For a lot of 2024 livery changes in Manchester have tended to be new adverts being applied but recently its been the reverse as expired adverts have seen their vinyls ripped off to leave the trams in standard fleet livery once again.
The latest three trams to return to the silver and yellow fleet livery are 3061, 3081 and 3118 (although it has since gone back to another advert).
3061 had been advertising Rochdale Town Hall since February 2024 which had been its fourth advert whilst 3081 was in an ad for Delicia Drench (since March 2024 – its fifth different ad) and 3118 had carrying vinyls for Tommy Hilfiger since April 2024 – this had been its very first advert.
3061 at the head of a double tram running from Piccadilly to Bury is seen in Piccadilly Gardens. The results of removing the vinyls can be clearly seen here.
The newly returned to fleet livery 3081 is seen here on Cross Street with a service to Rochdale heading along 2CC. The condition of the tram after the removal of the vinyls tends to show why the same trams get advert after advert.
The last of the trams to return to full fleet livery is 3118. This is the tram at Deansgate Castlefield when working on The Trafford Centre route. (All Photographs by Michael Morton, 28th May 2024)