Tuesday 11th December also saw another tram return to action, this time it was West Midlands Metro 35 which ran in passenger service for the first time since it had batteries fitted. This is the sixth battery fitted tram to run in service and 11th December was also a historic day as all six were in service at the same time.
Since the battery trams started to enter service (with the first being 18 on 20th April 2018) it has been a rare occurrence that all have been out at the same time so 11th December was a fairly unique day and four of them were allocated to diagrams following each other along the tramway. There have been a couple of days of five battery trams on a day recently with an increased confidence in their operation but obviously with 35 only entering service on 11th December this was the first time it was possible to see all six in passenger action on the same day.
35 started off the day with the 0701 Wednesbury Parkway to Grand Central and continued to run for the rest of the day.
All battery operated trams continue to use their batteries for short sections of operation – presumably to allow drivers to get used to the process and also ensure that they still continue to work before their first use in anger once the extension from Grand Central opens in 2019.
35 heads up Corporation Street having just left Grand Central on 11th December – its first day in service.
35 has just departed from Black Lake as it operates towards Grand Central. (Both Photographs by Andy Walters)