As just reported on BBC midlands today, the first of the new trams has been delivered.
Tram 17 is in standard silver and pink livery, with a bright and roomy interior. Bright green and red seats with bright green poles.
The only downside I can see is the seats have hardly any padding and look very uncomfortable. Delivery will be about 1 a month.
Was just about to post along the same lines. How on earth did they manage to 'smuggle' a brand new tram into Wednesbury Depot without any of us noticing?
Well I live no where near, so that's how it smuggled past me! ;)
Quote from: RW on October 16, 2013, 01:43:19 PM
Was just about to post along the same lines. How on earth did they manage to 'smuggle' a brand new tram into Wednesbury Depot without any of us noticing?
It arrived last Friday in two bits and came up from Plymouth docks via the M5
And got passed us all without us noticing. We must do better or what will they get up to next rails in Bull St!!
Quote from: RW on October 16, 2013, 04:32:05 PM
And got passed us all without us noticing. We must do better or what will they get up to next rails in Bull St!!
It probably came up from the docks during the night on two low loaders
They're almost Identical to the Blackpool Flexity's but these have better style and the seats look the same too but if I get on a Flexity on Saturday I'll compare them to see if they're the same
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport-news/2013/10/17/tickled-pink-at-new-midland-metro-trams-arrival/
Quote from: Rob4367 on October 16, 2013, 09:49:19 PM
They're almost Identical to the Blackpool Flexity's but these have better style and the seats look the same too but if I get on a Flexity on Saturday I'll compare them to see if they're the same
Yes and if i remember, Blackpools Flexity's arrived in the middle of the night!
Any ideas when it might creep out of the depot - I am guessing it might start off working to Priestfield?
Any news of a second unit arriving at Wednesbury? Not much news about No 17. Has it been out of the depot yet?
Quote from: RW on December 04, 2013, 04:33:26 PM
Any news of a second unit arriving at Wednesbury? Not much news about No 17. Has it been out of the depot yet?
It has been out on test and I've heard a second has arrived. I haven't had chance to get to the depot for ages
Thanks Tony. A few photos of 17 out of depot would be interesting.
I saw the new tram outside the new sheds look nice you can se it from the tram
Tram track is slowly (very slowly) being laid along Bull Street. Will they reach Temple Row by the end of the year?
will the new trams have more seats than the current t69's?
Also I have herd from centro that the plan is to use the current trams on the new line to briley hill (which I like). I was fuming thinking that perfectly good trams which have just been refurbished would be put in storage!!
Quote from: Justin Tyme on December 07, 2013, 09:53:14 PM
Tram track is slowly (very slowly) being laid along Bull Street. Will they reach Temple Row by the end of the year?
They've not even finished the ones at Snow Hill, nevermind Bull Street, there's barriers covering it from the road, and on the pavement too. I wonder if Colmore Row buses will have to be diverted to Corp St, just in case they build it and take up road space... Service 7, 46 and 101 wouldn't be affected...
Quote from: clayderman on December 20, 2013, 11:05:21 PM
Quote from: Justin Tyme on December 07, 2013, 09:53:14 PM
Tram track is slowly (very slowly) being laid along Bull Street. Will they reach Temple Row by the end of the year?
They've not even finished the ones at Snow Hill, nevermind Bull Street, there's barriers covering it from the road, and on the pavement too. I wonder if Colmore Row buses will have to be diverted to Corp St, just in case they build it and take up road space... Service 7, 46 and 101 wouldn't be affected...
I would imagine all Colmore Row buses will divert up Livery Street when the tracks are put in over Colmore Row
Certainly the new cars were initially justified by the fact they would release the old ones for the Merry Hill route, but I seem to recall that the last time it was mentioned that was no longer the case.
;
"perfectly good" isn't often mentioned in the same breath as Ansaldo - Manchester are throwing theirs away and the similar cars in Rome were stored with preference given to 1958 motor/trailer sets.
Damm!!! That dont say much for there quality!
