Balfour Beatty was named preferred bidder for the contract as long ago as May 2012 and at the time Centro intended to begin construction at the start of this year. Despite the delay in concluding the contract, all design work and preliminary construction has been completed, and major works are expected to begin before the end of the month. The three-station extension is due to open in 2015.
The project is part of a £127.3m investment in the Midland Metro, which includes an order for 20 new Urbos LRVs from CAF (pictured). The new vehicles are due to be delivered next year and will replace the fleet of AnsaldoBreda T68 vehicles.
