This article is somewhat of a correction as we had previously been told that West Midlands Metro Urbos100 47 had arrived on the same day as 46 (10th August 2022) but now it appears that was rather erroneous information as its been pictured turning up at Wednesbury on 28th September 2022 – that is unless it went for a drive round the block to be photographed arriving of course!
47 is the tenth of 21 Urbos100 trams which are currently on order for the West Midlands Metro. Built by CAF in Zaragoza, Spain the first eight were delivered in 2021 (arriving between 9th June and 10th November) and then entered service in late 2021 and mid-2022 (with the entry into service of the last couple delayed by the complete suspension of services). It was then planned that the remaining 13 would be delivered “by 2023” and this started with the arrival of 46 on 10th August 2022 and now followed by 47 on 28th September.
Meanwhile, 46 has now entered service having completed its commisioning and mileage accumulation. It was first seen in action on Friday 30th September 2022.
Further deliveries are expected over the next few months.
An end on view of 47 as it arrives.
47 takes the tight turn into the depot as it arrives as its new home.
Another shot of 47 on the back of the low loader.
47 and the lorry in Wednesbury once more. (Photographs x4 by Andy Walters, 28th September 2022)
46 on its first day in service pauses at West Bromwich Central. (Photograph by Mark Cufflin, 30th September 2022)
That was a fast turnaround for 46 from testing and commissioning
May be fast for WMM & CAF, but 50 days is more than double what Metrolink/ Bombardier average with the M5000s…
Possibly says a lot about the relative build quality and pre-service snagging necessary. There are very justified reasons that on Network Rail CAF is taken to stand for “Cheap and F****”