No sooner had 35 become the latest West Midlands Metro Urbos 3 to enter service with batteries than attention has turned towards the seventh of the 21 strong class. This time the tram chosen is the other named tram – 37 (named Ozzy Osborne) – which is being prepared for full installation of the batteries and has recently been spied in the depot yard.
37 was last spotted in service at the end of November (by which time it had operated over 35,000km) and since then has been taken out of use for the work to commence. Although the battery compartments are in place on the tram the actual batteries haven’t yet been installed with this work to follow over the coming weeks ahead of testing and a re-entry into service. With this being the seventh tram to receive batteries it means a third of the fleet will have been so treated and the work will then continue throughout 2019 ahead of the opening of the first solely operated battery section of line on the Birmingham Westside extension.
A close-up of one end of 37 showing the battery compartments now in place. Note also the missing bogie covers and also the front panel lifted.
The other end of 37 showing that work is also underway on that section. 16 once again features in the background. (Both Photographs by Andy Walters)
When will there be more trams painted in the new blue livery?
Also, months ago, there were rumours that WMM had purchased 4 more urbos 3s, is this still the case and when are they likely to be delivered?