New arrangements are to be put in place for customers using West Midlands Metro’s terminus at Grand Central later this month.

As part of the ongoing Birmingham Westside extension project to extend the Metro network to Centenary Square by 2019 and Edgbaston by 2021, the Midland Metro Alliance is starting the process of connecting the existing track on Stephenson Street to the new lines which are now being constructed.

As a result, Metro services will arrive and depart from the same platform immediately outside New Street railway station from Monday, 24 September until summer 2019. The normal departure tram stop towards Wolverhampton will not be in use during this period but services will otherwise be unaffected by the work. West Midlands Metro Director of Operations, Carl Williams, said:

“We obviously apologise to customers for any inconvenience but we need to implement these changes to ensure our services through to Grand Central can be maintained whilst the engineering works are completed.

“This is an exciting time for Metro as we look forward to the major extensions which will ultimately triple the size of the network, making it accessible to even more people throughout our region. The first of these extensions through to Centenary Square is scheduled to open for passenger services late next year.”

The works are being undertaken by MMA for TfWM, the Transport arm of the West Midlands Combined Authority, and will involve the complex process of linking the tracks and control systems and the realignment of utilities and road junctions.

During the works, the lower section of Pinfold Street will be closed to all vehicles and Stephenson Street will become accessible to traffic in both directions under marshal control. Pedestrian access in the area will be maintained at all times. West Midlands Metro Director Phil Hewitt added:

“The intention is to minimise disruption to businesses in the area, the general public and Metro passengers during the course of these essential works. We have been liaising closely with our partners at the MMA to retain a full Metro service and we will be providing additional information on our trams, at Grand Central stop and through our website and social media channels.  

"We expect that the arrangements we have agreed with the MMA will mean that our customers’ journeys will remain largely unaffected.”