The past few days have seen lots of new adverts appear on the Manchester Metrolink system with no fewer than four trams making their debuts with new vinyls on Monday 23rd June 2025. The latest trams to get adverts are 3003 (its first ever), 3038 (a direct replacement), 3094 and 3117.
We start this round up off with 3094 which has only ever previously had one advert some six years ago when it advertised Olivia Burton London between May and September 2019. That was a fairly plan design but its new advert can hardly be accused of that!
Its advertising Red Bull using their familiar advertising brand along with the popular slogan “Red Bull Gives You Wings”. It’s a very colourful design and includes a promotion for their special summer white peach edition.
Meanwhile, 3117 has received an ad for Aperol Spirit. This is a return to advertising on the trams for the brand with 3063 carrying adverts between June and September 2017. The new advert uses the same colours as those 2017 vinyls but it’s a revised design.
3117 has now had six adverts: Manchester College (October-December 2016), Cyberpunk 2077 (December 2020-February 2021), Lifebuoy Soap (September 2021-June 2023), Yayoi Kusama Aviva Studio (July-September 2023) and Marks Electrical (December 2023-January 2025).
For 3003 its new vinyls (which are the first time its carried adverts) for Oasis live ’25 are only a partial advert and its more promoting a competition to win tickets to see Oasis when they appear in Manchester this summer. It also uses a clever pun on words with Oasis’ She’s Electric song used to promote the fact that the tram is 100% electric. The vinyls are only between the cab and first set of doors.
And the last of the quartet is 3038 which has seen its vinyls for Soccer Aid (its third advert after two for Get On Board) directly replaced by an advert for Berghaus. The fact that its the height of summer and its promoting The Meru Jacket (a waterproof coat!) possibly says a lot!
Will Red Bull give 3094 its own wings? Not yet as its still firmly on the rails as it calls at Broadway with a service to Victoria – diverted owing to the city centre works.
3117 is also seen calling at Broadway with a service to Eccles with its orange adverts in place. With no MediaCityUK service running because of those trackworks additional double trams are being used on the Eccles line. (Photographs x2 by Dave Ellison, 23rd June 2025)
One end of the partial advert for Oasis Live 25 on 3003 as it calls at Shudehill.
And a new look for 3038 with its previous Soccer Aid vinyls replaced by this two coloured ad for Berghaus. Its off to Altrincham as the rear unit of a double from Bury at St Peter’s Square. (Photographs x2 by Reece Hughes, 23rd June 2025)