Eastside Metro extension roadworks in Digbeth: August 2021 and May 2022

Views from the bus heading out through Digbeth during August 2021, and into town via Digbeth in late May 2022. In between it wasn't worth getting photo updates when there was just holes in the road, and Midland Metro Alliance were just moving pipes. By Spring 2022, they have installed curb stones, and temporary tarmacing the southbound road surface.

The major roadworks in Digbeth from July 2021 to July 2022 by the Midland Metro Alliance. They usually work during the week, apart from on Bank Holidays or at weekends.

The southbound lanes have been closed between Digbeth Police Station and The Rainbow, while the northbound bus lane has been closed and open to all traffic. The inner northbound lane has been used for southbound traffic. There is plenty of temporary traffic lights. Entrances from Heath Mill Lane, as well as the Zellig Car Park, and others that need access.

I've been getting the bus up and down it throughout, so not always wanted to get updates, when there was just big holes in the ground. Plus they will not be laying tracks on this side.

Sometimes takes 20 minutes to get through, if there is a lot of traffic. Longer if the traffic lights fail to work.

August 2021

On Monday 16th August 2021, the southbound lanes was closed by the Midland Metro Alliance, and they moved the southbound traffic into one of the former northbound lanes, close to Birmingham Coach Station. The northbound bus lane was open to all traffic.

Views from the top deck of the no 6 bus with National Express West Midlands Electric. Sitting at the time near the front, on the left, second window seat back.

Passing Digbeth Police Station. The first day that the traffic heading out of Digbeth would be diverted south onto one of the northbound lanes.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Digbeth (Aug 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Fancy Fabrics on the left. Early stages of the road being dug up.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Digbeth (Aug 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Passing the Custard Factory and Zellig.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Custard Factory Digbeth (Aug 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Custard Factory / Zellig and then the Clean Kilo.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Custard Factory Digbeth (Aug 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Passing the Clean Kilo, followed by The Old Crown. Heath Mill Lane would remain open to traffic into 2022.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Old Crown Digbeth (Aug 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Old Crown, early stages of the road surface being dug up.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Old Crown Digbeth (Aug 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

May 2022

Saturday 28th May 2022, views from the top deck of the no 6 bus, National Express West Midlands Electric heading into the City Centre via Digbeth. Window seat on the right at the front.

Midland Metro Alliance have started to tarmac the southbound road surface at long last. It will only be temporary, as it needs to be in place for the Commonwealth Games.

Near The Rainbow.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Digbeth 28052022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

New paving outside of The Old Crown. They recently discovered a long lost hole, though to be a coal entrance, it's now been covered over.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Crown EME Digbeth 28052022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

On the right is the Custard Factory, Kilo Zero and The Old Crown. 

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Digbeth 28052022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

At long last a tarmaced road surface. View towards Birmingham Coach Station, not far from the Custard Factory.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Digbeth 28052022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

They will resume the work on Monday morning. This view not far from the coach station.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Digbeth 28052022 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On the right is the Big Bulls Head. Side roads such as Milk Street have been closed to traffic.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Big Bulls Head Digbeth 28052022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Next up is The Kerryman. The pavement has been quite narrow while they widen it, you can see the new curb stones here.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Kerryman Digbeth 28052022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This bit near the BCU Steam House (being demolished). View towards St Martin's Church and Digbeth Police Station. The eventual Metro line will come from HS2 via Meriden Street.

dndimg alt="Eastside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EME Digbeth 28052022 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Perry Barr Station reopened at the end of May 2022

Perry Barr Station was reopened on Sunday 29th May 2022 on the Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street to Walsall line. Elliott got an off-peak return to the station the following day to check the station out. Trains every half hour in both directions. Looks much better than the old station, it now also has lifts. Platform gap to trains is a bit high, but other than that it's ok.

A visit to Perry Barr Station on Monday 30th May 2022, with an off-peak day return ticket only £3.00 in the West Midlands Railway app from Birmingham New Street and back.

I arrived at Perry Barr on the 11:40 on platform 2 on board London Northwestern Railway 350101.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

London Northwestern Railway 350101 seen shortly before departing for Walsall. Youtuber Sim0n Trains was there most of the day.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Up the steps, a quick look at the concourse on the way out.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

It's pretty spacious in here, a bit quiet during off peak hours.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Was raining on arrival at Perry Barr. A quick look at the exterior of the new station building.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

It looks like rusted metal, compared to the old concrete that was there from the 1960s until 2021.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

After a Costa Coffee stop out of the rain at the One Stop Shopping Centre, the start of a walk towards Perry Park, had to cross over Walsall Road, and find my way onto Aldridge Road.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

