Manchester Metrolink M5000 3065 has become the latest long-term absentee to return to service with it being used (albeit briefly) on Saturday 5th September 2026 for the first time in 18 months.
3065 had been absent from service since it was involved in an RTC on 2nd March 2025 but after the completion of repairs at Queens Road Depot it was returned to the operational fleet.
It was duly allocated to the East Didsbury service on 5th September and ran for a couple of hours before suffering from a minor fault. It was returned to Trafford Depot where it was booked in to receive further attention anyway. With this completed the tram is now back in service permanently (and hopefully without any more major incidents!).
3065 is one of those trams where trouble seems to follow it as this is its second long-term period out of service. It spent the period between December 2021 and July 2023 out of use – a length of time which is just longer than its last out of service period!
Long-term absentees on Metrolink now include 3005 (February 2020) and 3053 (18th October 2024) whilst 3010 now seems to be out of service for a longer period than expected with it having not run since July 2025 (it was damaged in an overhead rip down on the Eccles line).
3065 working as a double unit as it departs from St Peter’s Square. (Photograph by Reece Hughes, 12th September 2026)