Midland Metro temporary closure at Easter

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Midland Metro line from Birmingham to Wolverhampton is to close temporarily this Easter so work on a £128 million project to expand the system can be carried out. The line will be shut after the last tram on Good Friday (March 29) to allow engineers to modify existing platforms for a £40 million pound fleet of newer and bigger trams and the line will re-open on Monday, 15th April.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

The Midland Metro line from Birmingham to Wolverhampton is to close temporarily this Easter so work on a £128 million project to expand the system can be carried out. The line will be shut after the last tram on Good Friday (March 29) to allow engineers to modify existing platforms for a £40 million pound fleet of newer and bigger trams and the line will re-open on Monday, 15th April.

Good for photographers of buses to get some possible pictures.

 

[dvboy]

Further information here: http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/metro/closure.aspx

Replacement bus for the whole line will take 65 minutes vs 35 minutes normal time, and won't be running much past approx 8pm or on Sundays. The existing bus alrernatives are even slower.

A bit of a shame they've not managed to get rail acceptance on Snow Hill - Hawthorns which is probably one of the busiest parts in the peaks.

 

[Class172]

Is this to allow them to start constructing the track up to Colmore Row?

 

[dvboy]

This is so they can shave about an inch off the platforms to fit the new trams.

As part of the extension through Birmingham City Centre a new fleet of trams has been ordered to operate on the whole route. During the closure we will be modifying the platforms at all stops to accommodate the new trams. This work will enable the new trams to start running next year between Wolverhampton and Birmingham Snow Hill. Other enhancement works on the platforms will take place to improve their appearance.

We will be working in partnership to refurbish the stairs at Bilston Central and Lodge Road during the closure. Other works will include upgrades to the traffic lights at Ettingshall Road Junction and road bridge repairs over the Metro route.

The work at Snow Hill has quite a way to go yet.

 

[MetroDriver]

The works involved are quite extensive, and as indicated in the quote in the previous post -also tie in with Wolverhampton Council's upgrade of a complex junction's traffic light system / overbridge work by Network Rail / and also involve modifications to the existing T69 tram fleet to bridge the new gaps between doors and the widened platforms to comply with existing regs on platform /tram gaps....

It's going to be an 'interesting' fortnight for us staff I believe

 

[sprinterguy]

The works involved are quite extensive, and as indicated in the quote in the previous post -also tie in with Wolverhampton Council's upgrade of a complex junction's traffic light system / overbridge work by Network Rail / and also involve modifications to the existing T69 tram fleet to bridge the new gaps between doors and the widened platforms to comply with existing regs on platform /tram gaps....

I remember that when I was working at Centro in 2010 we were all speculating as to what would be done to maintain accessibility for the T69s once the platforms were being cut back to accommodate the new, wider, trams that will be introduced. Are you able to share with us what the chosen solution to this issue is?

 

[MetroDriver]

Extension pieces attached under each door set, so I'm led to believe....

Of what material etc I don't know - yet

 

[WatcherZero]

Im picturing something similar to the setup under the doors on Sprinters.

 

[MetroDriver]

Yes I would imagine something along those lines.... if I can find out I'll let you know

 

[MetroDriver]

Just an update on these extension pieces - they are indeed metal 'step' sections which are level with the interior floor, painted bright yellow for easy visibility, and edged with a rubber strip along the edge. They are currently being installed whilst the trams are out of action.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Any news on how the platform works are proceeding ?

 

[MetroDriver]

Platform works coming along slowly but surely. The works team reached The Royal and Wolverhampton St Georges yesterday and started altering the widths there - I believe they were the last 2 stops but I can't be 100% as the team seem to have a strange way of working and we're not always seeing them working in a methodical fashion along the route....

The stop shelters painting team seem to be progressing the same, and all the other works being undertaken seem to be on target. It's been quite astounding just how much work has been undertaken whilst we've been closed - far more than was thought. The bus replacement service has been running as best as possible, but traffic delays have been the curse - which can't be avoided in all honesty....

Fingers crossed for Monday morning's return to service