About an hour later after coming back via the Tame Valley Canal, there was now a worker on a cherry picker near the Perry Barr Station sign. View with The Mercian.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A lot of work still to be done in the public realm outside of the station and One Stop, near Walsall Road.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

One shutter that was open earlier was now closed while the cherry picker was there, but was an entrance near the ticket machine.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The concourse from the other side, near the ticket desk.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (11).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

View from the bridge between the lifts, Sim0n Trains and friend were still there getting footage for his video.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (12).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Sim0n Trains videoing the steps from platform 2 by the looks of it.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (13).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

View down platform 1.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (14).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Had a half hour wait for my train back to Birmingham New Street. First up, the 13:40 to Walsall showed up at platform 2. London Northwestern Railway 350403.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (15).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Then London Northwestern Railway 350403, the 13:43 to Wolverhampton (via Birmingham New Street showed up) about a minute late. Caught this back to Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 30052022 (16).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Westside Metro Extension: Broad Street and Hagley Road - April and May 2022 update

Trams continue to be tested along Broad Street and Hagley Road via Five Ways. The roads will be reopened to buses from 5th June 2022, but trams will only be in service to Bull Street when it resumes again. 

2nd April 2022

Broad Street

At Centenary Square, near Broad Street. Pink Midland Metro Alliance barriers near Library Tram Stop.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LoB Centenary Sq 02042022.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

9th April 2022

Broad Street

The Midland Metro Alliance has installed an electricity substation at Five Ways Island, above  the Five Ways Underpass (between Broad Street and Hagley Road in Edgbaston). St Martin's Place and Park Regis Birmingham seen behind with a bus on the 23 or 24 bus routes via Harborne.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/ESS Five Ways Island 09042022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Cones and pink Midland Metro Alliance barriers on Broad Street between The Mercian and The Bank. Towards the Five Ways Entertainment Complex.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WME Broad St 09042022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Cones and barriers on Broad Street between Brindleyplace and O'Neill's towards The Crown Reflex.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WME Broad St 09042022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

7th May 2022

Broad Street

Close to the site of Brindleyplace Tram Stop on Broad Street towards the Library of Birmingham. Pink Midland Metro Alliance barriers were in the middle of the road.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lob Broad St WMExt 07052022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

25th May 2022

Hagley Road

Outside of Morrisons on the Hagley Road. What looks like green astroturf, with TRAM ONLY painted on this side. Towards Starbucks Coffee.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Hagley Rd 25052022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

To the Five Ways Underpass from Hagley Road. The barriers have been removed, but cones remain in place.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Hagley Rd 25052022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A Midland Metro Alliance worker is there to remove the cones when the test trams come through the Five Ways Underpass. View towards The Mercian and Hampton by Hilton Broad Street hotel.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Hagley Rd 25052022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

28th May 2022

Broad Street

Cones line both sides of Broad Street between JD Wetherspoon: Solomon Cutter and The Crown Reflex, towards The Brasshouse. A car drives up the middle, while a yellow taxi cab is parked on the right.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WME Broad St 28052022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Cyclists have made good use of the closed roads. Here a cyclist is seen riding his bike through the middle of the cones up Broad Street and past The Brasshouse. Entrance to Brindleyplace and the canal on the right.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WME Broad St 28052022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Closest we've been able to get to the Five Ways Underpass from Broad Street. There is a Midland Metro Alliance worker who moves the cones and barriers when a test tram comes through. View towards the Marriott Hotel.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WME Broad St 28052022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It looks like the underpass will be for buses and trams only. All other traffic will have to use Five Ways Island from Broad Street. View near Park Regis Birmingham and Broadway Residences.

dndimg alt="Westside Metro Extension" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WME Broad St 28052022 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

For further photos click here for almost 400 photos: Westside Metro extension Broad Street to Hagley Road

Photography by Elliott Brown

Annatomix fox at Wylde Green Station

I was first aware that Annatomix had painted her trademark orange fox at Wylde Green Station, during June 2021. Took me a while, but returned to Sutton Coldfield at midday on Sunday 24th April 2022. Walked down from the Town Centre to the Highbridge Road Bridge. Down the steps, and the art was in an alcove behind the steps and wall.

Getting to Sutton Coldfield

I was going to get the 13:06 from platform 8A at Birmingham New Street Station, but it was running 10 minutes late on the 24th April 2022. The first Class 323 from Redditch ended up terminating there, but an announcement told passengers to go to platform 7A, so over the bridge to the other side, and another Class 323 arrived for 13:16 from Soho Depot.

Arriving at Sutton Coldfield Station, I first popped to Costa Coffee at the Gracechurch Centre, before walking down the Birmingham Road towards Wylde Green Station. I left Birmingham Road at Jockey Road. The wrong bridge over the Cross City Line, but found a shortcut via Wilkinson Close to Highbridge Road.

