in service finally
I saw 31 on Corporation Street at 18:30 today displaying Wolverhampton the a couple of minutes later 29 displaying Birmingham. Has the extension now opened then?
Quote from: 2206 on May 24, 2016, 09:20:58 PM
I saw 31 on Corporation Street at 18:30 today displaying Wolverhampton the a couple of minutes later 29 displaying Birmingham. Has the extension now opened then?
According to Midlands Today hopefully Bank Holiday Monday it will be fully opened
@2206
Quote from: Squiz1971 on May 24, 2016, 09:27:37 PM
According to Midlands Today hopefully Bank Holiday Monday it will be fully opened @2206
Just seen this on the Metro's Twitter feed, looks like it will finally open this Bank Holiday Monday.
https://twitter.com/MidlandMetro/status/735493241714266114
I see that trams arriving at Bull Street now are unloading then continuing out of service to Navigation Street. They then return out of service to Bull Street and pick up passengers for Wolverhampton as normal.
A Midland Metro member of staff in Bull Street told me that this will continue until the extension opens on Monday.
Services start on Monday:
http://nxbus.co.uk/the-metro/news/a-bit-more-metro-contactless-payment-and-a-new-timetable-coming-from-monday-30th-may-2016
Ozzie Osborne due in Corporation Street any time now to name a tram after himself
Quote from: Tony on May 26, 2016, 11:03:18 AM
Ozzie Osborne due in Corporation Street any time now to name a tram after himself
Will any other trams be named?
Quote from: Tony on May 26, 2016, 11:03:18 AM
Ozzie Osborne due in Corporation Street any time now to name a tram after himself
In my opinion very sad. How much was he paid for this?
Well it works.
Higher frequency would have been nicer today. Lots of people trying it out it seems and very busy.
Trams not stopping at Snow Hill yet but people waiting there so communication failure
Saw Ozzy Osbourne (37) leaving new Street & later 26 I think arriving down at New Street both looking very busy despite it being Bank Holiday Monday. Nice finally seeing trams on the tracks at last
Alledgedly there is a message on twitter saying Snow Hill is open - on my outward trip yesterday it was announced, but we didn't stop in either direction.
;
Quote from: mikestone on May 31, 2016, 05:57:36 PM
Alledgedly there is a message on twitter saying Snow Hill is open - on my outward trip yesterday it was announced, but we didn't stop in either direction.
;
It is open now. Didn't stop there this morning peak
I wonder how many passengers will actually get on/off at snow hill. as only a hand full got of on coporation st this morning peak that was the 6:53 tram
Quote from: wembley86 on May 31, 2016, 09:52:12 PM
I wonder how many passengers will actually get on/off at snow hill. as only a hand full got of on coporation st this morning peak that was the 6:53 tram
Has a second platform appeared for the corporation Street?
There is a platform in the inbound direction but with no shelter or equipment.
With 3301 pulling a sickie, thought instead I would try the new extension on the tramway.
I know it is probably still early days, but people don't really seem to be grasping that trams are running on streets in Birmingham. Lorries parked on the track, cars driving along Stephenson Street, people just walking in front of the tram.
Also the destinations on the Front of the tram were very basic, ie: just Birmingham & Wolverhampton. Tbh, especially at the Birmingham end, surely it could show Birmingham Grand Central.
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on June 16, 2016, 09:47:24 PM
With 3301 pulling a sickie, thought instead I would try the new extension on the tramway.
I know it is probably still early days, but people don't really seem to be grasping that trams are running on streets in Birmingham. Lorries parked on the track, cars driving along Stephenson Street, people just walking in front of the tram.
Also the destinations on the Front of the tram were very basic, ie: just Birmingham & Wolverhampton. Tbh, especially at the Birmingham end, surely it could show Birmingham Grand Central.
There's no actual short journeys that run as far as Snow Hill / Bull Street is there?
I love this. People complain when a tram shows something like "B Bull Street" and "W St Georges", and they complain when it says "Birmingham" or "Wolverhampton".
Birmingham Grand Central is a long name. Probably just doesn't fit on the destination - at least it says where its going clearer than it did before.
Quote from: T840MAK on June 17, 2016, 08:20:54 AM
I love this. People complain when a tram shows something like "B Bull Street" and "W St Georges", and they complain when it says "Birmingham" or "Wolverhampton".
Birmingham Grand Central is a long name. Probably just doesn't fit on the destination - at least it says where its going clearer than it did before.
Yes but visitors are unlikely to know where B Bull Street or W St Georges actually are. In order to gain custom, you need clear and concise destination displays. Birmingham & Wolverhampton are exactly the same, where in Birmingham do they go??
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on June 17, 2016, 01:16:14 PM
Yes but visitors are unlikely to know where B Bull Street or W St Georges actually are. In order to gain custom, you need clear and concise destination displays. Birmingham & Wolverhampton are exactly the same, where in Birmingham do they go??
Whilst I completely understand your point you have to remember that destination blinds can only show so much at once. Birmingham and Wolverhampton is more informative for a visitor to an area than the older alternatives.
Quote from: Westy on June 16, 2016, 10:34:33 PM
There's no actual short journeys that run as far as Snow Hill / Bull Street is there?
No there aren't. Its just complaining for the sake of complaining as the audio visual inside the tram say 'This tram terminates at Birmingham Grand Central'. I don't get what the issue is personally.
Quote from: T840MAK on June 17, 2016, 02:55:02 PM
Whilst I completely understand your point you have to remember that destination blinds can only show so much at once. Birmingham and Wolverhampton is more informative for a visitor to an area than the older alternatives.
did they have a scrolling one when ozzy and HRH did tram naming i.e 'midland metro welcomes ozzy osbourne'
Quote from: wembley86 on June 18, 2016, 08:32:43 AM
did they have a scrolling one when ozzy and HRH did tram naming i.e 'midland metro welcomes ozzy osbourne'
This is what i thought, if it can scroll why not take advantage of it to show the full destination and maybe a few via points.
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on June 18, 2016, 06:35:06 PM
This is what i thought, if it can scroll why not take advantage of it to show the full destination and maybe a few via points.
Why would you need to show via points? Every stop is listed on the route map at every stop, and passengers wouldn't be able to see them all on a scrolling destination as it approached
Quote from: Tony on June 18, 2016, 06:45:03 PM
Why would you need to show via points? Every stop is listed on the route map at every stop, and passengers wouldn't be able to see them all on a scrolling destination as it approached
Thats true @ Tony, although you could say the same with buses, now 99.9% of stops have timetable information with key stops listed, do they need via points on the display.
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on June 18, 2016, 07:04:48 PM
Thats true @ Tony, although you could say the same with buses, now 99.9% of stops have timetable information with key stops listed, do they need via points on the display.
London has decided not!
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on June 18, 2016, 06:35:06 PM
This is what i thought, if it can scroll why not take advantage of it to show the full destination and maybe a few via points.
its harder to read if the destination is scrolling...?
This morning the screens at Grand Central and Corporation Street were 32 minutes slow and showing the wait for the next tram accordingly i.e. a tram 3 minutes away as due in 35 minutes. When I came back the ones at Snow Hill were the same but showing the wait for the next tram correctly.
;
Anyone know if the screens calculate when the next tram is due locally or is it all done at Wednesbury and transmitted to the stop?