The campaign for an underground railway in Birmingham is unrealistic and should be dropped in favour of expanding the Midland Metro tram system, the citys cabinet transportation spokesman insisted.
John Tyrrell said the debate about Underground versus Metro was an unnecessary distraction which would delay implementation of new tram lines and could result in Birmingham losing Government funding for public transport.
Praising The Birmingham Posts Get Moving campaign, Coun Tyrrell (Lab Sandwell) said a clear view about the best way forward was beginning to emerge.
Whether or not things go overground, everyone wants a good public transport system and the tram has already started, Coun Tyrrell said.
He added: Whats worrying me is that we have competition from other cities. If we dont
move forward with some sort of common view about what we are going to do then we are in danger of losing the chance of getting a modern transportation system. It will go somewhere else.
Commenting on moves by Birmingham Conservatives to interest the private sector in developing an underground railway system, Coun Tyrrell said the scheme would never materialise because costs would go out of the window.
He said: We cant lead people down the road into systems that are unrealistic.
