They say that all good things come to those who wait, and if you think that the in-house Midland Metro magazine is a good thing then that is exactly what has happened this week, with two editions of Tramlines uploaded on to the official Midland Metro website. Read on to find out what June and July’s editions have to say for themselves.
* Trams 06 and 14 have become the latest in the Metro fleet to be fitted with re-upholstered seating and CCTV technology. This means that half of the Metro fleet is now so fitted with CCTV monitoring and recording to ensure a secure and safe service is offered.
* Engineering Works on 15th June saw the tracks in Hill Top Tunnel replaced after 10 years. The tram lines were suffering from water drips in the Victorian built tunnel and needed replacing. The old rails were cut out and then the new rails were installed and welded together using an alumino-thermic welding process which creates molten metal from a chemical reaction.
* Essential engineering works is to take place at Wolverhampton St Georges over the next few months to reinstate both platforms to use. Metro engineers will replace tired points which have been in place since opening in 1999. Most of the work will be taken outside of operational hours to ensure the least amount of disruption as possible is created.
* Service reliability in May was good for Midland Metro with 98.6% of all services operating in line with the timetable. National Express Midland Metro claim that they narrowly missed the 100% target because of damaged overhead power lines between Kenrick Park and the Hawthorns on 10th May. Services were disrupted during the afternoon and evening although journeys could be completed by changing at West Bromwich. Services resumed from the start of play on 11th May.
* A new automated text messaging service is due to be introduced this summer to provide passengers with up to the minute information on tram times, service status and details of bank holidays and special events.
* In June Midland Metro updated the first of their trams with new sandbox technology to improve the service. Sand is used during braking and accelerating to stop the steel wheels of the tram from slipping on the rails in wet conditions. Suppliers and engineers have spent several months developing new sandbox technology to provide a heated air through the sand box to prevent blockages. 09 and 13 were the first trams to be treated.
* Tramlines is also starting to profile members of staff with one of the first profiled being Fred Roberts the Manager of the system.
All 2008 editions of Tramlines can be found here whilst the June edition is here and July here.
Source: Midland Metro