And just like that the Urbos100s become the second highest class in the history of the West Midlands Metro in terms of trams which have run in service! 49 was the record-breaker when it became the seventeenth of the class to carry passengers with its first confirmed reported sighting being on Wednesday 26th July. And that’s not all “new” that was out on that day as 25 was also back in use after the conclusion of its post-repairs commissioning.
49 has been at Wednesbury Depot since 6th June 2023 when it arrived in the usual middle of the day slot having made the journey from Spain via Bristol Docks. When delivered it was the third tram to be delivered in as many weeks and it has taken around seven weeks to prepare the tram for service with the usual commissioning and mileage accumulation process taking place.
49 follows 50 (which entered service on 15th July 2023) into service and just leaves once Urbos100 to be commissioned for service (of those at Wednesbury) – 54. The arrival of 52, 55, 58 and 59 is still awaited.
And if 49 entering service wasn’t exciting enough then 26th July also saw Urbos3 25 in service. This is one of the Urbos3s which went to Dudley for repairs to the bodyside cracking issue to be completed. It went over to Dudley in March of this year although we don’t have a confirmed date of when it came back (but the fact that its in service does tend to suggest it was delivered back at some point!). 30 is likely to the next tram back in service having also been to Dudley and returned. Another couple of trams are now believed to be at Dudley.
- In other news from the system, the overhead repair works a Wednesbury Parkway have now been completed. A final early finish to services between Wednesbury Parkway and Wolverhampton St George’s took place on Tuesday 25th July which completed the repair work. All trams running through the affected area are now running fully on overhead power instead of needing to run with their batteries. The damage to the overhead originally happened on 13th
49 is seen here as it arrives at Wednsbury Great Western Street on its way to Edgbaston Village on its first confirmed day of service. (Photograph by Andy Walters, 26th July 2023)