13 may be unlucky for some but it was a lucky number for a time on Thursday 11th May on the West Midlands Metro as the thirteenth Urbos100 to carry passengers was used in service, albeit briefly. The tram to enter service for the first time was 51 which was one of two to be delivered in March.
51 arrived along with 53 a couple of months ago but priority had been given to commissioning the higher numbered tram and so appearances of 51 had been reported less frequently. But with 53 entering service on 24th April (although it now appears to have been sidelined) more attention was turned to getting 51 ready for action and after being passed over to the operational team it as used for the first time on 11th May.
It was just a brief period in service with it thought to have only run one round trip before it was returned to depot.
The entry into service of 51 came just a day after the latest tram was delivered to the West Midlands as 57 arrived on Wednesday 10th May.
51 stands at Corporation Street on its first day in service. (Photograph by Mark Cufflin, 11th May 2023)
51 approaches Town Hall for Wolverhampton. (Photograph by Andy Walters, 11th May 2023)