We reach the letter W for this edition of “The Completely Random A-Z of Trams in the British Isles”.
W is given to the West Midlands Metro, a system which started its life as Midland Metro so its just as well it changed its name as M was already taken by Manchester Metrolink! The West Midlands Metro is another system which has seen not only extensions but also a complete renewal of its tram fleet since it first opened on 30th May 1999. The original line ran between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton St George’s with 16 trams being built by AnsaldoBreda for the opening of the tramway, designated as T69s. These trams were replaced by CAF Urbos3 trams which came from 2012 onwards and these 21 trams were joined by another 21 similar trams (although a slightly later model – Urbos100) from 2021. The CAF trams are now fitted with batteries to allow use away from overhead wires. Extensions to the line have also come with the section into Snow Hill closed and replaced by a cross-city line into Birmingham with trams first getting to Grand Central (New Street station), then at the end of 2019 they got to Library (which included sections with no overhead wires) and finally Edgbaston Village in July 2022. At the other end of the line a much delayed route to Wolverhampton Railway Station opened in September 2023 and work continues on extensions to Digbeth and Dudley/Brierley Hill.
The old and the new are used to represent West Midlands Metro in this photo taken at Priestfield. On the left we see T69 12 which is working south to Birmingham Snow Hill and its joined by Urbos3 23 which has just terminated. Both are in their original liveries. (Photograph by Gareth Prior, 22nd September 2014)