The Metrolink's need right now isn't more extensions. We just need more trams. I don't think M5000s are in production anymore, but the fleet is getting old anyway (the T68s were around this old when they got replaced) so it might be time to replace these trams, maybe with the tram-train vehicles that support future extensions.
The T68s were replaced because they were chronically unreliable, they were only about halfway through their expected lifetime. The original plan was to keep them and run alongside the M5000, but failures were getting so bad it was decided to can them.
The M5000, while hardly ideal, is nowhere near that bad and will probably be here to stay for another decade or two.
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