West Midlands Metro - Thursday 9th February 2023 - Black Lake to West Bromwich Trinity Way

Описание: From Thursday 9th February 2023 until Monday 13th February 2023, we spent some time catching up with West Midlands Metro.

On Thursday 9th February 2023, we walked the line between Black Lake and West Bromwich Trinity Way and photographed or made videos of all the trams in service.
Trams in service on Thursday 9th February 2023:
CAF Urbos 3: 17 28 31 34 37 (34 failed and returned to depot)
CAF Urbos 100: 39 40 43 45 46 47 48

On Friday 10th February 2023, at the request of our subscribers, we visited Wolverhampton and walked between Priestfield and Wolverhampton St.George’s and return and also diverted along the new branch to Wolverhampton Railway Plaza via Piper’s Row (for Wolverhampton Bus Station). This extension is due to open in Spring 2023, but with March just a couple of weeks away, it seems even further away than it did on our last visit. Why is it, in the United Kingdom, that extensions and laid and then dug up again whereas, In Europe, a plan is drawn up, the route is prepared, the track is laid and then the trams run on it. Take, for example, the extension, in Prague, from Sidliste Barrandov to Holyne that was prepared, laid and is in ow part of the network after just over six months. How long have the Wolverhampton Railway Plaza or Blackpool North extensions taken – years – and still not open!
On the Friday afternoon, we visited Bilston Central and photographed and made videos of the afternoon output. CAF Urbos 3, 48 was actually out on test between Wednesday Parkway and Wolverhampton but was showing the destinations giving the impression that it was working short workings much to the annoyance of intending customers who tried to board. Surely, NOT IN SERVICE, could have been shown!!!
Trams in service on Friday 10th February 2023:
CAF Urbos 3: 17 23 28 31(am only) 34 36(pm only) 37
CAF Urbos 100: 38 39 40 43 45 46 47 48

On Saturday 11th February 2023, we took the tram from Black Lake to St.Chad’s in the City Centre and walked the line as far as Edgbaston Village and back, recording the output for the day. On the way back, we stopped off at Grand Central Kitchen for a late breakfast. This amazing, superb eatery is right outside the Grand Central tram stop and you will always find a queue to get a table, and for good reason too! The quality of the food and drinks is absolutely top notch, so why not give it a go when you are next in Birmingham City Centre – you will not be disappointed.
In the afternoon, we spent time at Dudley Street, Guns Village where we observed the afternoon output.
Trams in service on Saturday 11th February 2023:
CAF Urbos 3: 17 23 28(am only) 36 37(pm only)
CAF Urbos 100: 38 39 40 42 (afternoon extra) 43 45 46 47 48

On Sunday 12th February 2023, we visited West Bromwich and walked through to Dartmouth Street collecting videos and taking photographs of the Sunday output including a failed tram returning to depot and two heading to Wolverhampton in very close succession indeed. Watch the clip of the day.
Trams in service on Sunday 12th February 2023:
CAF Urbos 3: 28 37(failed and returned to depot)
CAF Urbos 100: 38 39 40 43 45 46 47 48

On Monday 13th February 2023, we started at St.Paul’s and worked our way back towards Wolverhampton finishing at Winson Green Outer Circle and in the afternoon we visited The Crescent, Loxdale and Bradley Lane where we also saw a Driver Training Tram in operation. We saw, for the first time, a mobile ticket conductor at West Bromwich Central, presumably needed in the afternoon peak when the stop was very busy. We have not included the photograph we took as we did not get chance to ask the conductor’s permission on the day.
Trams in service on Sunday 12th February 2023:
CAF Urbos 3: 17 23 28 31(driver training) 36 37
CAF Urbos 100: 38 39 40 42 43 45 46

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Podbaba Transport
February 2023