If you regularly read our news stories on the West Midlands Metro and the gradual repairs and return to service of the Urbos3 trams you’ll have seen the mention of the plain white panels and the application of new vinyls. As time has gone on more of the repaired trams have returned to the full house style (the plain white panels are where they have been replaced as part of the repair work) and one of the latest is 31, although unfortunately, at the same time it has lost its special Cyrille Regis MBE vinyls.
31 had been named Cyrille Regis MBE by members of his family at a ceremony on 18th January 2019, held at Wednesbury Depot. Not only did the tram receive the name but it also have special vinyls showing a silhouette of Cyrille celebrating scoring a goal. It retained these vinyls even during repair work (and it spent a period in August 2019-March 2020 out of service receiving accident repairs as well) but now with its plain white panels receiving the full blue vinyl it has lost the name and special vinyls as well. Its not known if this is a permanent change of just temporary.
Another tram which has recently returned to a full blue livery is 28 (the tram which was repaired at Wolverton Works last summer) whilst 22 has also lost its Metro Academy adverts in favour of a plain blue look.
The now plain blue 31 is seen here on the way to Edgbaston Village. The Cyrille Regis vinyls were previously to be seen just behind the driver’s cab. (Photograph by Michael Morton, 9th Fe
Another view of 31. This time its at Edgbaston Village. (Photograph by Andy Walters, 10th February 2023)
Seen this tram today and as the Cyrille Regis vynals reapplied