The partnership between West Midlands Metro and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has been renewed for a third year – and that means that a new advert for the CBSO has been revealed on tram 52. This is a revised design – albeit with basic similarities – from that previously seen on 45 and brings to an end a brief two month period where no tram was promoting the orchestra.
West Midlands Metro will remain as the CBSO’s official travel partner, and the relationship will be strengthened by offering larger savings to those attending concerts performed by the orchestra. The discount will now rise from 10% to 15%, with the aim of making the concerts even more accessible to communities across the West Midlands served by the tram.
Michael Reading-Skilton, Metro’s Head of Commercial, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to continue our relationship with an orchestra that brings so much joy to so many people. The relationship is certainly set to hit another high note with more savings to be made for anyone with a ticket for performances by the main orchestra or its associated choirs and youth ensembles.
“The Metro serves numerous venues across the city, including the impressive Symphony Hall, which is just a minute’s walk from Library tram stop, and by taking the tram into the city, musicians and concert ticket holders can take advantage of our free park and ride facilities to avoid the hassle and cost of finding an expensive parking space.”
The advert on 52 – which is the tram’s very first and now means 19 of the 42 CAF trams have carried ads – still uses the large CBSO letters but this time the base colour is black and the lettering is white (instead of being yellow and black). It made its debut on Thursday 24th July 2025, which was also the day that the CBSO performed on the tramway as part of their CBSO in the City event (which used 52).
In other advert news from the West Midlands Metro, 36 is back in fleet livery following the removal of its Aston Villa store at the Bullring advert. This had only been added to the tram in May 2025 but has now been taken off with the familiar blue of the fleet livery now back in full view.
52 on its first day in service with its new CBSO wrap as it waits at Edgbaston Village. (Photograph by Shiv Patel, 24th July 2025)
Another view of 52, this time we’re at West Bromwich Central where we see it on the way to Wolverhampton Station. The red circle promotes the fact that the West Midlands Metro is the official travel partner of the CBSO. (Photograph by Mark Cufflin, 24th July 2025)
52 arrives at Town Hall in this shot with a morning journey from Edgbaston Village to Wolverhampton Station. (Photograph by John Binch, 24th July 2025)
A view of 36 at The Crescent, back in fleet livery after its short-lived advert for the Aston Villa store at the Bullring was removed. (Photograph by Shiv Patel, 24th July 2025)