What, more changes on the West Midlands Metro?! Yes, another tram has entered service for the very first time on the network with Urbos100 56 being spotted in action on Monday 12th June 2023. This is the 15th of the Urbos100 to have been used in service so far and with another two already at Wednesbury is not likely to be too long before this number increases.
56 had been the 15th to be delivered (meaning it being the 15th to be in service makes perfect sense) when it arrived on 22nd May 2023. As with 57 which entered service less than a month after delivery, 56 has had a rapid commissioning with it being just a 21 day gap.
It wasn’t in service for too long on its first day as it was soon back at depot and replaced on the timetable by 45 but it has now carried its first passengers and will presumably be back out again soon.
Meanwhile, the next tram to be delivered after 56 – 49 – has moved into the depot building where it looks as if its commissioning will get underway before it too joins the operational fleet. The other tram delivered but yet to run in service is 50.
56 arrives at Bradley Lane on its first day in service. (Photograph by Andy Walters, 12th June 2023)