We finally have a date! West Midlands Metro services will resume on Thursday 9th June for the first time since Saturday 19th March with a sufficient number of trams having been tested and cleared for operation. In preparation for this return a shadow service was running on 7th June including trams stopping at platforms with doors opening – although notable on this test running was that there is still only one Urbos3 seemingly available for use with the remainder being the newer Urbos 100 model.
The service which will run from 9th June will be:
- Wolverhampton St George’s to Bull Street only
- Running every 12-15 minutes during the day
On 7th June there were eight trams out on the line – the highest number seen since before the suspension back in March – which included both 43 and 44, the two Urbos 100s which had yet to carry passengers when things came to a sudden halt two and a half months ago. Of this pair 43 has been out several times on testing but still retains CAF signs stuck in the windows whilst 44 has been far more elusive and is presumed to be at a much earlier stage in returning to service with its seats still covered in plastic sheeting.
The test running only saw one Urbos3 in service. This was 22 which shows evidence of repairs to the bodyside panels as the blue vinyl livery has yet to be replaced (as was said in the initial service return statement released at the end of May) with the need to get the trams back into service a much higher priority than making them look nice.
22 is the only Urbso3 which has been seen out of depot for several weeks. Whether this means it is the only one to have had repairs completed so far (and if so the hopes for an increased service in the coming months would seem to be pretty low) or if others are just being used at the moment remains to be seen. We do know that 28 has left Wednesbury for Wolverton Works to allow repairs to be undertaken there; a further five should follow but have not yet done so.
Whilst its good news that there will be some service running finally (albeit not into central Birmingham yet) the reopening statement is tempered by the fact that there will be some late evening closures for trackworks! Although they have attempted to complete as much maintenance as they can during the closure some is still to be completed (overhead line upgrades) which will see the following service changes:
Sunday 12th June to Wednesday 15th June
- After 2200 trams will only run Wolverhampton St George’s to Black Lake
- Replacement buses will run from Black Lake to Birmingham City Centre instead
Sunday 19th June
- After 2200 trams will only run Wolverhampton St George’s to Wednesbury Parkway
- Replacement buses will run from Wednesbury Parkway to Birmingham City Centre
Monday 20th to Wednesday 22nd June, Sunday 26th to Wednesday 29th June and Sunday 3rd/Monday 4th July
- After 2200 trams will only run between Wednesbury Parkway to Bull Street
- Replacement buses will run from Wolverhampton St George’s to Wednesbury Parkway
The replacement buses will run at a 15 minute frequency on all affected dates.
An Urbos3 out on the line! 22 at Wednesbury Parkway. Note the white areas around the doors where the panels have been replaced.
A closer look at the affected sections. The full blue vinyls will be replaced in due course but is not a priority at the moment.
44 undergoing mileage accumulation at Trinity Way. (Photographs x3 by Andy Walters, 7th June 2022)
The Hawthorns where 43 heads towards Wolverhampton. This is one of two trams yet to enter service.
A Birmingham bound tram at The Hawthorns with 38 seen during shadow running. (Photographs x2 by Roger Blakeley, 7th June 2022)