There was an early Christmas present for the West Midlands Metro on Monday 12th December when another of their Urbos100 trams entered service. This time it was 47 which carried its first passengers – the tenth of the Urbos100s to have entered service.
47 has been delivered to Wednesbury on 28th September 2022 but it seems that there had been a few issues during its commissioning which meant that it was very nearly three months before it was passed over to the operational fleet and able to enter service.
As mentioned above it’s the tenth Urbos100 to be used in service and is also the 31st CAF built tram to carry passengers and the 47th tram to have run on the network since opening in 1999.
The only tram on West Midlands Metro property which has yet to enter service now is 48. This tram was delivered on 25th November 2022 and is currently undergoing mileage accumulation and testing before it too can enter service.
47 heads round the curve from Victoria Square to Pinfold Street with the German Christmas Market beyond.
47 stands at Edgbaston Village ahead of departure for Wolverhampton St George’s.
Another shot of 47. This time its at Bilston Central and is bound for Edgbaston Village. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, 19th December 2022)