The last I heard (at the Wolverhampton extension exhibition a month or so ago) was that Centro still intended to use some of trams 01-16 on their proposed Dudley extension with others from that batch cannibalised for spares.
there is another new tram that has joined 17 in the depot but I don't know the number of it more than likely 18 though
Are these new trams subject to minimum post-delivery mileage accumulations before entering service?... are they, (or are they likely to be ) tested overnight? I believe the contractors are required to work on no more than 50mtrs of roadway at a time to avoid traffic congestion in B'ham City centre? :-\
Quote from: John on December 21, 2013, 08:54:00 AM
Quote from: clayderman on December 20, 2013, 11:05:21 PM
Quote from: Justin Tyme on December 07, 2013, 09:53:14 PM
Tram track is slowly (very slowly) being laid along Bull Street. Will they reach Temple Row by the end of the year?
They've not even finished the ones at Snow Hill, nevermind Bull Street, there's barriers covering it from the road, and on the pavement too. I wonder if Colmore Row buses will have to be diverted to Corp St, just in case they build it and take up road space... Service 7, 46 and 101 wouldn't be affected...
I would imagine all Colmore Row buses will divert up Livery Street when the tracks are put in over Colmore Row
Actually, this does seem reasonable! Either they'd probably do a 'U-turn' or use the roundabouts near James Watt Queensway, either way, it's not long until completion! 2015 is only next year, before you know it, we're in the year 2020!
EDIT: They're also laying down the curving tracks, Most of the straight tracks have been fitted... They're been 'sealed off by a barrier, and the builders are digging up more of the road. I do hope they'll replace the paving tiles, like shown in concept pictures, otherwise the job will look messy and untidy, unlike Wolverhampton's Tram Stop... ::)
They are starting at the other end now as well, Stephenson Street is now being dug out for a start on track laying
Quote from: Tony on January 27, 2014, 08:24:52 PM
They are starting at the other end now as well, Stephenson Street is now being dug out for a start on track laying
My mother thinks the New design looks ugly... Although, my highest expectations are the new shopping facilities and how it'll look from the outside. Concept videos show an amazing shopping centre which is 'intercepted' with a grand transport hub... The formerly known shopping centre 'Pallasades' will actually be renamed 'Grand Central' like that in America. Sorry! I've realised I've dragged this topic out to more than the Midlands Metro. :-\ :o
Did the (Animated) tram-concept video that I looked at recently appear to have NO overhead catenary wires (or poles)? I can't find it now to have a second look...or were the wires ommitted on purpose to improve the overall view? :-\ :-\ :-\
Trams 1 and 2 have been parked out of service for about a year now. Another one has now joined them. I think, by a process of elimination it is 3, but I haven't been able to check the number.
Seems that track laying is beginning in ernest, but they seem to have kept this rather quiet!
http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/ServiceAlterations/RoadworksandEvents/ColmoreCircusBirmingham.aspx
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on February 01, 2014, 10:12:34 PM
Seems that track laying is beginning in ernest, but they seem to have kept this rather quiet!
http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/ServiceAlterations/RoadworksandEvents/ColmoreCircusBirmingham.aspx (http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/ServiceAlterations/RoadworksandEvents/ColmoreCircusBirmingham.aspx)
The track laying has actually been going on for quite some time, hence the roadworks on Colmore Circus Queensway in recent months
Snow Hill Queensway was closed today for track laying. Buses were being sent up Livery Street instead.
Lol livery street is congested as is lol
If buses can unload there which I doubt cause a lot of the time the 7,46, or 101 is parked up there then I'll be surprised
Its good they making progress just hope not too many delays in traffic now
Quote from: Tony on December 04, 2013, 05:01:16 PM
Quote from: RW on December 04, 2013, 04:33:26 PM
Any news of a second unit arriving at Wednesbury? Not much news about No 17. Has it been out of the depot yet?
It has been out on test and I've heard a second has arrived. I haven't had chance to get to the depot for ages
Further to this, there are now 3 new Trams at Wednesbury with a forth due to arrive this weekend. They hope to have full training taking place from next month and 5 of them in passenger service from June
There were four lined up abreast in the depot today at 10.45 today and another one was just being unloaded.
;
A notice in a NXWM bus today advertises a "Your Public Transport Matters" event at Snow Hill station next Saturday (5 April) where "one of the new trams will be on display".