Date: 12/02/2016

West Midlands transport authority Centro announced on February 12 that it is planning to upgrade Midland Metro^s fleet of 21 CAF Urbos low-floor LRVs for catenary-free operation as part of plans to extend the light rail line through Birmingham city centre.
The vehicles entered service last year on the 20km line from Wolverhampton to Birmingham Snow Hill, which was extended to Bull Street on December 6. Trams will begin running to Stephenson Street outside the recently-rebuilt New Street station later this year.
Retrofitting the Urbos fleet with roof-mounted batteries will enable catenary-free operation on the next phase of the line, a 1.3km extension from Stephenson Street to Centenary Square, which will open in 2019. This will obviate the need to erect catenary in front of the 182-year-old Town Hall in Victoria Square. [From Richard Buckby]

External links

Midland Metro LRVs to go catenary-free - International Railway Journal

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Related images

A tram heading for Snow Hill stops on a quiet Sunday evening at Lodge Road. West Midlands Metro
Location: Lodge Road, West Bromwich Town Hall [Tram]
Company: Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley Railway (Great Western Railway)
09/02/2014 Ken Strachan

The light rail side of the station at Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter see image [[42485]] with the 13.26 Midland Metro tram to Wolverhampton St. Georges arriving. (there was a 15-minute interval service, being a Sunday)
Location: Jewellery Quarter
Company: Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley Railway (Great Western Railway)
24/03/2013 Ken Strachan

Midland Metro tram 04 arrives at the Wolverhampton St. Georges terminus on an early evening service from Birmingham Snow Hill in June 2011. Although the station was built for two track working, and a possible extension, all trams arrive and depart from the same platform. Most of the route follows the old GWR main line except for a short street running section from Priestfield to the Wolverhampton terminus. See image [[34444]]
Location: Wolverhampton St. Georges
Company: Midland Metro
08/06/2011 Mark Bartlett

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Tags: x CAF x West Midlands Metro