It looks like West Midlands Metro Urbos3 17 is at least a partial fan of the hokey-cokey as its in, out from Wednesbury Depot continued on Wednesday 1st May 2024 as it departed once again for further storage at Worksop. This is the second time the tram has headed that way – having only returned on 4th February 2024.
The Harry Needle facility at Worksop has been used since August 2023 to store trams with capacity at the Wednesbury Depot limited owing to building works. They tend to spend around six months in this off-site storage before coming back for checks with a regular changeover of trams having been seen recently – it is usually a once a month activity.
17 is the latest tram to head off to Worksop – and it’s the second time that its gone there (26 has also been, come back and gone again).
Of course, like many of its sisters, 17 is no stranger to a road trip with its recorded journeys having been:
- 11th October 2013 – original arrival from Spain
- 25th October 2022 – left for repairs in Dudley
- December 2022 – returned from Dudley
- 8th August 2023 – initial departure to Worksop
- 4th February 2024 – returned from Worksop
- 1st May 2024 – departed for more storage in Worksop
Since originally returning from Worksop, the tram had been seen on test but there are no recorded sightings of the tram in service over the past three months.
17 is reversed out of the depot as it prepares to go to Worksop.
And on its way for another period of off-site storage. (Both Photographs by Andy Walters, 1st May 2024)