New tram

[Solo1]

tram  20 now got a broken window  18 21 22 23 all out today
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanjack/15159958985/   https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanjack/15156968321/  https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanjack/14973269380/in/photostream/  https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanjack/13648362245/in/set-72157634815348147    https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanjack/15159981315/       

[trident4370]

trams   18 20 now got a broken window   

Haha the irony, after all the destruction they have caused in Brum  ::)

[Stevo]

I agree about the poor interchange at Priestfield. A good load from a Trident from Wolves on the 79 crossed over only to be faced with the pavement on the other side blocked by waiting passengers. Then the tram left just before we arrived at the platform.

[mikestone]

I think its absolutely appalling that passengers are expected to use existing services - there should be a bus waiting to pick up passengers off each terminating tram.
;
This just emphasises that NX should never have been allowed to run the line.

[Tony]

I think its absolutely appalling that passengers are expected to use existing services - there should be a bus waiting to pick up passengers off each terminating tram.
;
This just emphasises that NX should never have been allowed to run the line.

So which operator should be running it? and why would they be any different in having seperate buses waiting?

[Gareth]

Only two new trams out today 21 and 22. Managed to catch both purely by chance.

I haven't used the Metro for many years, so it was good to try out the new ones and also catch older 10 and 16 for possibly the last time. The new trams are very nice, much larger, roomy, bright and fresh. However the seats!! They are the most uncomfortable, vile seats I've ever had on any public transport. And that's not an exaggeration either. Moquette covered plastic. Horrible. A huge let down on otherwise great vehicles.

[notepanel]

Only two new trams out today 21 and 22. Managed to catch both purely by chance.

I haven't used the Metro for many years, so it was good to try out the new ones and also catch older 10 and 16 for possibly the last time. The new trams are very nice, much larger, roomy, bright and fresh. However the seats!! They are the most uncomfortable, vile seats I've ever had on any public transport. And that's not an exaggeration either. Moquette covered plastic. Horrible. A huge let down on otherwise great vehicles.

I decided to try out a new tram today. I'm not really interested in tram/trains so it was more a case of seeing what they're like. By pure chance, the first tram that came into Bilston was new Tram 21 which was swapped at Wednesbury Parkway due to a fault with Tram 23.

[Stevo]

I agree about the seats - such a shame they didn't specify the usual NX generous padding. They must be the least comfortable seats in the Midlands since the wartime utilities with wooden slatted seats. No, I don't remember them!

[Stu]

I think its absolutely appalling that passengers are expected to use existing services - there should be a bus waiting to pick up passengers off each terminating tram.
;
This just emphasises that NX should never have been allowed to run the line.

NX operate the trams, they are not responsible for the maintenance/upgrading of the tracks. Their buses are accepting Metro tickets for passengers to continue their journey so there's no additional cost to the passenger, the buses are fairly frequent anyway, and aren't there extra shuttle buses being put on?

As Tony said, it would have made no difference who operates the tram, when essential works close the line like this, passengers are going to be inconvenienced. If anything NX are probably better equipped to help out.

[Stevo]

Another thing that is unsatisfactory about using the 39 and 79 is use of passes. Last Saturday when people boarded a B10L at Priestfield off a tram most used their senior passes in the normal way, touching the pass on the reader. This must mean Centro is paying for two journeys, the tram and the bus - in effect being charged twice. And better signage would be good - although men in hi-vis jackets were at the 39/79 stand in Wolves bus station it was by no means clear that they were selling Metro tickets, nor did I notice any signs in the bus station directing Metro passengers. At Priestfield there are no obvious signs directing passengers to the bus stop.

[danny]

So I used the tram yeasterday, won't lie I wasn't impressed, on the face of it, the U-s are very attractive trams with alot of good features, longer, wider and all on the same level, however, I feel that the uncomfortable ill shapedd seats let them down massively. I took my journey from snow hill to priestfield and moved seats twice, it was almost unbearable, which is disappointing as the trams features make the metro to me look like a more attractive alternative to the bus or car.

I did find however just to end on a positive that the trams felt about quicker pulling away from stations and less time was spent at empty stations when their was know passengers waiting.

Think I would only ever use the service if their was no alternative..

[Stevo]

Re the seats last Friday on the first day of the Urbos some Metro employees on one of them were discussing the BBC's coverage earlier that morning which was to be shown on Midlands Today that evening. One said: Someone said to the interviewer 'Awful hard seats'. It was clear they expected this to be broadcast, but it wasn't.

[P419 EJW]

586 just arrived in Wolverhampton Bus Station displaying '79E Metro Replacement Service'. 586 then went in not in service.

[Trident 4609]

586 just arrived in Wolverhampton Bus Station displaying '79E Metro Replacement Service'. 586 then went in not in service.

I've seen the tram replacements displaying 79E-Bilston and ML1 to Bilston

[Isle of Stroma]

I had my first ride on an Urbos yesterday, although admittedly only a short journey on #18 (Sandwell Town Central - The Poorthorns). I'd picked up on the complaints about the seats but didn't find them that bad to be honest, certainly no worse than the T69's (which I detest anyway, a trip from Priestfield will give me numb bum syndrome on arrival at Snow Hill). It was actually a pleasant experience to board a tram and FIND a vacant seat!

One thing I did pick up on, the flat floor throughout the passenger area made the Urbos seem immensely long & roomy inside, a vast improvement over the uninviting crap that they replace.