Midland Metro tram services suspended after cracks found

Tram services in the West Midlands have been suspended again after more cracks were discovered on vehicles.

Temporary repairs were carried out in June, but the operator, West Midlands Metro, said inspections found the cracks to be more extensive.

It said permanent repairs were now required and all services would be suspended from 13 November.

It has not said when services will resume, but repairs are expected to take at least four weeks.

West Midlands Metro said it was working with the manufacturer "to understand the issues and carry out the repairs as quickly as possible".

Sophie Allison, West Midlands Metro Commercial Director, promised "all resources will be put at this".

"This will not impact on the Commonwealth Games whatsoever, this issue is an issue we can manage," she added.

West Midlands Metro says it has taken a "difficult decision to ensure services can continue to run safely and reliably in the future".

The 21 Urbos 3 trams were introduced in 2014, and most date back to then.

There have been other unrelated issues with part of the metro track in Birmingham that has led to a section on Bull St and Corporation St being dug up and replaced.

In the summer, West Midlands Metro said the fleet was subject to a "rigorous planned and preventative maintenance regime that ensures the safety and reliability of the service".

The company has also been carrying out "essential upgrades and maintenance" to the tramway in Birmingham, extending the tracks to Digbeth and Edgbaston, and replacing them in Corporation Street, even though they were only laid in 2016.

Eight million journeys were made on the network in 2019-20, according to figures from the Department for Transport.

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