It has been a bad week for Midland Metro with a tram getting caught up in the overhead on Tuesday 1st April between Winson Green and Soho Benson Road causing chaos and a lorry getting stuck under a bridge at Tipton on 2nd April.
The first incident happened in the evening of Tuesday 1st April 2008 when a tram managed to get caught up in the overhead. The tram involved was 14 which was travelling between Winson Green and Soho Benson Road at the time.
It is believed that the pantograph accidentally got caught up in the catenary and was then ripped off the roof the tram. 14 was stabled at Soho Benson Road stop with the pantograph not visible and the rear bumper removed.
A shuttle service was operated between Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham Snow Hill with a full service operating from Handsworth Booth Street through to Wolverhampton St Georges during the disruption.
Then at around 2000 on the following day (Wednesday 2nd April) a lorry got wedged under a bridge at Tipton – the lorry was then left dangerously on its side. All trams were cancelled through the area for around 30 minutes whilst the area was made safe. Once this was done they were able to proceed through the area for the rest of the evening at reduced speed.
Source: Stephen Leigh & Wolverhampton Express and Star