Another medium-term absentee from the operating fleet on Manchester Metrolink is back in use following the return to action of 3132.
3132 had been out of service since 29th April 2025 when it was involved in an overhead rip-down incident at Deansgate-Castlefield. After repairs were completed it came back into use exactly six months later on 29th October 2025 and has now settled back into operational use.
This still leaves 3005, 3065, 3091, 3127 and 3138 in the medium/long term stored group at Queens Road Depot whilst 3053 remains in Kilmarnock undergoing repairs. Of these trams 3005 has been out of service for over five years having last run in February 2020 with 3053 having been involved in an accident at Piccadilly Gardens in October 2024 and the others have been stored following incidents this year.
One tram which we feared may be joining those medium/long term absentees was 3045 following another overhead rip-down incident during October 2025, but those fears were unfounded with it quickly back into service after a replacement panto was fitted.
3132 at Victoria when working to Shaw & Crompton. (Photograph by Reece Hughes, 3rd November 2025)