The third Urbos3 tram to be fitted with batteries is 36, which is currently having the work completed on site at Wednesbury Depot. Eventually all of the trams will be fitted in preparation for future sections of the network which will be constructed without overhead, although battery operation will also be used on the current line for a short section.
So far only 18 has run in service under battery operation – this was the tram which went back to Spain for the batteries to be installed – and it has so far only been used intermittingly in service with further driver training apparently required. The second tram to be fitted with batteries – 31 – has yet to return to service since this work was completed.
It has also been confirmed that once operation of the system is bought “in-house” by Transport for West Midlands it will undergo a rebrand and will be known as West Midlands Metro. The new look system will start from Sunday 24th June with a rebranding job to take place at stops and on the trams.
Regarding the rebranding – Is there any hope of the fleet being repainted in a more appropriate livery? Seeing trams in the colours of all of the original operators would be so much more pleasing to the eye. Note that T69 number 11 was branded in BCT colours.
We will have to wait and see what the rebranding brings. One thing I think we can all be sure of though is that there won’t be lots of different liveries in the colours of all the original operators!