Services on the West Midlands Metro will take a further step towards normality from Sunday 20th June with trams starting to run between Bull Street and Library from that date. This will be the first time that this section of line has been served since Thursday 10th June after all the trams were withdrawn from service for precautionary checks.
It was on Friday 11th June that all the Urbos3 trams were removed from service after checks on at least one tram discovered cracks in the underframe at each end. This meant that manufacturer CAF had to check all 20 of the trams which were in the West Midlands at that time and led to a complete suspension of the service.
Once sufficient trams were checked and cleared a service resumed on Tuesday 15th June but this was running at a reduced frequency and only from Wolverhampton St George’s to Bull Street. But now from Sunday 20th June there will be a resumption of services on the whole route meaning Corporation Street, Grand Central, Town Hall and Library will see trams once more.
The reduced frequency will be continuing – every 10 minutes until 1900 and every 15 minutes after – although West Midlands Metro have said “extra trams will be added to service during busier travel times”.
West Midlands Metro continue to be working towards a full resumption of services with more updates to come as repairs are concluded on further trams.