The first of the new generation of trams for Midland Metro went into service on 5 September after city council leader Sir Albert Bore and the leader of Sandwell council Darren Cooper undertook the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Snow Hill, Birmingham.

By next year, the £40 million fleet of CAF vehicles will have completely replaced the original Midland Metro trams; four of the new trams are now in service, and one is arriving from the builders in Spain every month.

Council chiefs are hoping to host a triple celebration next year to commemorate the retirement of the old trams, the completion of the tram line extension from Snow Hill to New Street, and Network Rail’s modernisation of New Street station.

Preliminary ground work has started on a further extension from New Street to Centenary Square, and Central Government funding of £90 million has been set aside for two more routes. One is towards Five Ways in Edgbaston, and the other will serve the new HS2 station, which is to be built near Moor Street.

At the launch, Mr Bore promised “exciting times ahead”, with plans for a large light-rail system eventually extending to Coventry. He said this would “open up the West Midlands”, and he added that such a vision was beyond the wildest dreams of 15 or 20 years ago.