With trams for the West Midlands Metro now being delivered in full view of everyone on Bilston Road (granted after service has ended when most normal people are tucked up in bed!) you wouldn’t think that they would be able to sneak in without there being any reports of their arrival. But that’s precisely what has happened. At least one, if not two, of the new trams are have been delivered – and in a change from previously they are now not coming in number order.
Although its hard to tell from a distance – the numbers on the Urbos100s are not particularly large – it is thought that at least two new trams arrived during the first couple of weeks of March. One of those is definitely 53 as that was seen on test in Birmingham City Centre on the evening of Monday 13th March. Its possible the other one is 50 but that is unconfirmed.
If two trams have been delivered then that will mean that 13 of the Urbos100s are now in the West Midlands: 38–48 and 50 and 53 (if confirmed that’s what has arrived). In total 22 are due to be delivered of this class of tram – originally it was due to be 21 but a 22nd tram is now scheduled for delivery as part of the same contract between Transport for West Midlands and CAF.
Meanwhile, 29 has now returned to the depot from Dudley after the completion of its repair work at the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre. Its not known if its been replaced at Dudley.
- If anyone can confirm or deny any of the above please do!