It may be the newest tram to be running in the UK but that doesn’t mean that its immune to breaking down – West Midlands Metro Urbos100 48 came to a halt just after departing Soho Benson Road on Saturday 14th January leading to disruption on the network and the fairly rare sight of another tram being called upon to tow it back to depot.
48 – which entered passenger service for the first time on 4th January 2023 – was heading towards Wolverhampton and had just departed from Soho Benson Road at around 1400 when it failed. The aftermath of the breakdown showed a significant amount of oil over the track.
With engineers sent to the scene the ultimate decision was that in order to return 48 to depot it would be necessary for it to be towed and fellow Urbos100 40 was eventually sent to the scene to perform the rescue. It wasn’t until around 1720 that the pair made it back to Wednesbury.
Whilst the stricken 48 was on the track at Soho Benson Road, a split service operated. This saw trams running between Wolverhampton St George’s and Winson Green and from St Paul’s to Edgbaston Village.
The failed 48 is seen with at Soho Benson Road with engineers on the scene assessing the tram.
Another view of 48 at Soho Benson Road following its breakdown.
48 (left) and 40 back at Wednesbury Parkway as the latter prepares to back 48 into the depot.
40 gently pushes 48 into the depot to allow the failed tram to be moved into the workshops for attention. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, 14th January 2023)
48 also got taken out of service on Thursday 12th January 2023 dropping off customers at West Bromwich Central before returning “NOT IN SERVICE” to Wednesbury Parkway and returning to depot. It was not replaced. Usually a replacement tram is waiting at Wednesbury Parkway to take up service but not on this day.
It can be seen on Youtube Podbaba Transport:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgHtE4-lDzo
What is wrong with this tramway? Cracked body frames in nearly new vehicles (we are ‘sold’ tramways with the argument the vehicles last a lot longer than buses), shortages of vehicles available for service, even after months of work, temporary closures to sections of route, all those overhead failures and now this. I think some serious questions need to be asked about the equipment and vehicles used on this system and some heads need to roll amongst those who were involved in the procurement process.
I always thought the Blackpool Coronations were probably the worst value for money trams in history, but the current West Midlands system has definitely beaten them. If I lived in the area I’d be well fed up with the whole thing by now.