WMPTA report to Birmingham City Council

The following are extracts from Birmingham City Councillor Len Clark's report as lead member on the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority to Birmingham City Council.

Smartcard

7.2 The Smartcard project is split into a number of elements – English National Concession card issue – back office systems – electronic ticket machines on Bus. The next phase of the Smartcard project will be to develop a business case for commercial ticketing through Smartcard.
7.3 The bulk English National Concessionary card issue was completed successfully in April with 430,000 new Smartcards re-issued in advance of the introduction of the new scheme. The back office systems are working well.
Almost all operators, including National Express, have signed Operator Agreements with Centro and Wayfarer are now in the process of delivering and fitting ETM equipment on bus. Operators will therefore be Smart in early 2009/10.

Rail and Rapid Transit Network Development

8.2 At its meeting in September, the PTA were updated on the work being undertaken with regard to Midland Metro Line 1 capacity and the Wednesbury - Brierley Hill extension, particularly in relation to the possibility of shared track running given technical developments in the operation of tram-trains. A further report is being presented to the Authority at the end of October regarding the ongoing discussions relating to extending Line 1 into the City Centre.

Capital Programme and Budget
Snow Hill

The walls to form the structure which houses the stairs, lifts and escalators have been completed on both platforms. The platform canopy steelwork has been delivered and foundations are completed on both platforms. The concrete stairs are under construction and well advanced, escalators are delivered and installed. The contractor is advising completion in February 2009.

Rail RTI

The project scope and coverage of this major project has been
increased following the receipt of further third-party funding. This means that all stations (with the exception of Bordesley) will have compliant real time information via visual display screens and audible announcements by the end of October.