ITV advertising on trams in the UK has come to an end (at least for now) as following quickly on from West Midlands Metro where saw 47 stripped of its yellow vinyls, Manchester Metrolink 3102 has also lost its similar adverts. But in this case its not back to fleet livery as it has straight away received a new advert – and it’s a familiar advertiser as its L’Oreal who have just started advertising on the West Midlands Metro as well!
3102’s new L’Oreal advert (which is almost identical to that on West Midlands Metro 50) was first seen in late February 2026 and is also promoting the new Extensionist Mascara and as with all these beauty type products features models who have clearly used the product!
This is advert number eight for 3102. It has previously seen adverts for Welcome Back Manchester, Hard Rock Café, Starling Bank, Bohomoon, Medik8 and JD Sports as well as the recent ad for ITV and this new one for L’Oreal. Six of those adverts have been seen in the past 12 months.
And as 3102 has a new look, we can also report a long-term absentee has returned to service. That tram is 3091 which had last run on 14th July 2025 and received damage in an overhead rip-down. 3091 was back in service during the last week of February 2026, definitely in use by Tuesday 24th February. Of note, is that 3091 retains its advertising vinyls for Prosecco. These have been in place since March 2025 and have remained on the tram throughout its period out of service.
There now remain three long-term out of service trams. This includes 3005 which is the longest of all have not run since February 2020. Also out are 3053, which was hit by a bus in Piccadilly Gardens on 18th October 2024 and was sent to Kilmarnock for repairs on 20th July 2-25, and 3065, which last ran on 2nd March 2025 after being involved in an RTC.
3102 stops at Deansgate-Castlefield when working to MediaCityUK. The new vinyls for L’Oreal are seen here with it replacing its previous advert for ITV.
A seven month absence for 3091 is over with it now repaired and back in service. As seen in this shot on Lower Mosley Street outside Manchester Central the tram still has its advert for Prosecco. The tram was working to East Disbury. (Both Photographs by Reece Hughes, 28th February 2026)