Next time you take a trip on Midland Metro your journey is now guaranteed to be on a sleek and modern CAF Urbos 3 tram following the withdrawal of the last of the T69s. The highest numbered of the 16 strong class of the T69s – which not unsurprisingly is numbered 16 – was used in service for the last time on Friday 14th August running several public journeys between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton St George’s before it embarked on a final private trip to depot bringing an end to 16 years of service for the class. But its final trip was very nearly delayed because of a fault on a tram – not the tram which was being retired of course but one of the new Urbos 3s!
Use of the T69s has decreased over the past few months and in their last week of service only two remained operational – 10 and 16. 10 became the last of the trams to run a full days service when it was used on Monday 10th August and then 16 returned to service for the first time in approximately five weeks on Tuesday 11th August – a day which became the last day which would see two T69s out with 10 also in use. 16 had been turned at depot during the intervening period becoming the first and only T69 to go around the loop at depot.
And then onto last day – Friday 14th August. Midland Metro had publicised that a T69 would be in service on this last day with four departures from Birmingham Snow Hill and four departures from Wolverhampton St George’s with all of these available to general members of the public. 16 was duly allocated to service and departed Snow Hill for the first time at 0630 and then formed the 0710 departure from St George’s as the weather gods shed a tear for the end of an era. Further departures followed before the last round trip left Birmingham Snow Hill at 1030 and then Wolverhampton St George’s at 1110.
Throughout the day a fitter travelled with 16 just in case it failed on its farewell but in the end it turned out that it wasn’t the to be retired tram which would have problems. Urbos 3 33 followed 16 into the platform at Snow Hill so that it could takeover the operating diagram but as it pulled into the same platform as the T69 a fault developed preventing its departure! With the press, dignitaries and Midland Metro staff on board the T69 the fact that the Urbos 3 was having trouble was plain for all to see and some might a little bit embarrassing! After several minutes the fault on 33 was fixed and it set off from Snow Hill ahead of 16 but was terminated at Wednesbury Parkway to return to depot.
16 soon followed on its final ever journey and it too was terminated at Wednesbury Parkway. The invited guests remained on board the tram as it reversed into the depot where it was driven into the depot building and the power was switched off one final time.
On the same day as withdrawing the last of the T69s Centro and National Express West Midlands launched a new charter for the Midland Metro system: Transforming Tram Travel. The agreement aims to deliver 50 pledges of even higher standards and punctuality and passenger service by 2018. These include fare rises capped at one per cent above the retail price index, discount tickets for apprentices and NHS staff and making it easier to pay by using the Swift smartcard, contactless bank cards, mobile phones and even smart watches.
Speaking about the withdrawal of the T69s, Peter Coates, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands, said: “The old T-69s have served hundreds of thousands of passengers in the Black Country and Birmingham for sixteen years but it is now time for them to make way for new air conditioned, brighter and more spacious trams as we sign this groundbreaking agreement.”
So now the next time you head to Midland Metro your journey will be on board Spanish rather than an Italian built tram. Farewell to the T69s – you will be missed!
* British Trams Online will feature a full Farewell to the T69s photo gallery later in August.
16 pauses at Wolverhampton St George's one last time.
It wasn't all about the T69s as Urbos 3 33 is seen here with its tail between its legs as it returns to depot with a fault.
16 arrives at Wednesbury Parkway for the very last time.
The end of an era as 16 heads back to depot for the very last time with its party of guests onboard. (All Photographs by Ian Nightingale)
Thanks for the eulogy.
Here in Wales there is a proposed tram system around the Cardiff area. The retired units if refurbished could have a new life on it.
Beleive me, you don’t want them! Poisonous spaghetti wired sheds!
I drove tram 16 down the depot track on a tour of the depot in 2006 when I was 11. I will miss it dearly.