20, the latest tram to have been fitted with batteries on the West Midlands Metro, has now returned to service with it first being noted being used for revenue earning service on Wednesday 14th August having been seen on test the previous day.
20 is now the twelfth of the Urbos3 trams to have run in passenger service with batteries and is the first since 29’s return on 19th June. It still carries the magenta and silver livery so will presumably spend some further time out of service in the near future to receive the blue vinyls.
It shouldn’t be too long before we see battery fitted tram number 13 available for service either as 30 remains stored in the depot with the batteries in place and is just awaiting testing and commissioning before it too can be considered for a return. 30 will also become the first tram to be fitted with batteries and not run in the magenta livery as it is already in blue.
14th August saw a pretty blue day (as well as being wet and dull – very un-August like!) with all commissioned blue trams in service in the form of 17, 23, 28, 29, 31 and 37 plus 20th anniversary liveried 19.
I saw ex-fleet tram 16 positioned by the depot workshop entrance today. Any word on what’s happening there? Hope it’s not going on a low-loader to be scrapped?