Decades of waiting for a tram to Birmingham New Street came to an end today after the Midland Metro finally reached the station.

Enthusiasts turned out to take a glimpse of the first tram heading down New Street this morning.

The Metro will run every 15 minutes today, as it is a Bank Holiday, but from tomorrow, May 31, will run every six minutes at peak times, between eight and 15 minutes at other times.

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Pedestrians on New Street have been warned to stay safe, as Brummies have become used to New Street being a vehicle-free zone for decades.

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While the journey is less than a mile, the £128 million link to New Street – one of the country’s busiest stations – is seen as vital for the Metro.

MORE: 32 pictures of Birmingham's once-sprawling tram system

It opens up new routes to the south and east of the city, with a long term ambition to take trams to Birmingham Airport.

In the shorter term, trams are due to reach Centenary Square 2017 and Five Ways before 2021.

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The 1,300-yard route, from Stephenson Street, to Corporation Street, to Bull Street and on to Snow Hill, takes five minutes.

However, it has been a complex scheme – developed at a rate of 32 inches a day after suffering three delays.

The link to New Street had originally been expected by September 2015.

The Metro trams, which already link the city centre to the Black Country, will be given their first stern test on May 31, when they are used by commuters for the first time.