Operators scoop trio of awards.
The Midland Metro is celebrating a triple whammy of success after scooping three industry ‘Oscars’ at a prestigious awards ceremony.
It won awards for Operator of the Year, Supplier of the Year and Project of the Year at the Light Rail awards in London. The Operator award was won by National Express West Midlands, which runs the Metro on behalf of Centro, the region’s public transport co-ordinator. Supplier went to to CAF, the Spanish-manufacturers of the new Urbos 3 tram fleet which began running on the Metro this autumn. meranwhile Project of the Year was awarded to Centro for the way it introduced the new trams into service on the Metro line.
The awards were presented to representatives from Centro and National Express West Midlands by Transport Minister Baroness Kramer and TV newscaster Nicholas Owen at the Honourable Artillery Company headquarters in the City of London. Paul Griffiths, Metro programme director for Centro, said: “Everyone is absolutely delighted, to win just one award would have been fantastic but to win three is unbelievable. “These really are the Oscars of the light rail world and the fact that we have done so well shows that the industry recognises what superb work is being done on the Midland Metro.”
Peter Coates managing director of Midland Metro operator National Express West Midlands said: “To win this award alongside delivering a major extension is a great result and a credit to the hard work of all our staff who ensure our trams are clean, reliable and safe. This award is proof we are on the right track and we will be working with passenger groups, Centro and local councillors to help deliver further improvements.”
The Midland Metro runs between Wolverhampton city centre and Snow Hill station in Birmingham. Work is underway on underway of an extension through Birmingham city centre linking Snow Hill with a redeveloped New Street Station, scheduled for completion next year.
Preliminary ground works have also started on a further extension from New Street Station to Centenary Square and the Government has earmarked more than £90 million for two more routes – along Broad Street to just west of Five Ways in Edgbaston and to the planned high speed rail station in the city’s Eastside district.
Pic: The successful NXWM, CAF and Centro teams with Baroness Kramer at the Light Rail awards.