DSCF9480 Midland Metro tram set 32 in Birmingham - 19 Aug 2017

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1500) – Midland Metro tram set 32 seen at the Grand Central terminus in Stephenson Street, Birmingham having just arrived from Priestfield. The tram will move along the street to the end of the line. After the driver has changed from one driving cab to the other the tram will cross to the adjacent line and load at the platform on the right for the next trip to Priestfield. There are plans to extend the line to Five Ways which will involve the trams making a diagonal turn into Pinfold Street following the profile of the building visible in the far distance up the street. The Metro fleet consists of 21 similar CAF Urbos 3 units (numbered 17-37) built in Spain which entered service in 2014-2015 replacing the original 16 Italian built trams (numbered 1-16) used on the service which opened in May 1999. I had arrived on this tram from St. Paul’s. The cladding above the tram on the Grand Central Shopping Centre building is a highly reflective material.