Annatomix fox at Wylde Green Station

Down the steps towards platform 1 (trains towards Four Oaks and Lichfield Trent Valley). I could see the Annatomix fox over the steps as I headed down.

dndimg alt="Annatomix fox Wylde Green Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix fox Wylde Green (Apr 2022) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In the alcove at the back, below the Highbridge Road Bridge in Wylde Green is the Annatomix fox.

dndimg alt="Annatomix fox Wylde Green Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix fox Wylde Green (Apr 2022) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The fox and the steps. To get back to Birmingham New Street though, went back up these steps, and over the other steps to platform 2.

dndimg alt="Annatomix fox Wylde Green Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix fox Wylde Green (Apr 2022) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Now on the path to platform 2, a view of the Annatomix fox and the steps to / from platform 1.

dndimg alt="Annatomix fox Wylde Green Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix fox Wylde Green (Apr 2022) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There is high fences either side of the railway, but the fox street art is just about visible from the path.

dndimg alt="Annatomix fox Wylde Green Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix fox Wylde Green (Apr 2022) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

I somehow timed my arrival at Wylde Green Station as my train back to Birmingham New Street was arriving at platform 2. The Class 323 got a bit of shadow here, and you can see the fox by Annatomix on the far left.

dndimg alt="Annatomix fox Wylde Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wylde Green Station (Apr 2022) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Retook West Midlands Railway 323213, the lighting was better on the second attempt. Bit hard to see the Annatomix fox now.

dndimg alt="Annatomix fox Wylde Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wylde Green Station (Apr 2022) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There is a new thing from the Soho Depot called "Soho Bingo", the train I got is now named Sutton Coldfield. I think the game works if you get the name of the train at the station of the same name. But I did earlier arrive at Sutton Coldfield Station.

dndimg alt="Annatomix fox Wylde Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wylde Green Station (Apr 2022) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Edgbaston Village Tram Stop on Hagley Road - March 2022 update

Well the Westside Metro Extension to Five Ways and Hagley Road in Edgbaston is months late in opening. While West Midlands Metro restored a service to Library Tram Stop in Centenary Square by mid February 2022, the extension to Hagley Road is not yet open. Still cones and barriers. Edgbaston Village Tram Stop at 54 Hagley Rd now looks close to completion. Early March 2022 update.

26th June 2021

Last summer, early signs of working beginning to build Edgbaston Village Tram Stop on Hagley Road, outside of the former Barclays Bank and 54 Hagley Road.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tram Stop 26062021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tram Stop 26062021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tram Stop 26062021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

4th September 2021

Outside of Morrisons on the Hagley Road, and they had laid a green surface around the tracks. While other parts were covered over.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MMA Hagley Rd 04092021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MMA Hagley Rd 04092021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

13th November 2021

More of the same with the green surface outside of Starbucks Coffee, but a lot of barriers around here at the time. Edgbaston Village Tram Stop now has shelters installed.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd WMExt 13112021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd WMExt 13112021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd WMExt 13112021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd WMExt 13112021 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

5th December 2021

From Five Ways Island. Midland Metro Alliance have been spending months building electrical substations above the underpass between Broad Street and Hagley Road.

dndimg alt="Five Ways Island" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MMA Five Ways Island 05122021.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

26th December 2021

Boxing Day fog. The original plan was to have opened this Metro extension by the end of 2021, but this of course didn't happen. Cones along part of the route, while at least one lane open to traffic heading from Five Ways Island onto the Hagley Road.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd WM Ext 26122021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd WM Ext 26122021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd WM Ext 26122021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

9th January 2022

The new year, and a blue sky at the new crossing outside of Morrisons and Starbucks Coffee. With The Lansdowne on the other side of Hagley Road.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WM Metro Hagley Rd Ext 09012022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WM Metro Hagley Rd Ext 09012022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

7th February 2022

A visit to Morrisons Café on the Hagley Road. Views out of the window, cones and barriers with traffic diverted from Five Ways onto the Hagley Road. If you want to get to Stourbridge, catch the no 9 bus. After I left Morrisons, had a quick look at Edgbaston Village Tram Stop from outside.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd Metro Ext 07022022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd Metro Ext 07022022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hagley Rd Metro Ext 07022022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

5th March 2022

Approaching Hagley Road from Highfield Road in Edgbaston. Edgbaston Village Tram Stop has the overhead cables and grey poles installed, as well as grass tracks next to 54 Hagley Road.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EVTS Hagley Rd 05032022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EVTS Hagley Rd 05032022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EVTS Hagley Rd 05032022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EVTS Hagley Rd 05032022 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown