Over the past couple of weeks we have reported on the movement of two very different trams to Long Marston – Midland Metro T69 14 and Blackpool Brush Car 636 – and now Centro have provided further details of what will be happening at Long Marston. Probably most interestingly it has been confirmed that a further Midland Metro T69 will be making the trip and that Transport for Greater Manchester will also be providing two vehicles, although these will be moved to Old Dalby in Leicestershire.
The Midland Metro T69s are being loaned to the Light Rail Vehicle Test Fleet and will be used at Long Marston for “research and innovation purposes”. The test fleet has been established under an agreement between UK Tram and Future Railway and the aim is to help the future development of tramways in the UK. It is planned that the vehicles will be used to test new products and innovations for the tram industry.
Geoff Inskip, chief executive of Centro, commented: “The old Midland Metro trams have given sterling service, but as they are now going to be replaced it is good to see two of them being put to good use. They will play a valuable role in helping develop new and innovative ideas that will help advance the tram industry in this country.”
It is not know which of the T69s will join 14 in being used at Long Marston although 03 was noted being taken into the depot at Wednesbury around the time 14 departed so it may be favourite for the role. When all of the T69s are withdrawn it is planned that they will all be stored at Long Marston although this will be for storage only and not for testing purposes. On the Manchester Metrolink front it can only be presumed that a couple of redundant T68s will make the trip to Old Dalby.
So if all uk tram operators are working together in this scheme lets hope they come up with good ideas for future uk and a single design that could be built in the uk
it was mentioned i think on skyscraper thread or facebook (cant remember which) about 2 weeks ago that 2 were being saved for a new project to do with this but numbers couldnt be confirmed so t68/a to be saved now is 4