3147 – the last of the M5000s ordered for Manchester Metrolink – has arrived at Queens Road Depot. It was delivered on Saturday 24th September in the usual Saturday lunchtime slot having made the journey from Alstom’s plant in Vienna, Austria.
The arrival of 3147 brings an end to the current deliveries of M5000s for Manchester Metrolink which started back on 13th July 2009 when 3001 arrived. Whilst there was a four year gap between 3120 on 1st October 2016 and 3121 on 14th November 2020 this still marks a significant order to Bombardier (now Alstom) for trams and has been by far the largest modern tram order for any system in the UK.
Its not out of the question that in the future there may be additional trams of the same type ordered but at the moment that looks extremely unlikely what with the tightening of finances across transport in the UK as well as lower passenger numbers on the network.
As for 3147 this made the now very familiar journey to Manchester via the Rotterdam to Hull ferry. It travelled on the Pride of Rotterdam overnight on 23rd September and arrived at Hull Docks the morning of 24th September before being driven over to Manchester. It was soon unloaded and moved into the workshops for its commissioning process to begin.
Of the other 146 M5000s to have been previously delivered only 3146 has yet to enter service with it still in the commissioning and mileage accumulation stage having been delivered on 3rd September 2022. Three other trams are also out of service long-term – 3005, 3027 and 3099 – with the trio requiring repairs before they can return to action.
3147 stowed away on the Pride of Rotterdam as it prepares to start the next stage of its journey to Manchester.
Another shot on 3147 on the back of the lorry as it gets ready to set sail to Hull. (Photographs x2 by David Ashcroft, 23rd September 2022)
The following day shortly before midday and 3147 had arrived in Manchester. (Photograph by Reece Hughes, 24th September 2022)
Into the depot complex at Queens Road Depot as 3147 gets ready to touch Metrolink tracks for the very first time.
And now unloaded the tram is moved into the building for commissioning to begin. (Photographs x2 by Ben Worsley, 24th September 2022)