Over the weekend of 3rd-5th December, West Midlands Metro services from Edgbaston Village were terminating at The Royal to allow for maintenance works to take place on the Wisbone bridge in Wolverhampton. Services started as normal on Saturday 3rd December with the final through tram from Wolverhampton St George’s departing at 1151. A normal service resumed early morning on Monday 5th December.
The last tram to depart Wolverhampton St George’s was operated by 38 with the next departure south being from The Royal and allocated to another Urbos100 in the form of 40.
With no replacement bus services being operated passengers wanting to continue their journeys into Wolverhampton were advised to walk with walking routes posted on the West Midlands Metro website. No additional WMM staff were provided at The Royal though causing a little bit of confusion with those who were unaware that works were taking place and not quite sure how they were going to get into the city centre to start their Christmas shopping!
A close-up of the section of track which was to be dealt with on the bridge.
The white lines around the track show what the maintenance crew were going to be looking at over the weekend.
37 complete with full blue vinyls departs from The Royal and uses the crossover as it heads a service to Edgbaston Village.
44 demonstrates The Royal destination display as it has just arrived at the temporary terminus. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, 3rd December 2022)