West Midlands Metro trams returns to Paradise

After 203 days, West Midlands Metro has finally resumed services between Bull Street and Library, on the 12th February 2022. The last trams in service for passengers at this end was 24th July 2021. Since then Corporation Street was closed for 11 weeks for track relaying. Then faults in the trams around November 2021, then some back in service to Bull Street by December 2021. Welcome back.

Saturday 12th February 2022

The 24th July 2021 was the last date that trams ran on a service for passengers to Library Tram Stop. Since then, a 11 week closure of Corporation Street for track relaying. Then delays from November 2021 when cracks were discovered (on the Spanish CAF manufactured trams). Some repaired trams back in service from December 2021, but only to Bull Street (some new Urbos 100 trams have been fast tracked into service alongside the original Urbos 3 trams). 12th February 2022, the first date that West Midlands Metro have got trams back in service towards Centenary Square (but every 12 minutes). Here tram 29 departs Town Hall Tram Stop, and heads around Paradise Circus, passing the new One Centenary Way, before approaching Centenary Square, for it's final approach to Library Tram Stop.

While beyond Library, Broad Street is all tracked, but beyond Five Ways to Hagley Road, it is not quite complete. So might be a couple more months before we can see trams further into Westside.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 29 Paradise Circus 12022022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 29 Paradise Circus 12022022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 29 Paradise Circus 12022022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Monday 14th February 2022

On a rainy Valentine's Day, I popped up to the Discovery Terrace at the Library of Birmingham. Saw West Midlands Metro tram 40 (Urbos 100) at Library Tram Stop. It then departed Centenary Square, via the Bus Gate onto Paradise Circus. While traffic waited at the traffic lights, for the tram to cross over to Paradise Street and to Town Hall Tram Stop.

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Library Tram Stop 14022022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

After leaving the Library of Birmingham via Centenary Square and Centenary Way. Walked into Chamberlain Square and Victoria Square. Just about caught West Midland Metro tram 23 departing from Town Hall Tram Stop for Library. The first of three trams I saw heading to Westside.

dndimg alt="Tram 23" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 23 Town Hall Vic Sq 14022022.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Walking down Pinfold Street, the next tram I saw was West Midlands Metro tram 28 "Jasper Carrott", heading up Stephenson Street, having departed Grand Central Tram Stop. It then headed up Pinfold Street towards Victoria Square. The second of three trams. Maybe at least one was going onto Broad Street for a test run?

dndimg alt="Stephenson Pinfold" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 38 SP 14022022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Stephenson Pinfold" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 38 SP 14022022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

One last tram seen from Stephenson Street. West Midlands Metro tram 31 "Cyrille Regis" seen heading down from Corporation Street onto Stephenson Place. Still people walking on the wrong side of the road. There is a pavement next to the Apple building (ex Midland Bank / Waterstone's).

dndimg alt="Stephenson Corporation" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 31 SC 14022022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Stephenson Corporation" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 31 SC 14022022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I actually started this rainy photo walk heading past Snow Hill. The Living Wall and grass track. First up was West Midlands Metro tram 20 heading to Wolverhampton. Then arriving at St Chad's Tram Stop was tram 34 heading to Birmingham. I then went down the steps, and walked up Constitution Hill and Great Hampton Street into the Jewellery Quarter.

dndimg alt="Snow Hill trams" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Snow Hill 14022022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Snow Hill trams" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Snow Hill 14022022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Snow Hill trams" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Snow Hill 14022022 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Snow Hill trams" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Snow Hill 14022022 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown can also be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Royal Navy 692 - WT 723 at SCC Technology Campus in Tyseley

On the no 4 / 4A bus route on the Warwick Road in Tyseley. There is now a decommissioned Hawker Hunter at the SCC Technology Campus. After the Shoreham air crash, it would never fly again. But was placed here on a pole stand around September 2021. A short walk up from Tyseley Locomotive Works and Tyseley Station, not far from Greet and the River Cole.

If you catch the no 4 or 4A bus from Carrs Lane in the City Centre towards Tyseley and Acocks Green, you might spot something unusual. This decommissioned Hawker Hunter Royal Navy plane has been mounted on a pole stand at the SCC Technology Campus between Greet and Tyseley. The Warwick Road junction with Battery Way. Also near the Cole Valley Business Park, Burbury Brickworks Nature Reserve (Shire Country Park) and the River Cole. People in cars or other transport might also spot it on their journey up and down the Warwick Road.

