The second day of the latest return of the West Midlands Metro saw another new tram enter service for the first time with 44 allocated to service having completed its mileage accumulation and being cleared for operation. With the entry into service of 44 this now means that all eight of the Urbos 100 trams delivered so far have run in revenue earning service.
44 was delivered to Wednesbury Depot back on 6th October 2021 and has now entered service on 10th June 2022. This is probably (we don’t know when 43 was delivered so can’t confirm 100%) the longest gap between delivery and service entry of the new trams (the other potential longest was 41 – 23rd June 2021 to 18th March 2022).
With 44 running it means there have been nine different trams to have run in service during the first two days of the service return: 22, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45. In addition Urbos3 21 has been noted out on test so will hopefully join the ranks of the operational trams soon.
44 stands at West Bromwich Central on its first day in passenger service – 10th June 2022. (Photograph by Mark Cufflin)
21 out on test on 11th June. (Photograph by Andy Walters)