The last edition of this series of “Old(er) and New” once more takes a look at two images of trams on the West Midlands Metro at the same location. One is of the original fleet of T69 trams whilst the other features a newer CAF constructed tram.
We start off with an image taken on 11th March 2009 at Bilston Central with the last built of the T69s working a service to Wolverhampton St George’s (despite what it may be claiming!). Bilston Central is probably one of the more distinctive tramstops on the West Midlands Metro network with it being in a cutting and having staggered platforms. It also gives excellent connections to local bus stations with the bus station being above the Wolverhampton bound platform. 16 is a surviving T69 with it last being seen at the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley where its being used as a test bed.
Not much seems to have changed in the surrounds of the tram by 21st March 2025 when we see Urbos100 44 also calling at the stop on its way towards Wolverhampton. This time the tram won’t be going to Wolverhampton St George’s with that stop being closed at the time, it will instead go to Wolverhampton Station on the short extension built a couple of years earlier. (Both Photographs by Gareth Prior)