First flew in 1955. Retired in 1993. Various owners since. Since Shoreham crash it has been de-registered, and from September 2021 was moved to Tyseley pole-mounted at the SCC premises. All major components removed.

 

Royal Navy 692 - WT 723 - Hawker Hunter

Gallery of eight photos below. Taken on Saturday 15th January 2022.

dndimg alt="Royal Navy 692" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RN 692 SCC Tyseley 15012022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Navy 692" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RN 692 SCC Tyseley 15012022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Navy 692" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RN 692 SCC Tyseley 15012022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Navy 692" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RN 692 SCC Tyseley 15012022 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Navy 692" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RN 692 SCC Tyseley 15012022 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Navy 692" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RN 692 SCC Tyseley 15012022 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Navy 692" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RN 692 SCC Tyseley 15012022 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Navy 692" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RN 692 SCC Tyseley 15012022 (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown can also be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

The rebuilding of University Station - progress from May to December 2021

University Station originally opened on the Cross City Line in 1978 to serve the University of Birmingham, and now the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Work began to build the new station buildings around Spring 2021. By Winter 2021-22 the main buildings are taking shape and getting cladded. The old station remains open throughout the works. Three photo updates from Elliott.

University Station - West Midlands Railway

First some photos of University Station in the years before the redevelopment.

View of University Station from platform 1 during March 2012. This was my first time getting off a train here.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station (March 2012) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Below a view from Westgate taken in January 2013. Sometimes also called University Road West.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station (Jan 2013) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In July 2017, a view of a London Midland Class 323 Electric Multiple Unit train, as seen from platform 2. By December of that year the franchise transferred over to West Midlands Railway. 323208 was the number.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/University London Midland 323208.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

By December 2019 there was a new West Midlands Railway sign outside the station on Westgate, replacing the old Network West Midlands one.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station (Dec 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In August 2020, a view of University Station, after restrictions were being lifted at the time, but was no access to the University of Birmingham's Edgbaston Campus to members of the public who were not members of staff or students.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station (Aug 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

29th May 2021

First views of the new University Station getting built from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near the University of Birmingham in Edgbaston.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station 29052021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station 29052021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The old 1978 station building remains open from the Westgate with a view of Old Joe (before the clock hands were removed).

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station 29052021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View from the bus stops of the site from New Fosse Way. The new station buildings would be built alongside Vincent Drive, near NHS Blood & Transplant Birmingham and the Birmingham Research Park.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station 29052021 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

6th August 2021

In the summer of 2021, I got a train down from Birmingham New Street Station. West Midlands Railway 170509. In a purple livery (as it will soon transfer to East Midlands Railway).

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Behind the train you could see the structure of the new building going up.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading down Vincent Drive.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was possible to see Old Joe behind the new building before it was complete last summer.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Now on Pritchatts Road from the bridge over the Cross City Line and Worcester & Birmingham Canal. There will not be access to the station from this end.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

28th December 2021

Starting this time from Pritchatts Road, after checking out Old Joe (now with clock hands reinstated), the same view as 5 months earlier from the bridge over the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and the Cross City Line. The new station building has a new footbridge. When complete it will have an entrance to Westgate.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading up Vincent Drive to a more complete looking station, although a lot to complete.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Near the bus stops on New Fosse Way. Work was still going on here during the Christmas - New Year holidays.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown can also be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Perry Barr Station in 2012 and 2022

Since May 2021, Perry Barr Station has been closed to passengers for redevelopment ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The last station building was built in the 1960s and was very tired and dull looking after 55 years. Outside roadworks after the Perry Barr Flyover was pulled down in 2021. Should be complete by May 2022. Only time Elliott got a train here was August 2012.

Perry Barr Station history

The first station was built by the Grand Junction Railway in 1837, and is one of the oldest continually served stations in the world (until the 2021-22 redevelopment).  The GJR became part of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), later the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), who all owned the station in turn, before the nationalisation of the railways in 1948 under British Railways in 1948 (later British Rail). The station was rebuilt in 1966 when the line was electrified towards Walsall. After privatisation in the 1990s, the station was run by Central Trains (from 1997), then London Midland (from 2007), and now West Midlands Railway (from 2017).

