The London Trams network have another tram to call on for service again after 2547 returned to service on Friday 7th March 2025. The Bombardier built CR4000 had been out of service long-term with its last recorded use being on 20th February 2019 – over six years ago which actually makes Metrolink 3027’s recent return to service look speedy!
2547 was taken out of service and required underframe repairs which saw it moved to Alstom’s facility at Ilford in Essex. It remained there until September 2024 with it returning to the London Trams depot at Therapia Lane overnight on Saturday 6th/Sunday 7th September 2024. Since then it has been undergoing further preparation and commissioning work and this was finally completed in time for it to carry passengers again on Friday 7th March 2025.
The gap between service amounts to 2207 days, 6 years 15 days or 72 months 15 days! In comparison Metrolink 3027 was “only” out of action for a mere 2094 days!
Its thought that the length of time that 2547 was out of service is the longest of any UK modern tram.
The return to service of 2547 will help take off some of the pressure on the tram fleet there. The CR4000s were built for the opening of the network between 1998 and 1999 and are reaching the end of their operational life. The network has suffered from tram shortages in recent years and there are plans to replace them with a fleet of new trams, although that would not be until the late 2020s at the earliest meaning the CR4000s will still have several years life left in them serving the people of South London.
Welcome back 2547! The tram just departs from East Croydon heading east. (Photograph by David Brinkworth, 10th March 2025)
Metrolink T68A 2001 could run 2547 a good second. It spent 5 years and 3 months out of service after being withdrawn in March 2006 due to repeated spurious ATS activation over an extended period. It would eventually return to service in June 2011 after extensive rewiring.