Go-ahead for £128m extension of Metro

The coalition Government today gave the green light to the £128 million extension of the Midland Metro system to Birmingham's New Street Station.

A bigger depot is also planned for the trams at Wednesbury.

At present, the Metro runs from St George's in Wolverhampton to Snow Hill in Birmingham. The newly-approved scheme will be completed in 2015, at the same time as work is due to finish on the £600 million redevelopment of New Street Station.

The project includes the go-ahead for transport authority Centro to commission a new fleet of 25 trams, replacing the current fleet of 16, and the £13m expansion of the Metro's maintenance depot in Wednesbury.

The enlarged depot is due to be in operation by August next year, with the first of the new trams entering service in February, 2014.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker today said the moves would create 1,300 new jobs and inject £50m into the local economy.

The Department for Transport will provide £75.4m towards the cost of the scheme which is being led by Centro in partnership with the councils in Wolverhampton, Walsall, West Bromwich, Dudley and Birmingham.

Centro boss Geoff Inskip said: "It's a real shot in the arm for the region."