This first stage of the Birmingham Eastside Metro extension includes two stops offering passengers easy access to key destinations including Moor Street Station, the Clayton Hotel, Birmingham City University campus and Millennium Point.

It also offers a direct tram link, at the new Albert Street stop for the 400,000 bus passengers who use the Moor Street bus interchange every week – offering travellers seamless links between bus, tram and train for the first time in this part of the city centre.

Major expansion initiatives are also underway with work ongoing in Meriden Street to continue the line to Digbeth Coach Station and detailed plans being drawn up for a further extension to the planned 60,000-seater Birmingham City Football Club stadium.

The route is expected to carry on through East Birmingham and North Solihull to Birmingham Airport.

The new extension is also the first part of the route to branch off from the main West Midlands Metro line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

A second branch will be opened later this year when trams start running between Wednesbury and Dudley.

The extension to Millennium Point has been delivered by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Services are run by West Midlands Metro.

Sandeep Shingadia, executive director of TfWM, said: “This new extension will bring people close to the places where they work, study and visit, while supporting local businesses.

“It is just the beginning of a much wider transformation of our Metro network to connect more communities, open up new opportunities to help our region grow and make travel easier and more accessible for everyone.”

“The opening will see changes to the existing timetable with some services between Bull Street and Grand Central being routed to the new stops.”

Phil Edwards, director of infrastructure and sustainability at Birmingham City Council, added: “It’s great to see the opening of new tram stops in Eastside, which will provide improved public transport access to Birmingham Knowledge Quarter including Millennium Point and the Birmingham City University campus for residents and visitors alike.

“The council looks forward to working with WMCA to open further stops on the route through to Digbeth and beyond to the Birmingham Sports Quarter in due course.”