 

The station is on the Birchfield Road in Perry Barr, near Walsall Road and the One Stop Shopping Centre.

 

The visit of August 2012

The only time I got a return train journey to Perry Barr was in August 2012, for my then first photo walk around Perry Barr. Arriving on London Midland 323220.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

First view of the 1966 station building, with a pair of steps up to the exit.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The train I got off continues towards Walsall.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There used to be a ramp exit on both sides.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View from the steps towards platform 2.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The old British Rail Station Perry Barr sign was there for a long time.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Plus at the time the Network West Midlands station sign for Perry Barr.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There used to be a subway under the road here which you could use to get to Birmingham City University's City North Campus.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Later after my walk, heading down the steps to platform 1, to catch a train on the Chase Line back to Birmingham New Street.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Waiting for my train.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Time to leave Perry Barr on London Midland 323202.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

2nd January 2022

Been so busy over the last 6 months, that I've had no time to travel up to Perry Barr. Traffic always seemed busy, if you were going to the cemetery at Witton.

 

On the second day of the new year, I caught an X51 bus to Perry Barr. An express bus service towards Cannock. First wanted to check out the Alexander Stadium / Perry Park, and the stop was near Perry Avenue. Bit hard to see the stadium or proper park access, so walked down Walsall Road past the One Stop to check out the new station building.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new station building is partially complete / cladded. But at least five more months work to complete it, ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Temporary bus stops on the Birchfield Road.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I went down Wellington Road at one point, so much traffic, and realised that there wasn't a distant bridge view of the station, so crossed over and headed back up to the island.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading up Wellington Road, behind the new station building was the construction site of what was formerly going to be the Athletes Village for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After crossing at the temporary lights over Birchfield Road (subways and footbridge have gone). Got this view from near Aston Lane.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading onto the other side of the Birchfield Road, for one last view of Perry Barr Station, before waiting to catch a no 51 bus back to the City Centre. I wonder how they will deal with the crossing of this busy road, no subways, no footbridge!

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It is a bit of a walk from here to Perry Park, for visitors going to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games from July - August 2022. A lot of roadworks are still unfinished. Hopefully they will finish everything here on time, fingers crossed.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown can also be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Some more rainbow crossings

It's not just in Birmingham's Southside that you will find rainbow crossings. All around the UK. Such as in Taunton in Somerset. As well as closer to home in Solihull, and in Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. Happy New Year 2022. Not done many posts recently as they don't seem to get published by Jonathan as fast as Daniel's get's up, and nothing much to post.

Taunton, Somerset

Near the end of the first South West holiday at the end of August 2021 (Devon and Somerset). On Saturday 28th August 2021 in Taunton, Somerset, heading to the Museum of Somerset, we entered Goodland Gardens (near The Bridge and River Tone). Saw this rainbow path. No cycling is allowed down this path. Stopped for coffee nearby at The Shed.

dndimg alt="Rainbow Crossing Taunton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Pride Taunton (Aug 2021) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Solihull, West Midlands

On Sunday 19th December 2021, heading to Cineworld at Touchwood in Solihull, to watch Spider-Man: No Way Home. A little early, so took a side path to the rear entrance near Manor Square. Found this rainbow path between Touchwood and the Solihull Council House. I don't think there had been a crossing at this point before.

dndimg alt="Rainbow path Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rainbow crossing Sol CH 19122021.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

It had been a few months since I last got a train, so on Thursday 30th December 2021, I bought off peak return tickets in the Chiltern Railways app, and travelled down to Leamington Spa again, on the Chiltern Mainline, for a bit of walk around the Town Centre, and to have a coffee at Caffe Nero. On The Parade I spotted a rainbow crossing between Jephson Gardens and Pump Room Gardens. It was raining on and off, and took these from Pump Room Gardens later on the walk back to the station.

dndimg alt="Rainbow path Leamington Spa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rainbow crossing Leamington Spa 30122021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Rainbow path Leamington Spa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rainbow crossing Leamington Spa 30122021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown can also be found on Twitter: ellrbrown