There was major disruption for West Midlands Metro services late on Monday 7th and into Tuesday 8th October after Urbos100 50 was derailed following a collision with a car on Bilston Road.
The collision happened shortly after 2100 when the car hit the tram at the Bilston Road island – a notorious area for both collisions and near misses. The ambulance service attended the scene and gave treatment to occupants of the car with two people having to be taken to hospital for further treatment. There were no reported injuries on board the tram.
The impact of the collision caused one end of the tram to come off the rails leading to the suspension of services between Priestfield and Wolverhampton Railway Station. This remained in place until the afternoon of Tuesday 8th October.
The tram was rerailed the following day and was returned to depot at slow speed where a full assessment on the damage will be undertaken before decisions are made on how it will be repaired ahead of entering service again.
50 is seen at Bilston Road island having been rerailed by lunchtime on 8th October.
Another shot of 50 during rerailing.
The impact of the collision saw the vinyls damaged as can be seen here.
A closer look at the end of the tram which was knocked off the rails. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, 8th October 2024)
If cars are jumping lights maybe they need to install barriers on those lights
If you did that at every junction where there is history of cars jumping traffic lights the cost would be astronomical!
It happens literally dozens of times a day up and down the country but it usually another car they hit. It’s seemingly only when they’re stupid enough to try it with a Tram or Train that it makes it into the media as though somehow it’s the tram/train’s fault or they are more dangerous, when in fact they offer their occupants much more protection, and there’s only ever going to be one winner.
Barriers cannot be installed at traffic signal controlled junctions on the highway, highways legislation doesn’t provide for them. It is for the driver of any road vehicle to check that it is safe to proceed before moving forward. Even a green traffic light only tells the driver that they may proceed if it is safe to do so, they must still check that it is safe before moving off.